For some reason people who make super exaggerated body gestures all the time piss me off...

I don't know exactly what it is about it, but it just pisses me off. Like this one guy I knew, who every time he found something even remotely funny he would start clapping, jumping up and down, and laughing really loud. Like if he did this only here and there that would've been one thing, but it was EVERY time he found something even a little bit funny.

Like he couldn't just simply laugh, he would have to get up and start clapping his hands and jumping up and down. Like I get having a sense of humor is nice and all, but it just felt way over the top and too extra and unnecessary.

Almost always he was the only one laughing like this too. Meaning he stuck out a lot because usually nobody would laugh the way he did. While everyone else would sort of chuckle quietly, he'd laugh in that sort of manner.

I can't think of many other examples besides that one guy, but he was definitely the most egregious example of this.

Camelia · F

It's possible he has autism. In my experience working in a nursery, I saw that children with autism would frequently wave their hands whenever they were happy or upset. Their repeated pacing up and down while holding their hands in their mouths to indicate excitement or discomfort was something else I observed.

RandomPersonThings · 22-25

@Camelia Really huh...I never thought of it that way, but you might be right. By default I assume everyone is neurotypical unless stated otherwise, but neurodivergent people are probably a lot more common than we tend to think as well.

The children with autism you describe do sound pretty similar to the acquaintance I described, though that acquaintance was a full grown man, and older than me, actually.

Camelia · F

@RandomPersonThings Please don't feel bad; although, from what you've said, I see a pattern, it might not be his circumstances. Many of them carry on into adulthood, but my 20-year-old cousin only does it in our presence since he's learned to control it in public areas. It all depends on how comfortable they feel around you.