If you asked me about battleships, or Godzilla movies, or Nintendo, I could literally talk for hours. Like, non-stop. At some point I might get so into it that I might forget to breathe and end up gasping for air like Darth Vader having an asthma attack.
This is known as “infodumping”, and is very common among us autistics. Often, it’s treated rather negatively, as socially inappropriate behaviour that needs to be trained out of us. As with autism itself though, looking at it from this angle is like judging a rose by its thorns; you’ll miss out on its positive aspects.
For example, autistics don’t infodump for no reason; for a start, it feels fantastic. When I’m talking about my special interests, it’s like liquid sunshine is rushing through my veins and my brain is lit up like the milky way on a moonless country night. Our interests have a special place in our hearts and minds, and expressing them is like when an artist paints or an author writes, it ignites our soul in a blaze of passion.
It can also be a very powerful coping mechanism and a way of connecting with others. A wonderful parent I know actively encourages infodumping as a way to deepen her bond with her autistic child and help them cope with stressful situations. If her child is showing signs of being unsettled, having an opportunity to infodump can bring them great comfort.
A few years back, I remember reading a quote from another young autistic; “On the mornings when I am having trouble getting ready for school, my mum will ask me to explain something about my favourite game. Infodumping gives me energy!”
As an autistic myself, I can relate to both these kids; two years ago when I was on my way to hospital to find out if my cancer had spread, my own awesome Mum invited me to infodump to keep me from breaking down.
Not only is it a very effective distraction from whatever is making us feel terrible, but the positive emotions it invokes are so strong that they can provide a potent counter balance to anxiety, anger, or sadness.
It’s not just beneficial for the person doing it either. If you listen to an autistic person infodump, you’re sure to learn something. The positivity can be contagious too; when I’ve done it in the presence of my amazing partner, she says it makes me “sparkle” and that makes her happy.
Like with many things to do with autism, and so much in life in general, examining something through a negative lens is counterproductive. Infodumping gets a bad rap, but if we take the time to examine it more closely, there is value and purpose to it.