Autism and right and wrong

I have a very strong sense of wanting to know right from wrong and act upon this.

[Written in 2020]

I have been told before that I try to be ‘too equal’ and try too hard to do the ‘right thing’. I am black and white when it comes to right and wrong and leave little to no room for any grey area in between.

This is common in a lot of autistic people (not all) that have a very strong sense of right and wrong and can’t cope when that line is crossed. I think this stems from our need for rules and boundaries. An action should or should not be done, something should or should not be said. It is or it isn’t racist, it is or it isn’t sexist, and if it crosses that line I have no tolerance for it. Often leading to social persecution for being ‘touchy’ around these things.

A few years ago, we were travelling when there was a problem with one of the seat belts. It was clicked in, but we knew it was not working properly. In my mind it was not right, and we should not be driving the car like that. I hit autistic meltdown and had to try to hide the fact I couldn’t cope with the problematic seatbelt, at the great judgement of the rest of the car.

I think people like to think I make big deals out of things. That’s how autistic reactions seem, I guess. Like I’m just being dramatic and wanting to cause a problem over something which to them is fine and they will sort out as soon as we arrive.