Let’s have some fun here. You’re autistic; have the ‘tism.
Here are many words that end in tism.
In fact, there are so many, that referring to ‘tism as autism isn’t as unique as you may think.
Frankly, too many words end in tism to think of this suffix as unique to autism.
Nevertheless, I’ve seen tee shirts with ‘tism on them, such as one that says, “God blessed me with the ‘tism.”
Below is a list of the words; this list is not complete.
- absolutism
- adventism
- animatism
- antisemitism
- astigmatism
- baptism
- defeatism
- docetism
- dogmatism
- donatism
- egotism
- elitism
- eremitism
- erotism
- favoritism
- hypnotism
- leftism
- magnetism
- nepotism
- patriotism
- pietism
- pragmatism
- quietism
- rightism
- semitism
- statism
- syncretism
These aren’t words for which I’ve added “ism” to. These are actual words.
What is the ‘tism tingle?
Also known as the tizm tingle, it’s when an autistic person can immediately tell when someone else is autistic — in the context of a typical interaction or brief observation in public.
In other words, the tingling really doesn’t count much when the Autistic is at an autism resource fair, where many other Autistics are certainly in attendance.
I’m talking about just being out and about in the community, conducting routine errands or tasks — and encountering people along the way.
The people may be employees at big box stores. They may be sitting nearby at the cafe where you’re having lunch.
They may be walking in the parking lot where you just parked your car, or working out at the gym.
And you could just tell. If you’re on the Spectrum, you know what I mean.
Some Autistics refer to this as autie radar. I like to call it suspectrum.
When my ‘tism is tingling, I think, “Suspectrum!”
This all doesn’t mean that the individual whom we have spotted has the so-called frank autism, where it’s plainly obvious to any neurotypical nearby.
For example, at a special needs social event where there were neurotypicals as well, I noticed a young woman who seemed typical — until she’d suddenly dash forward about 10 feet and flap her hands.
Then she’d return to presenting as typical, carrying on conversations.
I began chatting with her; she was 18 and had a job at Walgreens, and was working on ways to suppress her stimming in public. I gave her tips on “replacement stims.”
But as for the ‘tism tingle, I’m talking about very subtle signs in an individual — very subtle, that can easily be overlooked by NTs. You just know.
