Cliches/Obsessions about speech

[gsmax5]

Am I unique to this problem or is it common to people who have social phobia? I can never say cliches. I just don't. I'm really obsessive about not saying things that I either think sound stupid, or I don't understand the meaning.

This is even to the point where I won't pronounce the spanish "ll" as a "y", just because it bugs me. You'll never hear me saying a cliche like "What's a matter, cat got your tongue?" (what the hell is that supposed to mean anyway) or " Don't put all your eggs in one basket".

 

[dpr]

Am I unique to this problem or is it common to people who have social phobia? I can never say cliches. I just don't. I'm really obsessive about not saying things that I either think sound stupid, or I don't understand the meaning.

This is even to the point where I won't pronounce the spanish "ll" as a "y", just because it bugs me. You'll never hear me saying a cliche like "What's a matter, cat got your tongue?" (what the hell is that supposed to mean anyway) or " Don't put all your eggs in one basket".

I know what you mean, I don't have that problem with cliches but I have it with saying "Bless you" or "God bless you" after people sneeze.

I never say it, cuz I think it's stupid. First of all, I'm not really into the whole "God" thing. Second of all, I'm pretty sure the term came from back when people thought your life force escaped through your nose when you sneezed (so people said "God bless you" so you would be blessed and your life force would return or something).

So now I'm like, why say it? It's so stupid! I don't think that people's life forces escape through their noses!

There's "Gesundheit" but I don't even know what that means. Probably German for "Bless you."

I guess I could say "You're so good lookin" like on Seinfeld.

It sucks though, because some people think that if you don't say "Bless you," then you're rude. The worst is that when some people sneeze, they say "Bless me."

And I'm just like.... "No."

 

[Lea]

Asperger, asperger... what you describe is typical for this disorder. I´m not saying you necessarily have it, but I would strongly recommend to have it checked.

 

[magic]

Asperger, asperger... what you describe is typical for this disorder. I´m not saying you necessarily have it, but I would strongly recommend to have it checked.

I agree,It sounds very much like aspergers syndrome to me.

 

[toothpastekisses]

..................

 

[gsmax5]

Asperger, asperger... what you describe is typical for this disorder. I´m not saying you necessarily have it, but I would strongly recommend to have it checked.

Well, you certainly got my hopes up, but after looking into Asperger's Syndrome, I don't think I don't have it.

I also took a test (Asperger Test (AQ Test) - Pie Palace)
and got 24 (average math contest winner?); a score of 32 indicates mild Asperger's syndrome.

One of the reasons I don't think I have AS, is that one of the characteristics is "lack of empathy towards others". I am more empathetic than most people I know, though I often don't show it.

 

[Lea]

Well, you certainly got my hopes up, but after looking into Asperger's Syndrome, I don't think I don't have it.

I also took a test (Asperger Test (AQ Test) - Pie Palace)
and got 24 (average math contest winner?); a score of 32 indicates mild Asperger's syndrome.

One of the reasons I don't think I have AS, is that one of the characteristics is "lack of empathy towards others". I am more empathetic than most people I know, though I often don't show it.

Yes, that´s exactly what I used to think as well. I thought I probably didn´t have it, because I don´t lack empathy, sometimes I rather think on the contrary. I was also by 2 GP´s and asked them to send me to a specialist, but they refused I could have it. Later I went to a specialist on my own and she said I definitely have it. I also did some tests, the IQ got above average result. My verbal abilities are normal, or even very good, I use gestures but not too much and only a fleeting eye contact. I can appear almost normal when talking to one person, or perhaps a bit shy or depressed. This can puzzle people who are not specialists in autism. And apart from being diagnosed by a specialist, I myself know how huge difficulties esp. in nonverbal behaviour I have, the way my brain works badly... it´s a real illness in my case, I´m not exchaggerating. I remember doing some test on internet for autism as well, don´t know maybe it was the same, and got 27 points.
I still suggest that you go to a specialist, but it´s up to you and how much your difficulties trouble you in life.

 

[hippiechild]

Lol The very fact that your result was "average math contest winner" pretty much makes that test invalid. It sounds goofy and unprofessional at best. I'd look for a better source before ruling out or subscribing for aspergers.

 

[gsmax5]

Lol The very fact that your result was "average math contest winner" pretty much makes that test invalid. It sounds goofy and unprofessional at best. I'd look for a better source before ruling out or subscribing for aspergers.

