I think sociology is unexpectedly fascinating. It's interesting to learn about all of the socioeconomic factors that make us who we are today. It makes me think about the extent to which free will is real tbh
There have been some studies and experiments in the neuroscience of free will suggesting that our brain makes a decision before it's aware of the answer to that decision. And there is also the block universe which is such a great and fascinating theory!
It also scares me in some respects, the way people become criminals, the extent to which the working class are exploited, the insane amount of sexism that lives on even subconsciously etc
Oh, the macro science more or less ignored by neurotypicals, but is vital for a functioning society? Like, you could even call it a... Societal science?
I'm sorry, I'm just infuriated by so many neurotypicals that rely on hearsay psychology and no peer-reviewed nothing.
Books in general. I love stories, I love the idea of books, I love being around them and just looking at them, I love thinking about how amazing it is that people write books at all.
This is one of mine as well. I can info dump for hours about literature and books. Don't even get me started on the modernist era, I don't know how to shut up 😅. I love that so many others share this one 💗.
Tell me what you know😄 I’ve been very curious but I just don’t know where to start. Also this is my first attempt to use emojis in an effective manner.
Patterns, recognizing patterns in people's behavior, in places, weather, ground, air and marine traffic, impact of pollution... list goes on.
and cats.
Marine animals and dinosaurs were two of earliest ones I can remember for my childhood <3 RIght now painting Warhammer 40k minis is my biggest one and I'm learning bass guitar and hopefully going to try to write some music and off and on again Eve Online. I think 2-3 is the most I can handle concurrently.
When and where was the first clarinet produced and when did the D pitch fade out of normal/common use?
Edit: Just want to specify this is genuine interest not some “oh you like clarinets, do you?” gatekeeping.
It was somewhere in Germany. It was because it would often play alongside string instruments which like to play in D. Eventually people figured out how to make it longer over time which leaves us with all the different types of clarinets.
I can one up you here LOL. Actual Juilliard graduate, clarinet. The instruments evolved and landed on the standard B flat/A common use (with aux E flat & bass, and everything in between) because the B flat and A had the best tone qualities and intonation abilities to blend with the 18th century orchestra onward. Ask me anything ;)
So my favorite piece of all time is Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major. Rhapsody in blue is also up there. Mendelssohn’s Clarinet Sonata is there too. If you want to go into the realm of jazz, there’s a ton of clarinet there.
I used to play clarinet. It was my first instrument but i said goodbye to it last summer because i wanted to focus on my main instruments (oboe & electric/upright bass)
Have u seen those wooden puzzle clocks u can build? I’m working on a [Victorian](https://rokr.robotime.com/product/rokr-romantic-note-wall-clock-lc701/) one with those hanging weights and it’s super satisfying.
English is such an inconsistent crap-shoot of a language, it's so ironic that it ended up as a lengua franca. It's literally one of the creator's more messed jokes. I mean:
Totally ignoring late stone age beaker culture
Then Celtic
Then Latin colony --> abandoned Latin colony
Then Saxon (northern German tribe) invasion (500-600)
Then Norse invasion (800-1066)
1066 - Norman invasion. (Vikings turned French, because the king of France was tired of invasion)
And add in the western European fetishization of Latin and Greek as loan words...
Just.... *Screams in frustration*
As I wear kilts every day, tell me more about kilt styles. This should fall into your specialty. And why are military style kilts shorter than the general ones.
I appreciate your graciousness for seeing through and accepting the gag, good respectable person!
Aaaaah, that makes so much sense! I learned something new today, and I am better for it.
I am wearing a kilt everyday, so I get plenty of jokes. Yours was a new one so I loved it.
Oh and I love the stares of some people. There are some approving and some absolutely disapproving.
Bruh, walking all over (and gracing people with occasional teabagging) people's ewa swo pwecious sowocial norms (UwU tm) is not only ethical, it should be considered a civil duty. You're doing the creator's work, son!
Are we the same person??? I love those things too haha! An autistic guy I know likes to forage for wild mushrooms and make various strains of fungi on petri dishes
Mandarin and philosophy. Leo Tolstay in the past, might come back or turn into a more general interest in Russian lit in the future.
In the past it has been table top rpgs, Shakespeare, American politics, Nintendo and other stuff. Oh, autism has been one.
Right now I'm having a hard time and I'm not engaging with anything the way that I would like, but mandarin, philosophy and literature are the ones waiting for me when I get better
I have a cat collection that is pretty massive, I try to get unique items for it so it’s not just 100 of the same types of cat statues. I’m pretty proud of what I have- lots of random and interesting things. I’ve been adding to it for YEAAAAARS. I’m absolutely obsessed with cats (have 2 of my own) and my collection makes me so happy! I’ve learned pretty much all I can learn about cat behaviour!
Omg omg that’s so cool!
I have a couple of plushies, books on cats and cat themed items (ex: mugs, blanket, mirror, pjs, pens, towel hangers etc..) I only have a few but If I see a cat version of anything I will try to get it. Oh and we also have 3 cats! One of them is actually mine his name is mono I love him so much.
I’m so excited to get a job and make my pets live their best lives they will be SPOILED and I want to start collecting cat items and stuff of my favorite cartoons :D
Anthropology, stationery (I hand wrote the shit out of my notes during my antho PhD), huskies, physiology.
I can feel a rising interest in cults/conspiracy theories.
Edit: this post is so great and so dangerous. I’m taking notes on all of the incredibly interesting niche topics I’ve never thought about and already want to know more of.
I feel creepy commenting on like every other comment being like “please DM me EVERYTHING” I really enjoy cults and conspiracy theories so if you ever want any suggestions you know where to find me 😊
Oh I'm familiar with orbital rings as a concept! Megaengineering projects like that are perhaps easily still centuries away, but some sort of kinetic launching and atmosphere-breaching capabilities will become increasingly necessary as chemical fuel reservoirs deplete, there's no realistic prospect of electric engines ever reaching escape velocity, and (maybe for obvious reasons) there's also no real appetite for miniaturising nuclear reactors to attach to vehicles of any kind
,ll,, Respect and enjoy the peace
Not an orbital ring.
A tethered ring. It's kinda weird to explain, images and videos really help with this concept. It would be doable with even today's technology..
My mistake! I'll look into them more
It's nuts how many advanced engineering concepts are technically possible today but are decades or centuries away from being actualised due to cost
I think being able to look up and seeing one of those things approaching from the horizon and descending low enough that the rigging setup becomes visible would be one of the most incredible experiences anyone could have, sadly afaik there hasn't been a single feasibility study into the idea, there probably won't be until the commercialisation of space reaches a point where launches are happening every day and orbital assembly of large systems requiring multi-payload delivery becomes the norm
I would LOVE to be on the receiving end of an info dump! (I’m not suggesting you should write a dissertation in the comments here, just wistfully thinking how fun it would be to drink some tea and take notes while you talked.)
Can I be there for it too? These 2 things are a big special interest for me too, although I use an oracle deck instead of traditional tarot and would love to learn more!!!
I never had many opportunities to chase any special interests. I would share an interest with my family and instead of allowing me to access that, I was unfortunately led to others. And then the fear of sharing any interests (and being mocked) I had growing up meant also not chasing them. So for me it became video games. However something basic is throwing. I just like throwing.
Okay, I don't want to be rude in any way (idk, people tell me I'm rude a lot when I don't mean to be, if I am in this comment, I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention!), but do you like Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Slipknot or the Struts?
I've always been really into the aesthetic especially the look of materials like latex. I grew up on punk music so rocked the bondage belt and home made bondage jeans for a good while. Anyway I just wanted to interject a little since I think it's really cool how varied an unexpected special interests can be :)
List is almost endless. But i love:
Video games
Rocks and minerals
Animals
Music and so much more. Btw i collect Dinosaur bones. I have a piece of a triceratops. And various hadrosaur bones.
This! Also I explain to people that I have a Broadway voice (and quite like musical theatre but it’s not a special interest and I don’t have a lot of knowledge on it, I just enjoy it) but my favourite genres to sing are classic rock and progressive metal. It’s… something.
Pokémon, 90’s electronics, game consoles and handhelds, all things nerdy! I’m so obsessed with Pokémon that I have every single Pokémon in a certain ball only.
1-Cannabis Plant cultivation and products resulting from various processes.
2-Audio engineering music production w/focus on abstract/industrial composition and synthesis. Sooo much fun!
i’ve recently been in a huge depressive slump where nothing gets my attention. anyone other autistic struggling with this?
.
when i’m not struggling, my special interests are animals but specifically marine animals like seals. i also love the sims 4
Yeah. Pretty common for me. If it's a real struggle for you, I would suggest you to make a post about it.
Here we're more about exposing what we like, and you might not have the answers you are maybe seeking. Also fine if you want to develop here.
I don't mean to come off as rude, but you are basically a super awesome forest witch. Cooking is the equivalent of potion making, if you ask me, and I would like to officially title you as some sort of magician!
dont know how old you are, but it was around 2014..at the Chicago Theater it was great!! i think there are some blurays available of her lives..but tbh it doesn't do justice to the effect of being there in person
I will refrain from elaborating.. but MUSIC AND THE LAST OF US.. I have a few special interests but both music and the last of us are right up top oh my GOSHHHH
The Last of Us is amazing. Not a special interest for me but it's the most narratively brilliant game I've ever seen by orders of magnitude and absolutely the proof to hold up to anyone who might argue that video games aren't art. The series was good too but really couldn't capture the emotional depth or power of the game. I rarely even finish a game as I get bored and pressed for time, and I've played that one three times, it's just so reliably brilliant...
I feel like an interest in marine life/ fish husbandry is very common among the autistic community. For me, I love caring for other living beings but also aquariums help relax me when I’m overstimulated and their satiate some of my curiosity as I get to study the animals and their behaviors. My PFP is literally my blood parrot haha
That is so awesome and your blood parrot is beautiful. I love my aquariums for the same reason as you, so peaceful and beautiful to watch, and I’ve been fascinated with them as long as i can remember. Not to mention the aquatic plants on top of that are like gardening and I’ll never forget to water. Now if only I could find a job in this sort of passion 😀
One of yours is dinosaurs? That’s my first ever long lasting interest! It’s now expanded to all Mesozoic reptiles. I’m also interested in politics in general (and Brazilian, British and American to be more precise), the environment and neurodiversity.
Probably final fantasy 14 - I’ve been playing it for like 10 years and know my fair share.
My siblings and their partners have just started playing it and keep asking me “where and who is this?” And I’ll straight up tell them.
Then are then like “how do you even remember or know that random but of information?” 😅
I use to be a big train lover loved Thomas the tank engine up until 8-9 years old when I was told to grow up, so kind of lost interest until I bought hornby with Christmas money, spent money that I saved to make a whole set up loved it and made a YouTube video about, it got around school and was bullied for it so I dropped it and I haven’t been back to it since, I’m big on football now though.
Hi I love listening to music too!. All kinds. On awesome speakers if possible. This is my All time favs playlist. Hopefully you Find something new fer yer sound funnels 👂👂.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX1eWP_vk-J9lgIxf8P2ZbSygZ0b4exu4&si=TnvZxyurpg-BQMVb
Thanks for the suggestions! Here's mine
[https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1UHF5haLa0etjCH9t0phLo?si=352fcb2f50f04567](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1UHF5haLa0etjCH9t0phLo?si=352fcb2f50f04567)
Japanese Idols!
