@ratcatcher@c.im
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

ratcatcher

@ratcatcher@c.im

Living near Monasterevin, Co Kildare, Ireland. Self-diagnosed autistic. I regard myself as left wing and egalitarian.

#ActuallyAutistic #Vegetarian #MastoDaoine #cix #cixen #Kildare #Monasterevin

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ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

I started cycling my aquarium tank yesterday. Threw some betta fish food in the tank and added some "Quick Start" liquid.

The test strips say my tank is safe to add fish, but I need to use the big Freshwater Master Kit to check.

Every morning I say good morning to my cats as I turn on all the lights, and soon I'll be saying good morning to a betta fish too! 😁

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

I had never heard of Betta fish, and only just got round to looking them up.

To save others the trouble, it's an alternative name for Siamese fighting fish.

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

My logo designer who made my store logo 3 years ago is updating the logo for me.

The most exclusionary part of my store is the logo. It’s the reason why many ADHD people have asked me if they can shop there. Neurodiverse pride products alone aren’t enough to make my store fully inclusive, so the logo is getting an update.

Changing “an online store for autistic adults” to “a store for neurodivergent adults”, and removing the “Shop” part too.

I’m doing all this from a place of love.

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

The problem with the strapline is that some people will think you are equating autistic with neurodivergent.

Obviously I know you're not. I also realise you don't want to change the name of the store.

I guess "a store for autists and other nerodivergent adults" is too long, though.

ratcatcher, to Autism
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

Periodic reminder that the @actuallyautistic group and #ActuallyAutistic hashtag are intended for discussion BETWEEN AND AMONGST people who are autistic (diagnosed or self-diagnosed) or think they may be.

If you are not autistic, by all means read what is posted, but please respect this as an autistic space and do not post here.

There are plenty of other groups and hashtags under which more general discussion of #Autism can take place and can include professionals, academics, non-autistic parents of autistic children and those with a general interest in the subject.

But the second - often overlooked - issue is this:

My fellow autists - when someone who is clearly not themselves autistic does post to the group, PLEASE, PLEASE do not engage (other than politely to explain the purpose of the group and hashtag). I know it's hard, but ultimately it just subverts, dilutes and prolongs discussions which can rapidly become unhelpful and adversarial.

kevinteljeur, to random
@kevinteljeur@mastodon.online avatar

PSA: I am doggedly getting through my Mastodon timeline, not creeping. So some of you have high post frequency at certain times so you’ll suddenly see a load of likes from me, and replies to stuff that stop being relevant half a week ago.

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@kevinteljeur

Can I be on your "occasionally amusing but probably not high priority" list?

ratcatcher, to actuallyautistic
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

I like Loops earplugs, but I've always thought they were ridiculously expensive for what they are. So just for pig iron, I've ordered a couple of pairs of these from Ali Express for €1.42 per pair.

They look, for all the world, like Quiets. In fact, who knows, they might even be the same ones that are supplied to Loops (I doubt if Loops actually make them themselves).

Will report back when I get them and have had a chance to compare.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EJZFcA7

@actuallyautistic

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@actuallyautistic

If anyone is thinking of ordering these to try, to get the best price you need to go to the part of the app where you order a minimum of three items together.

You can order three pairs in different colours and it should give you free carriage (at least it does to Ireland).

CenturyAvocado, to random
@CenturyAvocado@fosstodon.org avatar

My standing charge for electricity is now £190 a year! Before any usage. That's really concerning.

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@CenturyAvocado

€326 per year here in Ireland with Yuno (including 9% VAT).

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

I got the manufactured plushie.

It’s AWFUL. I hate it.

They ensured me the fabric would be very soft and it feels rough. Super unpleasant to touch.

It’s supposed to be a cat holding an infinity symbol but it doesn’t look like a cat in person.

What the f did they do 😭

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

It's fairly typical of the "default" stereotypical oriental style for such things.

But the infinity is the worst bit. Not only is it now a figure 8 but it's squished beyond recognition.

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

I got the chew necklace samples I had manufactured.

I’m pretty angry at them right now.

I wanted them to make a chew necklace! These are pendants and the hole is too small for necklace strings!!

HUGE oversight on their part.

I’m going to test the silicone for durability next and hopefully that is at least good.

They need to remake these and send them to me again. Why would they not say hey this hole is too small, we should make it bigger so the strings fit. Ugh!!

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

Wouldn't you normally put a jump ring on a pendant and thread the chain or necklace thread through that?

Otherwise the pendant will be at 90 degrees to the person, rather than flat against their neck or chest?

Or am I misunderstanding how it works?

@pathfinder

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

Do they cross over as they go through the hole so one goes left front to right back and the other right front to left back?

Just guessing, but that would sort out the orientation.

@pathfinder

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

Oh, I get it. So you fold the cord in half, push the loop at the middle through the hole, then put the two ends through the loop and pull tight.

@pathfinder

ScottSoCal, to actuallyautistic
@ScottSoCal@computerfairi.es avatar

@actuallyautistic

A couple of weeks ago, in another place where I generally feel safe, someone made a scathing comment - not to me, or even about me - about "self-diagnosed autistics". Without a signed certificate, apparently we aren't worthy of the label.
I've been stewing about it ever since, and sometimes doubting myself. This morning I'm peeved. Who the hell is that person to make declarations about other people - including me?

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@pathfinder

We're all a bit gay 😐

@ScottSoCal @actuallyautistic

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

If you could have one new skill starting right now, what would it be?

