did you want to be around people?

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I loved being around people when I was a kid and now I don't really care anymore. If I am around people, I do my own thing.

No

I'm only alone when I'm around people.

No, I perfer to be alone. People usualy bore me and if I can't talk about my obsessions/special intrests I feel like I'm going to suffocate. Some obessions/special intrests I don't like to dicuss with people who aren't alreadly famaliar with them. I HATE having to explain things when I know the person isn't going to put any effort into retaining it. I don't have any desire for friendship or romance and when it comes to the whole social aspect, schizoid personality disorder decribes me better than autism. If it wasn't for the obsessions and sensory intergration disorder, Schizoid would probably be a more accurate diagnosis. I do wonder though if schizoid is just an outdated description of AS or HFA in adults.

I'm indifferent either way, to be perfectly honest: though I value people and the interesting aspects they can bring with them, I do not mind being alone for an extended period of time. By nature, I am probably more introverted than extroverted and would probably lean more towards isolationism should I be left to my own devises; being raised in the environment that I was raised in, however, I have come to adapt to the presence of others and actually find something to enjoy in every social interaction.

Growing up I always tended to enjoy family gatherings. Many times we had events where much of my mother's side of the family gathered. Those were fun times. My family was quite interesting and eccentric. My mother's side of the family definitely shows evidence of the autism gene I inherited.

I also had a best friend growing up. We were like brothers. And although he lives hundreds of miles away today, when we get together it feels like just yesterday we played together.

However, being around people that weren't family tended to be very awkward for me---and it still is. Now that most of the older generations of my family have died off, and my best friend is away, I don't socialize much at all. I prefer it that way now.

Yes. A thousand times over, YES!
Every time I have felt let down by other people. