Re: What's the difference between autistic obsessions and obsessions of an non autist
From my experience, and from what I (think I) know, autistic obsessions are usually more (or sometimes less) narrow in scope, to the point where we need to gather numerous and sometimes irrelevant details about whatever. I'm not saying we aren't capable of building upon our obsessions and turning them into something beneficial (think - Temple Grandin and animals), but there are plenty accounts of autistics and even aspies who obsess over a certain topic, thing, whatever, without ever putting their knowledge to use in some sort of meaningful way. I used to be this type of person, especially so when I was younger, up until I realized that unless I'm gaining something from it that it's really not worth much effort or time. My obsessions these days tend to be relatively short lived now, more than they used to be, and I can share a variety of details about a handful of things if asked, but I just don't see the point in it anymore. You can rattle off the names of all the players on a sports team, their stats, etc., and you might get props for it or even land yourself (mistakenly) the title of "genius", but that's about the extent of it. To succeed, I need to expand myself - my single minded focus can only get me so far and that's it.
As for the other side, obsessions in that group may or may not override their lives - depending on who you're dealing with and what - but they tend to either burn out fairly quickly or, like us, they might linger around for a while. It might also not be as details-oriented and intense, though I've come across people who will go well into depth about something if you so inquire about it. That though is more of an assumption based on my experience here, as I'm not too familiar with how obsession really plays out in a non-autistic person.