AIBU to be annoyed by people who think literally

[CunningStunt86]

One of my friends does this all the time. She will take everything I say, literally.
For example, we were in my garage (new place, so was showing her around) I explained that it'd be a good space, once I got rid of the cellar spiders that have taken over. She genuinely looked puzzled, and said... "cellar spiders? But this is a garage, shouldn't they be in the cellar?!!"
I was so taken aback, I just laughed it off
but she was being serious 🙈 I mean how do you respond to people like this?!

Surely you respond to it by either clarifying or simply saying what you mean in the first place?

DH asked DS to stand by the two trees near a hotel when dropping off a friend at the airport....DS then stood outside the Hilton Double Tree Hotel 🙈🤣

I’d have said the same as your friend to be honest. I wish people would just say what they mean but I appreciate we are not all wired the same way. So YABU although I hope nobody takes me literally and thinks we’re all connected inside by actual wires!

My DD does this. She is in the ASC pathway and does not understand phrases and takes things literally all the time. It’s tiresome having to explain common phrases to her! 😂

YABU - this kind of thinking isn't uncommon. Just explain 'I call them that because they're the type of spider usually found in cellars.'

I’m a bit literal as well.
That would have popped into my head immediately.

Didn't you just say "I meant spiders" and move on.

YABU

I’m not sure why it would annoy you? She takes things literally, so clarifies and you answer. Why does it annoy you?

I've never heard of a cellar spider so I'd have said something similar I think! To me they're all just spiders. Although thinking about it actually I know there are garden spiders, I see a lot of them in the autumn.

I'm sure plenty of people find the way you talk annoying too. That's just life. If she annoys you so much just don't be friends with her, you're grown, you get to choose who you spend time with.

Sounds like she didn't know that term. You were being quite specific.

Probably just being clear and explaining myself as needed. 'no, it means those long legged spiders, don't you call them cellar spiders?'

I was constantly ridiculed and put down, called all sorts of names because I was like this as a child/teen.

Turns out I'm Autistic and have Adhd and have burn out from a few things but one is masking to such a severe degree to save face with people like you.

So yeah, YABU.

OP you invented a type of spider/colloquial name for one it’s not surprising friend didn’t get it

How dare your friend expect the words you say to mean what they sound like!

Honestly, have you never thought that our world of idioms is utterly ridiculous?

Also I’ve never heard of a “cellar spider”…

I didn't even know a cellar spider was a type of spider, I guess she didn't either. I thought that they were house spiders.

TBH if you can't even cope with that I don't know how you cope with people at all, you just sound like a bit of a shit friend tbf. Plus people with autism take things literally as part of their condition so you also being ableist. Shitty all round really.

I’ve never heard of a cellar spider!

YABU.
Absolutely normal for ND people or Asperger's.
One here.

If something like this is "annoying" you, you must have a really stressful time of it in general life.

I've never heard of cellar spiders either.

If you already know that your friend takes things literally, why don't you communicate more clearly? Use straightforward language that doesn't rely on the listener having to think about idioms or alternative meanings.

Someone will be along soon to suggest ASD of course.

I mean literally.

Never heard of cellar spiders either, I would have assumed you meant any type of spiders that live in cellar/basement/garage. We call them daddy long legs here.

I’ve never heard of a cellar spider. We just call them ‘spiders’ around here.

Personally I find it more annoying when people speak in riddles and expect you to know what they mean

Most of us in our house are ND. Our pet hate is that humans don’t say what they mean. They’re indirect and hint at shit.

Literal thinking rules.