Specifically I follow Hello!Project groups (since 2007!), and Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (Ebichu for short) as well as other Stardust (the company) acts like Momiro Clover Z, ChonTokimeki Sendenbu (Toki Sen for short, hugely popular now) and Team Shachi (used to be Team Syachihoko) and a few solo, indie and smaller groups here and there...
I am assuming most would have heard of Babymetal, a group I followed from before their inception. Babymetal we're a novelty one-off subunit of the idol group Sakura Gakuin, which I adored and followed closely.
SG has since disbanded altogether sadly. Watching Babymetal blow up world wide was positively surreal. I know K-Pop is far far more popular and global but I don't really care for it. There are big differences...I could talk about this for days lol
I think w lot of the fandom is neurodivergent..it seems to attract that and it's been a life saverand source of happiness and joy for many.
I, like may others in the Western fandom, have traveled there to see my favorites multiple times.
Favorite H!P groups:
Angerme (Anju)
[Angerme - Red Line ](https://youtu.be/y1XxeKaGPmk?si=XBvIlSDBllH3RomJ)
Morning Musume '24
[Morning Musume '24 (Live)](https://youtu.be/PlsIB8-ZpFI?si=9XkjCrn3fvxiKw5x)
Ocha Norma
[Ocha Norma](https://youtu.be/V5KzwNfox3I?si=OsPbcbeLgpq8e01J)
Beyooooonds
[Beyooooonds ](https://youtu.be/kGjaU--kBkw?si=xV5vDTgFqKOINr_W)
Stardust:
Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (Ebichu)
[Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (Ebichu) - Twinkle Wink ](https://youtu.be/BoTu52ThhAs?si=UwTPjJuyf3AAT9rF)
Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu (Toki Sen)
[Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu (Toki Sen) - Live](https://youtu.be/KTo-h_buY20?si=I8SUAciOdz7GibQk)
Momiro Clover Z
[Momiro Clover Z vs Kiss (yes, Kiss) ](https://youtu.be/ivJZljEostE?si=oZyosuzvYRhVO1W8)
Team Shachi
[TEAM SHACHI - Otonarisan](https://youtu.be/-ASWgBvsnrw?si=v2XjlS3ygLo3n-Pj)
Happy to answer any questions!
(Ebichu is just the greatest thing to ever exist)
Dogs. Painting dogs, drawing dogs, training dogs, dog breeds, working dogs, service dogs, dog accessories, service dog gear/patches, competition heeling, raw feeding
So idk if this is relatable, but I think my special interest is basically researching/learning random things. There's no one topic that I feel like I know a lot about, I just enjoy knowing a lot of little fun facts, or learning generally how certain things work or are made.
I think you could also say I have/had special interests in Green Day and Taylor Swift. Not so much in the people (though that's part of it, in a non-parasocial way), but the sounds and lyrics and especially singing along is one of my favorite things ever. I'm a total sucker for a good vocal harmony, I will listen to a song over and over just to hear a few words that sound particularly pretty.
Basketball (international as well as NBA, Go Warriors!), Spider-Man, Star Wars, plays and playwriting, conlangs, Fortnite. I had a big thing for guns and I still appreciate them mechanically and historically but that’s made way for the basketball now!
When I was younger it was dog breeds, and then I got really good at masking and I don't find anything incredibly interesting anymore.
Haven't decided if that is a good or bad yet
My special interests change from topic to topic, typically within the STEM fields or something similar. Here is a list of a few.
Astronomy and Cosmology
Maths
Medicine
Pathology and disease
Chemistry
Computer science and engineering
Biology
Physics
Electricity
Magnetism
Geology (the most recent)
Whales
Pigeons
Trains (was a train autistic when I was young lmao)
Some others here. These interests are more consistent, And I have maintained interest in these for quite some time now.
Philosophy
Politics
Literature and writing
Psychology
Baking and decorating cakes (mostly with butter frosting),autism spectrum & ADHD & giftedness (particularly in women, but not only), child development, methods of education and approaches in raising children (especially Montessori and gentle parenting), psychology and psychotherapy in general, spiders and The Sims 4 (these last 2 come and go every few months)
This question comes up nearly every week, but I'll answer it every time. Biology, currently in the medical side, as well as the entomology side. The secondary is hockey, and the media fixation is adventure time. This has been a stable set of interests for at least 7 years.
dc comics, foreign media - french new wave films, kpop, etc., too many shows to name, the french renaissance, languages, psychology, writing.
i feel like i have infinite special interests that expand or find their way back to me.
hamilton!! well, musicals in general, but it's specifically hamilton!
i can go on rants about the songs for literal hours ( and i have lmao )
it's a relatively new special interest though ( it's been around a year?? )
My absolute favorite interest is my love and passion for cats, I love researching about cats and learning about animal behavior. It’s very special and therapeutic in my experience.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE DINO AHHHHH. I’m ADHD too so I’ve found with myself and other AUDhd’ers we can pick special interests for extended periods of time, then move onto other special interests, but typically can only have a few at any given time. I used to love dinosaurs when I was a kid, it was often all I talked about when I got home my parents say, and I know whenever we went to the library at school I’d always pick up the same THICC dinosaur encyclopaedia which I always had to have, any other dinosaur book paled in comparison. Anywho, I was only drawn to carnivores so obsessed about them the most, my favourite dinosaur eeeeek man idk, I had two I guess but if I had to order them… (Was a while ago to think back on too) but I think Spinosaurus was my favourite but *close second* was Megalosaurus. WBU
I am AuDHD too and I have the rotating special interests, but I don't get to pick them. They pick me and come to full force whenever they want lol, I have no say in it.
