I'm not 100% sure that I'm an Aspie since I can't afford a formal diagnosis, but I'm happy to find that I'm not alone in having these concerns. Like often I don't know what to say and the conversation just dropped off when the person I'm talking to does not share my interests. Often I alone talk about things like genomics, programming, or science and religion (basically my special interests) with the person next to me (if I know that he or she is a scientist) while everybody else are talking about more casual things. Back in my undergrad years, I had 3 roommates (actually for quite a while, 4), 3 of whom were Christian life science majors just as I am, and one of them was an economics major and not religious. Then I talked to the 3 life science majors quite a lot, about our research, classes, and science and religion, while I almost never talked to the economics major because I had no idea what to talk about. I still feel so sorry for her after we graduated since she might have felt really alienated (I really never meant to alienate her), but I don't know what to do. Sometimes I attempt to have small talk with colleagues or after church service, but I just look and sound different from people around me (mainly my monotone voice and lack of gestures) and I don't know what to do; often the conversation becomes an interview and I'm usually the one answering questions. I went to my parents' house last summer, and my mom (who is the most social in my family) often said I behaved like a child in social situations, but I insisted that was not the case since I was 22 years old and about to go to graduate school. I still don't understand how I would have been childish. However, I don't always feel alienated or stupid in social situations since there are many people who are very patient and respectful and will talk to me however weird I may be. Most of my friends are nerds (at least all of my college and graduate school friends), but I do have some non-nerd friends from high school who appreciate my quirks and would listen to my monologues.