Journal Entries

In which our hero needs a change of pace...

Many years ago I joined a new and exciting thing called Facebook, and I really liked it there. I could interact with friends from all over the place, I could post memes and share photos...

And as time went on I got more politically aware and active, and started to see the microaggressions, dogwhistles and outright horridness of many people on the right (and, let's face it, in the centre too).

Sometimes I reported the content, often to be told that it doesn't breach Facebook's community standards... sometimes I engaged and was less than polite about it... ultimately I was banned from Facebook for 30 days because not being nice about calling out racists, misogynists and other Vogons is, apparently, bullying.

So here I am, back in a place where the pace of life is somewhat slower and I'm considerably less likely to become enraged by the things people type.

And I know where my towel is.

Discuss this Journal entry [2]

Latest reply: Feb 3, 2021

In which our Hero gains a neurodevelopmental disorder...

So yeah, about a month ago I was formally diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. As they are using the DSM-5 criteria I don't have a formal diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, but the nice doctorlady said that's pretty much what it is.

This is not even a little bit of a surprise to me.

Though it was still surprisingly emotional seeing it written down in black and white.

For me what this mainly means is I have a framework on which to manage my behaviour. I suspect that being diagnosed as an adult has been a great help in some respects as I've not grown up being told I'm 'special' or 'different' (except as playground pejoratives) so don't expect the neurotypical world to bend to my requirements.

A whole bunch of stuff makes extra sense now too. Apparently being polyamorous is common in ASD people as poly requires clearly defined and agreed rules and boundaries whereas monogamy is all about the unwritten and unspoken and therefore is massively confusing. Also things like my need to eat with matching cutlery, or finding it soothing to fiddle with spreadsheets, and my various sensory issues, and having emotional meltdowns over things that are objectively quite trivial.

What happens now is onwards and upwards, I will never use my condition as an excuse for bad behaviour, but as a means to explain it to people so fences can be mended if necessary.

I also learned a great term from a prospective FWB: "aspie strop", which is basically when you're tired and cranky and have run out of spoons and just don't know how to deal with the world at that point except to be all grizzly and tired.

Discuss this Journal entry [6]

Latest reply: Jul 15, 2015

A Prelude to Literature

Today was the Kick-off Party for NaNoWriMo Swindon!

We chatted, met the newbies, passed around plot ideas, and ate cake.

I am now the owner of a new NaNoWriMo sticker which is adorning the lid of this very netbook, a character death flexagon (in which all the deaths begin with 'A'), a Plot Squishy (Cliff-hanger: one of the characters is literally hanging off a cliff), and a few character cards.

We are starting NaNo proper on Friday with a write-in at the Municipal Liaison's house.

Discuss this Journal entry [1]

Latest reply: Oct 26, 2013

A Confession

I wish I'd never volunteered before/during/after the Foop.

Not because I didn't want h2g2 saved, or that I don't think it was worth the effort, but because it killed my enthusiasm for the site. I burned myself out.

Testing things, discussing things, (arguing about things smiley - winkeye).

It all destroyed my love for h2g2. Because I was now Involved in a way that it turns out was antithetical to how I do the interwebs.

And I hate that feeling.

And I hate being a party pooper around the Two Year Hootooversary.

But I just wanted to say it.

Because each any every person subbed to this journal is awesome and I wanted to explain why I'm not around any more.

Discuss this Journal entry [10]

Latest reply: Oct 17, 2013

NaNoWriMo 2013

I shall be having another go this year.

My story is intended to be a modern fantasy in which the legendary Faerie Realms are a steampunkish dystopia rather than the standard cliche of green fields and dark forests.

Discuss this Journal entry [1]

Latest reply: Sep 10, 2013


Back to Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am...'s Personal Space Home

Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am...

Researcher U651852

Post Reporter
Former ACE
Former Guru
Former Moderator
Work Edited by h2g2

Write an Entry

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

Write an entry
Read more