Well, the test was made by Simon Baron-Cohen (Ali g/Borat's cousing) and then later put onto the internet by Wired magazine. Maybe the results such as "average math contest winner" were put up by another person later.

 

[Anubis]

Why do we have to bring in obscure diseases into this. It's seems simple to me. You hate the sound of cliches. Why? Possibly because you hate boring and trite things. It's a normal preference.

 

[mismeek]

I know what you mean, I don't have that problem with cliches but I have it with saying "Bless you" or "God bless you" after people sneeze.

I never say it, cuz I think it's stupid. First of all, I'm not really into the whole "God" thing. Second of all, I'm pretty sure the term came from back when people thought your life force escaped through your nose when you sneezed (so people said "God bless you" so you would be blessed and your life force would return or something).

So now I'm like, why say it? It's so stupid! I don't think that people's life forces escape through their noses!

There's "Gesundheit" but I don't even know what that means. Probably German for "Bless you."

I guess I could say "You're so good lookin" like on Seinfeld.

It sucks though, because some people think that if you don't say "Bless you," then you're rude. The worst is that when some people sneeze, they say "Bless me."

And I'm just like.... "No."

you could just say "you okay?" or "salud" which is spanish for health...then you dont have to worry about the religion stuff and your still being polite.

 

[gsmax5]

Why do we have to bring in obscure diseases into this. It's seems simple to me. You hate the sound of cliches. Why? Possibly because you hate boring and trite things. It's a normal preference.

Yeah, that sounds like me; you're probably right.

 

[dpr]

you could just say "you okay?" or "salud" which is spanish for health...then you dont have to worry about the religion stuff and your still being polite.

I like salud!

But why say anything you know? We aren't expected to repeat a phrase after someone coughs or yawns, so why do it when they sneeze?

It just seems stupid to me.

 

[dpr]

Yeah, I'm obsessed with not sounding cliche too. And as for the sneezing "bless you" thing, that's a complete nono too- though I feel like a right bastard after I ignore some poor person sneezing their lungs out. I just can't do it. It could be asperger's, but then again a lot of people probably try to avoid sounding cliche, SA-er or not

lol... yeah I feel bad too, I feel like they think I'm impolite or something.

 

[gsmax5]

I like We aren't expected to repeat a phrase after someone coughs or yawns, so why do it when they sneeze?

It just seems stupid to me.

Yeah seriously, I always thought sneezing was a good thing. I would always take sneezing over feeling like you need to sneeze, and then not end up sneezing after all; I hate it when that happens!

 

[dpr]

Yeah seriously, I always thought sneezing was a good thing. I would always take sneezing over feeling like you need to sneeze, and then not end up sneezing after all; I hate it when that happens!

I love sneezing! It feels awesome! For some unfortunate reason, I can only sneeze a maximum of 3 times in a row (I think once I did 4, but that was a freak thing). I once saw a girl sneeze 14 times (I counted), then afterward I told her she was lucky.

 

[dpr]

No, it is relevant because we aren’t comfortable adhering to certain social norms. This creates an awkward situation where we panic about looking rude. It’s not just moaning about not liking ‘bless you.’

Yeah I agree. I mean it could be just that he/she hates sounding cliched, but if it bothers him/her enough to start a thread about it, it might be something more.

 

[Ursula]

I'm also obsessed with avoiding cliches too and saying 'bless you' is also horribly embarrassing especially as I don't believe in god. I think most people dislike cliches and feel a bit silly saying them but if you're a s.a. sufferer that feeling of saying something a bit silly gets magnified into a feeling of being the most imbecilic person who ever existed- or that's how I feel anyway when I say something really cliched. I don't see how just this one trait could mean aspergers though- there could be all sorts of different and opposing psychological problems that could make you phobic about cliches.

 

[dpr]

I'm also obsessed with avoiding cliches too and saying 'bless you' is also horribly embarrassing especially as I don't believe in god. I think most people dislike cliches and feel a bit silly saying them but if you're a s.a. sufferer that feeling of saying something a bit silly gets magnified into a feeling of being the most imbecilic person who ever existed- or that's how I feel anyway when I say something really cliched. I don't see how just this one trait could mean aspergers though- there could be all sorts of different and opposing psychological problems that could make you phobic about cliches.

I do feel silly about it, but mostly I feel like it would be compromising my principles to say it. It seems like such a dumb thing to be so serious about. I could just say "bless you," and they'd think I'm normal but instead I have to be difficult about it just because I think it's a dumb thing to say.

Yeah, I don't think it necessarily means the OP has aspergers, but it could be a sign I guess?