Extroverted Aspie Here

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I was diagnosed at 14, but I never really fit in with the autistic crowd. I am possibly one of the most extroverted people at my engineering college (not saying a whole lot there Razz). I've joined, and am vice president of, a Fraternity on campus and have worked as an adviser for other students on how to be more socially involved.

I am unique in that I am VERY anti-tradition and anti-routine. I you have always done something one way, there is no better reason to do it a different way. I love being interrupted and I love going out of way to help people out. But at the same time, I appear so nonchalant that it seems like I dont care about anything. My eye contact has become spectacular over the years and I think i have overcome every verbal tick I have ever had.

I do have special interests, but I am the type of person where I can study something extensively for years, then just drop it instantly once I'm done with it. For example, I was an amazing guitar hero player back in high school, could beat any song on expert. Once i got to college, I dropped it completely for two years. Recently I found a controller and picked it up again and I am having a blast with it. But as soon as a graduate, i probably wont bring it with me

Was I misdiagnosed? I registered just to find someone else like me. I know I can not understand body language, irony, sarcasm, flirting, or anything that is "between the lines". I have a ton of friends, or people I am aquainted with, because an athletic 6 foot tall 250lb guy sticks out like a sore thumb at an engineering school, but I hate small talk, can immediately trust anyone (and am very gullible) and only have a few people that actually have gotten to the point where they trust me back.

One particular incident rings in my mind where i applied for the job and in the interview I mentioned that I was an aspie and the response I got from the interviewer was "Yea, I worked with autistic kids for 5 years, I could tell just by the way you moved your eyes." I dont know what to make of it.

I hope I can find someone else who is a bit like this

hiya Hoth, welcome to the club
I can't say that I am extroverted in the real world. but my [nearing] 30k posts here attest to the fact that this place brings out the social butterfly in me, to a limited extent.

Hello, and welcome!

I was diagnosed with Asperger's about a year ago, and joined this forum because I wanted to learn a little bit more. At the moment I know very little about autism, but it seems to me that it allows for a wide variety of personalities and behaviours. So no, provided that you were diagnosed by a professional who is knowledgeable about Asperger's, I don't think that you should conclude you were misdiagnosed.

I can be very extrovert. Also, I seem to have a good sense of irony and sarcasm (which is not typical of Aspergers) and I'm known among my colleagues for my black humour as well as witty tirades about all kinds of subjects. I mostly enjoy helping people, for example undergraduate students.

Other times, I tend to be very withdrawn. I don't like changes of routine, don't like travelling, don't like small talk, am very obsessed with correctness and detail in my work. I recognise very much what you say about special interests. They can be the center of my universe for a certain amount of time, after which I completely give up on them.

In any case, I hope you enjoy your stay here!

I am more introverted than extroverted, but once I get to know people I can talk a person's ear off and I ahve been known for a very cutting sense of humor, of course I dont know it is cutting because I have so much trouble drawing lines socially.
I am a manager and I am very good with small talk, but I hate making decisions with a passion.
I like people, but interacting with crowd gets really tiring and I am ususally worn out after.
It is interesting that you are so good at guitar hero. Are you good at video games in general?
I am bad at look at the screen and react type reflexive games, but if it is a game that depends on timing I can usually master it with practice

I guess for myself, I only got into guitar hero because of the music,otherwise i wouldnt have stuck with it for any length of time. For the most part, video games are not a strong suit, i can hold my own but i am never spectacular. I like strategy but i cant think multiple turns ahead. So while i am bad a chess, i excel at Magic the Gathering.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Hey Hoth welcome.

well i myself am quite anti-routine too. it's comforting but it can get boring real quick, and i also am pretty good with eye contact.


welcome to the site.

Welcome Hoth!

I can be very extroverted sometimes. I've been pretty extroverted lately because I'm mimicking my new, extroverted friends. My friend back in high school was VERY extroverted. He just adored talking to people, and not only about his special interest. Like Sweetooth said, we're all very different. When I was first diagnosed, I struggled with accepting my diagnosis, but once I looked at the bigger picture (which can, obviously, be hard for many of us), I became certain I'm autistic. I've learned lots of tricks too, I don't think anyone can tell I'm autistic until they really get to know me.

And, what did you mean by

Russiank12, I honestly don't know what she meant. I thought the comment was memorable enough to include in my mini-biography. I think that as good as I have become with eye contact; I am not perfect. From what I've been told, its barely noticeable, unless you have spent a few years in that field as this lady had.

Hi! and welcome.
I sometimes ask myself what about ASDs and introverts/extroverts. I guess it depends on the circumstances. For instance, I was regarded as shy in school and was described as having an "introverted personality" when I was in the C.F. Reserves.
But now I could say I'm more extroverted, though in a book I read that "an introvert shouldn't try to be an extrovert." I can now project my voice across our large dining hall for help and I can make eye contact, usually when the other person initiates the communication.
I suppose this is because I'm a late bloomer in many ways and some of my "introverted behaviours" have gone away.