Thanks, and I agree!

Thanks for the affirmation that I did the right thing, and that my needs matter. I got to put that on a sign on my wall!

I hear you about your African friends. I got the same thing in Jamaica. People in other countries think USA-ians are all filthy rich. They don't realize how hard we work here -- longer hours and fewer benefits than in most other wealthy countries -- and how much everything costs. Or how you can't sleep for free in the commons area or pick food from the trees like you can over there.

I balked at the idea of putting P. to work, because, to my mind, I was repaying a debt that I owed her. It would be wrong to make a person work for what is already owed them.

We autists value honesty and integrity very highly, and avoid lying and any sort of manipulation. So it's hard for me to imagine people who lie and manipulate just because they can. Just like it's hard for anyone -- autistic or not -- to imagine the thought processes of anyone else whose mind works differently. (Who can put themselves in Jeffery Dahmer's shoes?)

It's good that I got out. I'm probably doing more effective reparations in my math tutoring work than in giving away my paycheck to people who are laughing at me behind my back while drinking the beer I bought for them. I've been told that my work is not reparations because I get paid: just a tad above minimum wage and no benefits -- yippie! I think it's reparations because I could be making 10x as much money doing private tutoring for rich white kids. But that's not my calling. My calling is to use my talents to make things better for everyone, especially the people who usually get left out. White saviorism? Maybe -- but to me it just feels like paying my dues.

Thanks again for the feedback and affirmation. You're awesome!