I was saving this for a weekend thread, but this post might be around for a while, so I’ll post here.
I have two YouTube channels. The first is a standard cooking channel where I do recipes. I have about 430 subscribers. The second one is where I talk about pencils, pens, manual typewriters, and zines. I have exactly 20 subscribers.
The odd thing is that I have the same amount of interaction with subscribers on both channels. Roughly the same number of comments, replies, likes, etc.
When I pointed this out to a friend, they said that this seemed normal to them because my second channel is more “spectrummy” (their word) than the first one. I wasn’t sure what they meant, and they said that it’s like how people on the autism spectrum or people with Asperger’s can really get into something (i.e., trains) and get enthusiastic about it. They added that a lot of those 20 subscribers are probably, but not definitely, somewhere on the spectrum. (If I could add an image, it would be me with a WTF? look on my face.)
And now I have two questions.
First, I know that second channel is very niche. I’m surprised that I have any subscribers, to be honest. But are people now using the word “spectrummy” to mean “niche”?
Second, is the trains example actually a thing with autistic people, or is this just an idea that the movies have foisted on us? Are wooden pencils especially attractive to people on the spectrum? Is this even a thing? I have no idea. Are people who like pens and pencils and typewriters just…people, some on the spectrum and some not? (I know exactly one person with Asperger’s and he and I have the same fondness for smooth-writing pens. But I know a lot of people without Asperger’s who like smooth-writing pens.)
(And FWIW, I’ve had a few friends suggest that I may be on the spectrum because I like “niche” things. There are other signs, which they’ve also pointed out, and which actually make sense. I’ve considered getting tested, but it’s never bothered me enough that I’ve taken that step. I think I’m doing okay.)
