Computer noises are the focus in the festival setting, it’s not a distraction.

Pen clicks are little momentary brain erasers that rip the attention you’re so desperately trying to focus away from the thing you’re focusing on, and now you have to struggle constantly to get it back with each one.

Pen clicks would be no problem if you were intentionally focusing on someone clicking their pen.

This is less ADHD and more autism, right?

My Sensory Processing Disorder is what got me on the road to my autism diagnosis in adulthood, it's bad.

And I've heard the "gotcha" about music and concerts so many times, especially since I too am a massive fan of "computer noises *" (honestly though classical music concerts are the worst offender because all you can hear is others around you clearing throats, coughing, opening candy wrappers.. It's like torture), but somehow only just recently the penny dropped - it's a stim!

So not only is it the choice thing and the fact that you can follow music vs how sudden/sharp noises just completely scramble your brain and all that other stuff, but also - it's calming to the nervous system (especially when you're having a sensory overload and putting headphones with loud music on is enough to block out the noise, never mind a defence against that in the first place), it's giving me something enjoyable to focus on, it's giving me these lovely sounds to vocalise along with (vocal stimming/echolalia, which can be harder with lyrics vs just music because words make you think), it's probably the only thing other than my cat purring that I can completely sink in to even if it's just for a minute or two to get a break from the internal noise in my head (doesn't always work, but nothing else does).

None of that helps explain it to the NTs though, more often than not when I try their instinct is to make as many horrible noises as they can, and not just then, but at random points later to "test" me, or worse, openly state that they are doing it to trigger me because they find my distressed reaction hilarious. A few do get it, and they try their best, but it's still a constant asking them to "please not", and if they can hear that without taking it personally and getting upset, then you know they can stay lol

*here was what I originally linked but then my playlist changed my mind, but both are good, listen to both lol

Honestly, yeah. How do you explain that? You kinda just have to hope that the other person respects your wish and stops.

My sensory issues are mostly smell and "human" noises. It drives me fucking crazy hearing someone with a whistle in their nose, or loud breathing, or smacking their lips, etc.

This specific thing even has a name, but I forgot what it's called right now. It's annoying because, well, it makes me irrationally irritated firsr of all, but second it's not like I can ask someone to just... not be human. No matter how politely I phrase it.

And above all that: It's triggered by a lot of "stimming" activities, which I even have myself with bouncing my legs. So I even irritate my own damn self.

They don't make me cry, but they do trigger my fight-or-fight response. The joys of misophonia...

Yuh, that's partially cause those noises (music) are pleasurable, I've been getting into Waterparks recently and some of their songs give me the tingling feeling all around my shoulders and head that I've been missing from Deathcore bands (my most recent obsession) recently.

The clicking of pens on the other hand...

We had an open office (small, about ten people in-person on a given day). There would get to be three conversations happening across the space. I wished people wouldn't talk over each other, just go have a quiet discussion face to face. I wanted to scream "shut up shut UP SHUT UP," and would just walk out to preserve my sanity. I hated that shit.

My boss is the worst for this. We'll be sitting on a call in our conference room and he'll start clicking his pen. Or playing with his water bottle. Or slapping his lips. After seven years I haven't committed murder yet, though.

I might be a weirdo but I will click a clickable pen almost 99% of the time, but with others around I will make a conscious effort to muffle the click noise.

And I may or may not even hear someone else doing it as I kinda find it soothing, as long as they keep a rhythm. Don't be the all over the place click monster!

Well, am pen-clicking and leg-shaking because adhd, so while I sympathize and will stop, it'll start again in like 2min. I'm fidgity so I barely notice it consciously anymore and straight up forgot you just asked me to stop, :D.

But they need to stim!