Charles Davis Aug 27, 2017:

Hi herbalchemist Not at all! :)

The paradox seems to be that challenging people like him for being challenging makes them more challenging.

Herbmione Granger Aug 27, 2017:

Hi Charles Are you trying to "call me out"? ;) Yes, it could just be people in general rather than people trying to help. Would that be "ironic"?

Charles Davis Aug 27, 2017:

Isn't he simply referring to people who have no understanding of or interest in autism, and probably don't even realise he is autistic, "calling him out" for behaving strangely, and perhaps disturbingly, by normal social standards? Just before this he says: "I've had people calling me out when I have no idea I'm doing anything differently to upset the status quo. I've had people call me odd, strange or weird, when I'm simply talking or just existing". What seems odd to others seems normal to him.

Herbmione Granger Aug 27, 2017:

calling out Is being used in the wrong way. As airmailrpl stated, it is used to point out unacceptable behavior, not a disease or disability. Ex: "This guy is not as well-read on this topic as he makes himself out to be. I'm calling him out on it." > I'm going to confront him and tell him that he doesn't know as much as he makes it appear.
Nevertheless, we can glean the meaning from the source text as is. There is probably some theory that telling an autistic person (confronting instead of ignoring them) when they are doing "autistic things" (engaging in "challenging behavior") will direct them to behave more "normally." According to the author, this is not the case.