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@RickiTarr

Being a polyglot.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Truly and honestly, I have a great time here, because you all make it great. You boost, you reply, you encourage, and inspire! It is crazy to me that I get to talk to people from all over the world every day. I get to be friends with people I'll probably never actually get to physically meet. I was born into a pre-internet world, and this still feels a little like a miracle to me.

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@RickiTarr

<raises hand>
Didn't use it for that long, as quite a few other flavours of IM appeared quite soon.

I remember using Pidgin with ICQ, Google Chat, Microsoft IM, Yahoo Chat and Facebook Chat.

@Uair

kevinteljeur, to random
@kevinteljeur@mastodon.online avatar

I got a letter this morning discharging me from jury duty. LOL! But that implies a letter requesting jury duty… Turns out I had one but didn’t open it (anonymous thick envelope that looks a lot like a Flogas marketing mailout), full of instructions and threats.

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@kevinteljeur

I received a jury summons recently. I was able to apply for exemption as I'm over 65.

I would actually have liked to do it. But I would have had to drive to Naas at my own expense, park at my own expense and drive home again at my own expense. It's hard to get to Naas by public transport from where I live, which is a pity as that would have been free for me.

At the court, I could have been sent home again (not needed) or empanelled on a jury in an open-ended commitment which could last weeks or months (requiring me to continue to commute and park at my own expense).

I'm retired, so I have the time. My pension is paid whatever so I don't need or expect to be paid for my service. But I do firmly believe that the courts should cover jurors' out-of-pocket expenses by default.

There's also a socio-economic issue here. If I was in court, I'd want the jury to be made up from ordinary working class folks, not some bunch of well-to-do people who could afford the out-of-pocket expenses.

ratcatcher, to actuallyautistic
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

I'm going to stop following, and posting to, the @actuallyautistic group for a little while.

It's nothing bad - I just need a break from the volume of stuff I'm reading every day.

So if you generally see my stuff via the group and like reading it, now would be a good time to check if you're following me.

I don't propose to unfollow anyone, though I may turn off boosts for a few.

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

@ratcatcher thought you’d like this ferret video :RedHearts:

video/mp4

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

My son and his partner are the ferret fans. Thanks. I'll pass it on.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

I talk to people from the UK pretty regularly, I watch a lot of BBC programming, I read a lot of books by authors from the UK, but sometimes they will suddenly use a word I've never heard in my life, and I'm beginning to think they are pranking us, and every other person from the UK is in on the joke, and just validates whatever the other person says!

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ohellofedefo

For Australian slang, though, you generally remove the o at the end, then try to work out what the other half of the resulting word-stub should be.

Similar to names in Dub[lin slang].

@RickiTarr

ratcatcher, to random
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

Poor old Brian cat. He's 15 years old now and has developed thyroid problems and pancreatitis as well as dental and gum problems.

He eats well and is on thyroid medication, but he has gone from being a big and solid to frail and emaciated.

I fear we may be at the palliative care stage with him.

kevinrutherford, to random
@kevinrutherford@mastodon.me.uk avatar

To whom it may concern:

As an user of your website, I'm working hard enough just to cope with reading your text. Please don't also make me cope with stuff that moves or slides or fades too. Just present me with a static, stable thing to parse in my own time. And don't have things that move or slide (eg. fancy navbars) when I move my pointer (which I may be doing as a reading aid).

Because I'll probably just go shop elsewhere.

Thank you.

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@kevinrutherford

Absolutely.

And here on Mastodon I've had to mute so many people because they use animated gifs in their user name.

Unfortunately, @trunksapp - which is the best Mastodon client I've found so far for my needs - doesn't stop these from moving, flashing, flickering or whatever the hell else the user thought would be amusing.

@actuallyautistic

JeremyMallin, to actuallyautistic
@JeremyMallin@autistics.life avatar

I hate getting messy foods on my hands. Is that an everyone who is autistic thing or a just some people who are autistic thing?


@actuallyautistic

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@JeremyMallin

I think there's a third category (which applies in my case).

I don't mind getting my hands contaminated with anything (from a sensory or germs viewpoint) but I feel the need to wash them as soon as possible.

That's because I want to use my hands without transferring whatever is on them to whatever I'm touching.

That's the main reason I dislike hand cream, etc. When my skin has been very dry, I've grudgingly used cream but have then put on surgical gloves so I can still use my hands.

@actuallyautistic

ratcatcher, to random
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

We had noticed that my son's blåhaj (one of a few he has) seemed to be restless. Then on 6 August of last year, we made a discovery.

To be continued ...

@ashleyspencer

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

Had a call with a VAT tax specialist this morning. Will get everything situated soon.

I've received so many applications through my website so far! I wish I could hire multiple people. 😭

I've been on a hyperfocused work mode roll and it's been fun. I realized like... I thought I worked nonstop as an escape from hard emotions, but I do it because I love it. I like working. It feels like playtime.

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

As an extension of your plushy adventure photos, you could invite customers to send in pictures of their plushies visiting various interesting places. Might become a "thing".

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

My son's blåhaj (well, one of them) absconded from the house recently and went on a little road trip. I have several pictures.

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

I’m having a crisis of I have too many stores.

I Love Plushies Facebook is barely getting the store traffic, and no conversions yet. People buy the plushies from the autistic innovator instead, which is fine. People don’t trust the store yet. I’m so slow responding to authors that they’re going dark on me. Autistic Bookshop is the most expensive store out of the 3. I’m having zoom calls with tax people to register to do business within all these countries to expand my main store. 1/?

ratcatcher,
@ratcatcher@c.im avatar

@ashleyspencer

I'm curious as to why you needed to set them up as separate stores, rather than just "departments" of the same store. I presume there are administrative/regulatory reasons why you needed to do it that way.

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