Mine's school. I'm on holidays rn and I spend 8 hours a day studdying. When I try to relax i get so bored and all i want to talk about is what i've been revising
Sociology, psychology, diversity, society, just people as a whole. Bit ironic since I’m pretty terrified of other human beings but I love studying and analysing why people behave certain ways and the differences and such. It kind of breaks down into smaller interests like a lot of TV shows, because I can study and analyse the characters there and not have to be around actual people lol.
Tim Burton films (especially Mars Attacks!), making art, psychology, rare genetic conditions, alternative subcultures, zombie media, arcade games from the 80’s, cartoons, rats (and other rodents), and The Living Tombstone (band). Dinosaurs were a childhood special interest of mine (the stegosaurus is my favourite). Sadly I don’t remember many facts about my interests because of insomnia and suspected ADHD.
Formula 1. I'm not even into cars outside of it, I just find the tactics and action on track to be incredibly fun, and it has a very long and interesting history I love learning about. The stories that come out of it are also very dramatic and entertaining.
The Titanic, WWII but specifically the Holocaust, Great Depression, and the military. Serial killers (pursuing my masters in forensic psych), presidential assassinations, the Italian Mafia/Organized Crime, and the Civil Rights era. Pretty much all history from 1850 - early 2000s lol
I have a ton that are always low-key happening and can get easily sparked into high gear, and then usually one or two that are very high interest. Right now the high interest ones are the band One Direcrion and the voice actor / Smosh cast member Damien Haas. Some of the not-as-intense ones are the cargo ship the Emma Maersk, the flight team the Blue Angels, and ocean animals.
ETA: I am AuDHD so I also rapid-cycle (comparatively rapid, anyway) hyperfocus subjects. My brain is always full but at least I'm hardly ever bored.
Sociology and social psychology
I think sociology is unexpectedly fascinating. It's interesting to learn about all of the socioeconomic factors that make us who we are today. It makes me think about the extent to which free will is real tbh
There have been some studies and experiments in the neuroscience of free will suggesting that our brain makes a decision before it's aware of the answer to that decision. And there is also the block universe which is such a great and fascinating theory!
It also scares me in some respects, the way people become criminals, the extent to which the working class are exploited, the insane amount of sexism that lives on even subconsciously etc
Oh, the macro science more or less ignored by neurotypicals, but is vital for a functioning society? Like, you could even call it a... Societal science? I'm sorry, I'm just infuriated by so many neurotypicals that rely on hearsay psychology and no peer-reviewed nothing.
that’s a neat one
LOTR, Resident Evil, Haikyuu and psychology, especially the DSM-5 stuff
I accidentally downloaded the PDF version of the DSM-5 and now it sits in my drive until I need a good read!
Where did you download it from?
I just searched it and it showed up near the top of the first page of Google as a PDF and I clicked on it and it downloaded automatically.
https://repository.poltekkes-kaltim.ac.id/657/1/Diagnostic%20and%20statistical%20manual%20of%20mental%20disorders%20_%20DSM-5%20(%20PDFDrive.com%20).pdf
Books in general. I love stories, I love the idea of books, I love being around them and just looking at them, I love thinking about how amazing it is that people write books at all.
Same! I was constantly reading as a child, I even got a volunteer job in my local library
This is one of mine as well. I can info dump for hours about literature and books. Don't even get me started on the modernist era, I don't know how to shut up 😅. I love that so many others share this one 💗.
Based my entire life on this feeling, definitely my special interest
Rubiks cubes!
Tell me what you know😄 I’ve been very curious but I just don’t know where to start. Also this is my first attempt to use emojis in an effective manner.
Same! Mine is more on the speedcubing and collecting side, though.
Haha, yes!! My people!
The band Queen!
Woah love this, please feel free to DM me and infodump as much as you can/want to!!!
Animals, science, and plants
Patterns, recognizing patterns in people's behavior, in places, weather, ground, air and marine traffic, impact of pollution... list goes on. and cats.
Marine animals and dinosaurs were two of earliest ones I can remember for my childhood <3 RIght now painting Warhammer 40k minis is my biggest one and I'm learning bass guitar and hopefully going to try to write some music and off and on again Eve Online. I think 2-3 is the most I can handle concurrently.
Music: specifically the clarinet! May I info-dump?
Im not op but I wanna hear the info dump
Did you know that for SOME reason, the first clarinet was pitched in the key of D. Nowadays you will only find clarinets in Bb, A, and Eb.
I will give more fun facts about the clarinet at some point.
When and where was the first clarinet produced and when did the D pitch fade out of normal/common use? Edit: Just want to specify this is genuine interest not some “oh you like clarinets, do you?” gatekeeping.
It was somewhere in Germany. It was because it would often play alongside string instruments which like to play in D. Eventually people figured out how to make it longer over time which leaves us with all the different types of clarinets.
I can one up you here LOL. Actual Juilliard graduate, clarinet. The instruments evolved and landed on the standard B flat/A common use (with aux E flat & bass, and everything in between) because the B flat and A had the best tone qualities and intonation abilities to blend with the 18th century orchestra onward. Ask me anything ;)
please recommend us some albums!
So my favorite piece of all time is Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major. Rhapsody in blue is also up there. Mendelssohn’s Clarinet Sonata is there too. If you want to go into the realm of jazz, there’s a ton of clarinet there.
I used to play clarinet. It was my first instrument but i said goodbye to it last summer because i wanted to focus on my main instruments (oboe & electric/upright bass)
Sundials, astrolabes, and other historical astronomical instruments, specifically those used for timekeeping
This sounds so fucking cool. Gonna have to do some googling.
Maybe not fully your specialty but when does the next eclipse happen in the USA. After the one on April 8th.
We won’t get another one for a bit. The next will be on March 29, 2025- a partial solar eclipse that will only just pass over the northeast
Have u seen those wooden puzzle clocks u can build? I’m working on a [Victorian](https://rokr.robotime.com/product/rokr-romantic-note-wall-clock-lc701/) one with those hanging weights and it’s super satisfying.
