Recently I read through the comments on a post and someone suggested OP should „just read the room“.
I have been told this since I was young and it triggers me every time.
Being unaware of social dynamics in a situation is a thing a lot of autistic people I know struggle with. „Reading the room“ in my understanding means „becoming aware of the unspoken things in a situation“.
Collins dictionary says: If you say that someone reads the room, you mean that they understand their audience and adapt what they say to suit it.
I think, although not on purpose, saying this is massively ableist and making fun of someone for „not reading the room“ is harassment imo.
Feel free to give an opposing opinion as well. I would like to hear them.
It’s up to non-autistic people to read the room when autistic people are present, not the other way around. I say this as a non-autistic person.
Also non-autistic people fail to read the room all the damn time, so remember that when some butthead is trying to reprimand you for not “reading the room”.
This must be the nicest and most understanding and comforting thing someone ever commented on my posts. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.