I need an advice.

[Rookieqw]

Sorry to bother you, but I need your advice on something simple.

There is a group whose members cannot express their feelings vocally or through facial expressions. When they talk to outsiders and their statements can be interpreted in both ways (sarcastic or truthful), they add a word after a sentence such as sincerity for truth or weariness to indicate that they are tired of talking about a subject.

Is it best and proper to explain to readers why these people are doing this, or would it be better to let readers figure it out for themselves, since I have already explained in the story that this group cannot express emotions?

 

[RoyalTime]

Just say: If you want to know why they are like that then buy my $10 patreon exclusive membership?

 

[owotrucked]

Is it best and proper to explain to readers why these people are doing this, or would it be better to let readers figure it out for themselves, since I have already explained in the story that this group cannot express emotions?

Let the reader figure it out

 

[Hoshino]

Leave hints and not tell them directly.
Slowly let the reader find out.

 

[LilRora]

I always use a simple rule for things like that. Do NOT explain anything in narration unless you absolutely need to. If you think it's not obvious and likely to be misunderstood, you can either only mention it in narration (do not treat readers as idiots and explain everything), or explain it concisely in dialogue when appropriate.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

I just go, "I was beaten into a coma with a baseball bat and my face came loose. They had to sew it back into place. That's why only 30% of my face works and smiling is painful. Want to see the stitches? I can pull my upper lip up over my nose and show you."

 

[Corty]

Is it best and proper to explain to readers why these people are doing this, or would it be better to let readers figure it out for themselves, since I have already explained in the story that this group cannot express emotions?

That's like the Elcor from Mass Effect or HK from KotoR.

Anyway, I wouldn't start explaining why, it should be pretty obvious.

 

[lirvothethird]

Sorry to bother you, but I need your advice on something simple.

There is a group whose members cannot express their feelings vocally or through facial expressions. When they talk to outsiders and their statements can be interpreted in both ways (sarcastic or truthful), they add a word after a sentence such as sincerity for truth or weariness to indicate that they are tired of talking about a subject.

Is it best and proper to explain to readers why these people are doing this, or would it be better to let readers figure it out for themselves, since I have already explained in the story that this group cannot express emotions?

Milk it. The readers will naturally know pretty soon, but the MC should develop along with it. Just don't make the MC too oblivious as that will make people annoyed. Maybe get a scene in where the MC does that as well? Just to troll people.

 

[Valmond]

You explain it, they’ll say you haven’t. You don’t explain it, and they’ll fill in the blanks with their imagination. And then say you haven’t explained it.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Are we talking about autism here? The best way to explain that is differences in brain structure.

 

[RoyalTime]

Are we talking about autism here? The best way to explain that is differences in brain structure.

I think u like the number 3 quite much

 

[Nolff]

Sorry to bother you, but I need your advice on something simple.

There is a group whose members cannot express their feelings vocally or through facial expressions. When they talk to outsiders and their statements can be interpreted in both ways (sarcastic or truthful), they add a word after a sentence such as sincerity for truth or weariness to indicate that they are tired of talking about a subject.

Is it best and proper to explain to readers why these people are doing this, or would it be better to let readers figure it out for themselves, since I have already explained in the story that this group cannot express emotions?

Well, how many hints have you scattered around your novel chaps? If it's abundant (not a recommended amount unless needed), then they should've noticed. If it isn't much, then there's a chance some of your readers haven't caught it yet. And if you have made the hints quite obvious and they don't realize it, then it's on their fault.

I think u like the number 3 quite much

What?

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Are we talking about autism here? The best way to explain that is differences in brain structure.

I have an acoustically structural brain. It's why I am so poetically talented.

 

[Rookieqw]

Are we talking about autism here? The best way to explain that is differences in brain structure.

No, the group in question had mutated from humans, gained something, and lost something in the process. In terms of personality, they are still very much human, but their traditions and habits have been shaped differently due to the new limitation.

 

[Clo]

I wouldn't mention anything, unless you have a fish-out-of-water character who can the rude or clueless one who asks and servers as the reader's proxy.

But honestly, as an autistic neurodivergent person myself? I swear, I should start to do it more often.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Depends on IQ and culture of your target audience. If you're looking for a modern audience, you'll need to explain everything.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

No, the group in question had mutated from humans, gained something, and lost something in the process. In terms of personality, they are still very much human, but their traditions and habits have been shaped differently due to the new limitation.

Ah, so the autists formed an autist colony and interbred with each other for thousands of years?