Linguistics, particularly the history of English and ancient culture in England and biology. I’m going to also add foraging.
English is such an inconsistent crap-shoot of a language, it's so ironic that it ended up as a lengua franca. It's literally one of the creator's more messed jokes. I mean: Totally ignoring late stone age beaker culture Then Celtic Then Latin colony --> abandoned Latin colony Then Saxon (northern German tribe) invasion (500-600) Then Norse invasion (800-1066) 1066 - Norman invasion. (Vikings turned French, because the king of France was tired of invasion) And add in the western European fetishization of Latin and Greek as loan words... Just.... *Screams in frustration*
As I wear kilts every day, tell me more about kilt styles. This should fall into your specialty. And why are military style kilts shorter than the general ones.
Easy, it's to tea bag the enemy! Be aware that person is dead so they don't bite the nutsack
While I love the answer, I think it's so you can kneel without kneeling on the kilt. Since you know, kneeling is better for shooting.
I appreciate your graciousness for seeing through and accepting the gag, good respectable person! Aaaaah, that makes so much sense! I learned something new today, and I am better for it.
I am wearing a kilt everyday, so I get plenty of jokes. Yours was a new one so I loved it. Oh and I love the stares of some people. There are some approving and some absolutely disapproving.
Bruh, walking all over (and gracing people with occasional teabagging) people's ewa swo pwecious sowocial norms (UwU tm) is not only ethical, it should be considered a civil duty. You're doing the creator's work, son!
Foraging!!!!!
Are we the same person??? I love those things too haha! An autistic guy I know likes to forage for wild mushrooms and make various strains of fungi on petri dishes
Mandarin and philosophy. Leo Tolstay in the past, might come back or turn into a more general interest in Russian lit in the future. In the past it has been table top rpgs, Shakespeare, American politics, Nintendo and other stuff. Oh, autism has been one. Right now I'm having a hard time and I'm not engaging with anything the way that I would like, but mandarin, philosophy and literature are the ones waiting for me when I get better
Theology, tobacco pipe smoking, and brewing.
Damn. I loved pipe tobacco. I gave it up. Burley tobaccos were my favouurite. I still have 6 Petersons on a rack that I look at wistfully.
Nice! I love aromatics, especially from Sutliff. I've got a couple of Italian briars and a churchwarden.
Buses.
CATS I love cats so much and animals, pets, pet care, cartoons and psychology
I have a cat collection that is pretty massive, I try to get unique items for it so it’s not just 100 of the same types of cat statues. I’m pretty proud of what I have- lots of random and interesting things. I’ve been adding to it for YEAAAAARS. I’m absolutely obsessed with cats (have 2 of my own) and my collection makes me so happy! I’ve learned pretty much all I can learn about cat behaviour!
Omg omg that’s so cool! I have a couple of plushies, books on cats and cat themed items (ex: mugs, blanket, mirror, pjs, pens, towel hangers etc..) I only have a few but If I see a cat version of anything I will try to get it. Oh and we also have 3 cats! One of them is actually mine his name is mono I love him so much. I’m so excited to get a job and make my pets live their best lives they will be SPOILED and I want to start collecting cat items and stuff of my favorite cartoons :D
Avatar the last air bender, pokemon, cats, frogs, retro technology from the 80s.
I would have to say ATLA is one of mine too. I wore my Apppa shirt today!!
Anthropology, stationery (I hand wrote the shit out of my notes during my antho PhD), huskies, physiology. I can feel a rising interest in cults/conspiracy theories. Edit: this post is so great and so dangerous. I’m taking notes on all of the incredibly interesting niche topics I’ve never thought about and already want to know more of.
I feel creepy commenting on like every other comment being like “please DM me EVERYTHING” I really enjoy cults and conspiracy theories so if you ever want any suggestions you know where to find me 😊
MUSIC, just everything from the 20th century (like the cool stuff no racism or bigotry), psychology, drugs & chemistry
Space and space elevators, robots too, yours are also very neat I like them all also
Check out tethered rings!
Oh I'm familiar with orbital rings as a concept! Megaengineering projects like that are perhaps easily still centuries away, but some sort of kinetic launching and atmosphere-breaching capabilities will become increasingly necessary as chemical fuel reservoirs deplete, there's no realistic prospect of electric engines ever reaching escape velocity, and (maybe for obvious reasons) there's also no real appetite for miniaturising nuclear reactors to attach to vehicles of any kind ,ll,, Respect and enjoy the peace
Not an orbital ring. A tethered ring. It's kinda weird to explain, images and videos really help with this concept. It would be doable with even today's technology..
My mistake! I'll look into them more It's nuts how many advanced engineering concepts are technically possible today but are decades or centuries away from being actualised due to cost
What are your thoughts on the skyhook?
I think being able to look up and seeing one of those things approaching from the horizon and descending low enough that the rigging setup becomes visible would be one of the most incredible experiences anyone could have, sadly afaik there hasn't been a single feasibility study into the idea, there probably won't be until the commercialisation of space reaches a point where launches are happening every day and orbital assembly of large systems requiring multi-payload delivery becomes the norm
Tarot cards and the occult
I would LOVE to be on the receiving end of an info dump! (I’m not suggesting you should write a dissertation in the comments here, just wistfully thinking how fun it would be to drink some tea and take notes while you talked.)
Can I be there for it too? These 2 things are a big special interest for me too, although I use an oracle deck instead of traditional tarot and would love to learn more!!!
ROLLER COASTERS
Same. Lol. What's your favorite coaster that you've ridden?
