Just so I don't come across as a complete a***hole, I'll respond to a post here:
Paul123 wrote:
I'm lucky in that I've got quite a small but close knit family.
I stay with my mum (despite being 35), and frequently see my sister and her kids (and my brother every few months).
Bloody hell - haven't you thought of moving out yet?! I think I'd be pretty hacked off with everything and feel very lonely if I was still living with my parents at that age. I really want to move out in the next couple of years (I'm 24 in June)...
Quote:
I realise though that this isn't the same thing as getting on with people at work (which I generally don't just now) or having any real friends outside of work
What are your interests? Glasgow is a big place. Another WPer lives there who you might get on with. Have you met her? I won't release details as I don't know her situation and I don't want to get myself told off (again)...
Quote:
I have to say that this site has been an amazing help.
Well, I'm glad you feel that way and I'm glad you feel a part of it. Everyone is welcome here. Even me.
(does a massive, smelly, lingering fart)
Well, perhaps not when I do that.

Quote:
At lunch time when feeling down I pop into my local supermarkets cafe
I hope you buy something. A coffee perhaps, or lunch? I know that supermarket café food isn't particularly inspiring but fair's fair and all that...
Quote:
, log on here (on my mobile) and read about others like me.
I take it you have web access at home though?
Quote:
I also tend to do this for fun too - searching for upbeat threads when my mood is better. Its good knowing that there are lots of others out there like me, albeit spread out quite a bit.
There's quite a few of us in the United Kingdom as well you know. I've met about five of them, all based in North West England.

Quote:
Not quite sure how it happened, but every few weeks I now seem to be meeting up with an uncle in a pub (owned by my other uncle hence feel fine in there) to watch football and talk about movies. I have no interest in football and sometimes have found it a drain - but I've enjoyed many of them (I just need to remember to go along once in a while even if I'm not in the mood - a little "give and take" I think its called).
Make mine a Tennent's.

Quote:
Two other things too - which even a few weeks ago I'd never had imagined possible (ever) for me: one is that I've signed up to an online dating site (have never been on a date) - even uploaded a photo (nothing from it yet, but that's a major step for me in itself).
You might already be doing this, but have you thought about sharing your fundamental character with people here? I can't see your post count at the moment, so...
Quote:
I've found that things don't always work out as you expect them to, but that this isn't necessary bad. E.g. on the dating site I ended up "chatting" (instant messaging) to a Canadian woman who shared an interest with me in Geography.
What interests you about geography?
Quote:
She had sent a "hi" - and I just responded with a "hi" back. (This was just a one off chat, but surprisingly interesting/enjoyable nonetheless). Equally another thing had me spending time as a favour to someone - only for me being the one that ended up benefiting from it.
Didn't the other person benefit from your time too? It's never so simple as it might look.

Quote:
I started by *really* lowering my expectations i.e. saying to myself: "I've f&*^%ked up again - but I'm an aspie hence it's permitted!" and building on things slowly. I.e. I'm not too harsh on myself when I make mistakes.
OK.

Quote:
Don't get me wrong - tonight I've spent most of the evening (after work) alone as per usual (an aunt popped in to drop something off), but I think I'm slowly getting somewhere. I'm also finding now (after a year) that the people at work I thought I'd like, are really quite materialistic - and others who aren't like this seem to be more fun and better people. Perhaps that's came from reading up on people's dating profiles or something, I'm not sure!
Good for you.