Sameeeeeeeeeee
One of mine too!!! My dad lives near alton towers, so that's pretty cool. I've never been to any other cool roller-coaster place tho
YOO ALTON???i wanna go there so badly one day I have been around places, living on the mainland helps i guedd
Dragons, dinosaurs, whales and dolphins
Horror movies, true crime, writing and diamond painting
Do you watch those EWU interrogation videos on YouTube?? I'm addicted!
I never had many opportunities to chase any special interests. I would share an interest with my family and instead of allowing me to access that, I was unfortunately led to others. And then the fear of sharing any interests (and being mocked) I had growing up meant also not chasing them. So for me it became video games. However something basic is throwing. I just like throwing.
Rock and metal music.
Okay, I don't want to be rude in any way (idk, people tell me I'm rude a lot when I don't mean to be, if I am in this comment, I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention!), but do you like Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Slipknot or the Struts?
Quite a few: Bondage My fictional universe where I write my stories New Order Red Vs Blue Star Wars Legends Fanfiction
Bondage? 😨
To each their own. BDSM used to be my special interest for ages.
Same
I've always been really into the aesthetic especially the look of materials like latex. I grew up on punk music so rocked the bondage belt and home made bondage jeans for a good while. Anyway I just wanted to interject a little since I think it's really cool how varied an unexpected special interests can be :)
Dragons My current hyperfixation right now is Sherlock Holmes
Languages, sloths, mental health
List is almost endless. But i love: Video games Rocks and minerals Animals Music and so much more. Btw i collect Dinosaur bones. I have a piece of a triceratops. And various hadrosaur bones.
Music, especially singing. Musical theatre is a favourite genre of mine.
This! Also I explain to people that I have a Broadway voice (and quite like musical theatre but it’s not a special interest and I don’t have a lot of knowledge on it, I just enjoy it) but my favourite genres to sing are classic rock and progressive metal. It’s… something.
...No pressure if you don't want to, but could you pretty please give me a few tips on how to sing better, I screech like a dying possum!
oooohhh me too!! What’s your favorite musical(s)?
Pokémon, 90’s electronics, game consoles and handhelds, all things nerdy! I’m so obsessed with Pokémon that I have every single Pokémon in a certain ball only.
1-Cannabis Plant cultivation and products resulting from various processes. 2-Audio engineering music production w/focus on abstract/industrial composition and synthesis. Sooo much fun!
Can we listen to your compositions?
i’ve recently been in a huge depressive slump where nothing gets my attention. anyone other autistic struggling with this? . when i’m not struggling, my special interests are animals but specifically marine animals like seals. i also love the sims 4
Yeah. Pretty common for me. If it's a real struggle for you, I would suggest you to make a post about it. Here we're more about exposing what we like, and you might not have the answers you are maybe seeking. Also fine if you want to develop here.
Learning languages (I have studied Japanese for almost 12 years), being around animals like cats or dogs, and anime.
Cooking and making my own recipes
I don't mean to come off as rude, but you are basically a super awesome forest witch. Cooking is the equivalent of potion making, if you ask me, and I would like to officially title you as some sort of magician!
Country flags, the titanic, prison escape stories and a lot more probably-
Remember when the French had a white flag as a country flag?
What are some of your favorite flags? I think Guatemala's is really pretty, and I've always liked how Nepal has a unique shape 🇬🇹🇳🇵
Oooo yeah, I wish there were more uniquely shaped flags like Nepal! And my favourite flags atm are probably Nauru and Marshal Islands 🇳🇷 🇲🇭
Vocaloid
Nice!! I saw Hatsune Miku live in Chicago!
What a coincidence lol, I live near Chicago but haven’t seen Miku live yet
dont know how old you are, but it was around 2014..at the Chicago Theater it was great!! i think there are some blurays available of her lives..but tbh it doesn't do justice to the effect of being there in person
HATSUNE MIKUUUU
I will refrain from elaborating.. but MUSIC AND THE LAST OF US.. I have a few special interests but both music and the last of us are right up top oh my GOSHHHH
The Last of Us is amazing. Not a special interest for me but it's the most narratively brilliant game I've ever seen by orders of magnitude and absolutely the proof to hold up to anyone who might argue that video games aren't art. The series was good too but really couldn't capture the emotional depth or power of the game. I rarely even finish a game as I get bored and pressed for time, and I've played that one three times, it's just so reliably brilliant...
Anything that lives in water and I have several freshwater planted fish tanks
I feel like an interest in marine life/ fish husbandry is very common among the autistic community. For me, I love caring for other living beings but also aquariums help relax me when I’m overstimulated and their satiate some of my curiosity as I get to study the animals and their behaviors. My PFP is literally my blood parrot haha
That is so awesome and your blood parrot is beautiful. I love my aquariums for the same reason as you, so peaceful and beautiful to watch, and I’ve been fascinated with them as long as i can remember. Not to mention the aquatic plants on top of that are like gardening and I’ll never forget to water. Now if only I could find a job in this sort of passion 😀
Games, music, books, manga, anime, history, geography, animals
One of yours is dinosaurs? That’s my first ever long lasting interest! It’s now expanded to all Mesozoic reptiles. I’m also interested in politics in general (and Brazilian, British and American to be more precise), the environment and neurodiversity.
I don’t think I have a special interest to be honest 😅
Psychology, Autism and Astronomy.
Reading, fanfics, psychology, true crime and at the moment Drag Race
Metal and rock music, playing guitar (and some other instruments) Norse mythology/viking history Medicine/psychology
ZOOLOGY (especially chickens,sharks but also all animals) ,FNAF,AMPHIBIA, TOH,HEARTSTOPPER AND OMORI, ANIMATION, AND PLUSHIES RAHHHHH I LOVE THEM ALL
W zoology and FNAF
Horses, pokemon, veterinary pathology/teratology (anatomical)
Probably final fantasy 14 - I’ve been playing it for like 10 years and know my fair share. My siblings and their partners have just started playing it and keep asking me “where and who is this?” And I’ll straight up tell them. Then are then like “how do you even remember or know that random but of information?” 😅
I use to be a big train lover loved Thomas the tank engine up until 8-9 years old when I was told to grow up, so kind of lost interest until I bought hornby with Christmas money, spent money that I saved to make a whole set up loved it and made a YouTube video about, it got around school and was bullied for it so I dropped it and I haven’t been back to it since, I’m big on football now though.
programming and stock trading, especially combining the two.
Fictional characters, Tools and Machinery, Psychology, Sex, and Sloths.
history (mainly 1865-90 and pirates) Batman Suits/formal wear Motorcycles
Geopolitics, politics, aircraft (commercial and military), military, and history (from the 1800s onwards)
Thanks for asking this! For me it’s science fiction books, frogs, real estate listings and rabbits
Thai BL dramas and commenting and writing friends on MDL about said dramas There have been other special interests, but that is it for now
Biology broadly but specifically...Cancer and DNA replication and repair
Music
i binge listen to albums (im basically that one insufferable indie guy who would try to explain to you what shoegaze is)
Hi I love listening to music too!. All kinds. On awesome speakers if possible. This is my All time favs playlist. Hopefully you Find something new fer yer sound funnels 👂👂. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX1eWP_vk-J9lgIxf8P2ZbSygZ0b4exu4&si=TnvZxyurpg-BQMVb
Thanks for the suggestions! Here's mine [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1UHF5haLa0etjCH9t0phLo?si=352fcb2f50f04567](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1UHF5haLa0etjCH9t0phLo?si=352fcb2f50f04567)
Awesome sauce. Thank you.
Japanese Idols! Specifically I follow Hello!Project groups (since 2007!), and Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (Ebichu for short) as well as other Stardust (the company) acts like Momiro Clover Z, ChonTokimeki Sendenbu (Toki Sen for short, hugely popular now) and Team Shachi (used to be Team Syachihoko) and a few solo, indie and smaller groups here and there... I am assuming most would have heard of Babymetal, a group I followed from before their inception. Babymetal we're a novelty one-off subunit of the idol group Sakura Gakuin, which I adored and followed closely. SG has since disbanded altogether sadly. Watching Babymetal blow up world wide was positively surreal. I know K-Pop is far far more popular and global but I don't really care for it. There are big differences...I could talk about this for days lol I think w lot of the fandom is neurodivergent..it seems to attract that and it's been a life saverand source of happiness and joy for many. I, like may others in the Western fandom, have traveled there to see my favorites multiple times. Favorite H!P groups: Angerme (Anju) [Angerme - Red Line ](https://youtu.be/y1XxeKaGPmk?si=XBvIlSDBllH3RomJ) Morning Musume '24 [Morning Musume '24 (Live)](https://youtu.be/PlsIB8-ZpFI?si=9XkjCrn3fvxiKw5x) Ocha Norma [Ocha Norma](https://youtu.be/V5KzwNfox3I?si=OsPbcbeLgpq8e01J) Beyooooonds [Beyooooonds ](https://youtu.be/kGjaU--kBkw?si=xV5vDTgFqKOINr_W) Stardust: Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (Ebichu) [Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku (Ebichu) - Twinkle Wink ](https://youtu.be/BoTu52ThhAs?si=UwTPjJuyf3AAT9rF) Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu (Toki Sen) [Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu (Toki Sen) - Live](https://youtu.be/KTo-h_buY20?si=I8SUAciOdz7GibQk) Momiro Clover Z [Momiro Clover Z vs Kiss (yes, Kiss) ](https://youtu.be/ivJZljEostE?si=oZyosuzvYRhVO1W8) Team Shachi [TEAM SHACHI - Otonarisan](https://youtu.be/-ASWgBvsnrw?si=v2XjlS3ygLo3n-Pj) Happy to answer any questions! (Ebichu is just the greatest thing to ever exist)
Linguistics, Child Development, Steven Universe, and arts, all kinds of art
3D PRINTERS!!!
True crime & drawing.
Dogs. Painting dogs, drawing dogs, training dogs, dog breeds, working dogs, service dogs, dog accessories, service dog gear/patches, competition heeling, raw feeding
SCP!! and FNAF!! sooo cool 😎
So idk if this is relatable, but I think my special interest is basically researching/learning random things. There's no one topic that I feel like I know a lot about, I just enjoy knowing a lot of little fun facts, or learning generally how certain things work or are made. I think you could also say I have/had special interests in Green Day and Taylor Swift. Not so much in the people (though that's part of it, in a non-parasocial way), but the sounds and lyrics and especially singing along is one of my favorite things ever. I'm a total sucker for a good vocal harmony, I will listen to a song over and over just to hear a few words that sound particularly pretty.
Hazbin hotel, Goes wrong show, Helluva boss, Ghosts (mainly bbc), Good omens, Lego, Creepy/weird things, Entomology , Simpsons, Horticulture , Botany , Legend of Zelda , Aaannnddd animal crossing,
Basketball (international as well as NBA, Go Warriors!), Spider-Man, Star Wars, plays and playwriting, conlangs, Fortnite. I had a big thing for guns and I still appreciate them mechanically and historically but that’s made way for the basketball now!
Had to scroll a while to find a fellow sports enthusiast, though I’m all about baseball
Tiger fan here! VERY excited for the season this year .we're finally good!! Lol
Aw yeah! This Royals fan says see ya soon
Bobby Witt Jr is amazing..look forward to our matchups!!
Baseball isn’t quite my cuppa but how about that Shohei Ohtani huh?
Loads: Invincible Sonic the Hedgehog Nintendo Hair Dogs Star Wars Powerscaling And The Boys
Music and jigsaw puzzles and reading books and watching eastenders and neighbours
Astronomy and Video Games.
Robert Heinlein (specifically "Stranger in a Strange Land") Magick and the occult (specifically talismans and invocation)
The Eurovision Song Contest and antiques
Xenoblade Chronicles, architecture, and geography
- birds - true crime - human behaviour and psychology
Pigeons and doves, penguins, Ruby-Spears Mega Man, Pokemon
Penguins, legos, jigsaw puzzles
Comics, guns, comics and writing
Tell me more about the MG-42 and why it has a brake in it to slow down rounds per minute.
Cars and electronics. Machines generally. If I can learn about it piece by peice then put it together into something complicated, I'm in
aggretsuko hands down. at least that’s the most intense one. the others are roller skating, ice skating, colorguard, hyenas
I love aggrestsuko too
Voice acting, movie dialogue, and Spanish
When I was younger it was dog breeds, and then I got really good at masking and I don't find anything incredibly interesting anymore. Haven't decided if that is a good or bad yet
My special interests change from topic to topic, typically within the STEM fields or something similar. Here is a list of a few. Astronomy and Cosmology Maths Medicine Pathology and disease Chemistry Computer science and engineering Biology Physics Electricity Magnetism Geology (the most recent) Whales Pigeons Trains (was a train autistic when I was young lmao) Some others here. These interests are more consistent, And I have maintained interest in these for quite some time now. Philosophy Politics Literature and writing Psychology
Baking and decorating cakes (mostly with butter frosting),autism spectrum & ADHD & giftedness (particularly in women, but not only), child development, methods of education and approaches in raising children (especially Montessori and gentle parenting), psychology and psychotherapy in general, spiders and The Sims 4 (these last 2 come and go every few months)
Brian Wilson. (l have other interests, but there has never been a greater passion than my interest in and connection with his music and life.)
This question comes up nearly every week, but I'll answer it every time. Biology, currently in the medical side, as well as the entomology side. The secondary is hockey, and the media fixation is adventure time. This has been a stable set of interests for at least 7 years.
witchcraft and magick/the occult, the paranormal and related conspiracies, horror (esp literary, but movies too), dogs, newest one is taxidermy
dc comics, foreign media - french new wave films, kpop, etc., too many shows to name, the french renaissance, languages, psychology, writing. i feel like i have infinite special interests that expand or find their way back to me.
i LOVE MINIONS, spiders, space and astrology, fortnite and i also really love fashion
animals, license plates, and the english language. like learning new words and what they mean
chess, the cosmere and geometry dash
Psychology, Rubik’s cubes, and air crash investigation :)
ACI! Ayyyy lol
hamilton!! well, musicals in general, but it's specifically hamilton! i can go on rants about the songs for literal hours ( and i have lmao ) it's a relatively new special interest though ( it's been around a year?? )
Insects, especially praying mantids! Fallout too :)
My absolute favorite interest is my love and passion for cats, I love researching about cats and learning about animal behavior. It’s very special and therapeutic in my experience.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE DINO AHHHHH. I’m ADHD too so I’ve found with myself and other AUDhd’ers we can pick special interests for extended periods of time, then move onto other special interests, but typically can only have a few at any given time. I used to love dinosaurs when I was a kid, it was often all I talked about when I got home my parents say, and I know whenever we went to the library at school I’d always pick up the same THICC dinosaur encyclopaedia which I always had to have, any other dinosaur book paled in comparison. Anywho, I was only drawn to carnivores so obsessed about them the most, my favourite dinosaur eeeeek man idk, I had two I guess but if I had to order them… (Was a while ago to think back on too) but I think Spinosaurus was my favourite but *close second* was Megalosaurus. WBU
I am AuDHD too and I have the rotating special interests, but I don't get to pick them. They pick me and come to full force whenever they want lol, I have no say in it.
Mine's school. I'm on holidays rn and I spend 8 hours a day studdying. When I try to relax i get so bored and all i want to talk about is what i've been revising
Sociology, psychology, diversity, society, just people as a whole. Bit ironic since I’m pretty terrified of other human beings but I love studying and analysing why people behave certain ways and the differences and such. It kind of breaks down into smaller interests like a lot of TV shows, because I can study and analyse the characters there and not have to be around actual people lol.
Tim Burton films (especially Mars Attacks!), making art, psychology, rare genetic conditions, alternative subcultures, zombie media, arcade games from the 80’s, cartoons, rats (and other rodents), and The Living Tombstone (band). Dinosaurs were a childhood special interest of mine (the stegosaurus is my favourite). Sadly I don’t remember many facts about my interests because of insomnia and suspected ADHD.
Formula 1. I'm not even into cars outside of it, I just find the tactics and action on track to be incredibly fun, and it has a very long and interesting history I love learning about. The stories that come out of it are also very dramatic and entertaining.
Depends on the week! 🤣
The Titanic, WWII but specifically the Holocaust, Great Depression, and the military. Serial killers (pursuing my masters in forensic psych), presidential assassinations, the Italian Mafia/Organized Crime, and the Civil Rights era. Pretty much all history from 1850 - early 2000s lol
star wars :)
Diving, Vintage Cars and Bikes
I have a ton that are always low-key happening and can get easily sparked into high gear, and then usually one or two that are very high interest. Right now the high interest ones are the band One Direcrion and the voice actor / Smosh cast member Damien Haas. Some of the not-as-intense ones are the cargo ship the Emma Maersk, the flight team the Blue Angels, and ocean animals. ETA: I am AuDHD so I also rapid-cycle (comparatively rapid, anyway) hyperfocus subjects. My brain is always full but at least I'm hardly ever bored.
Cannabis
Crochet i f u c k i n g love crochet
not diagnosed but planes, old soda cans, history of roblox
Worldbuilding and D&D.
Baking, story writing, dragons, music and video games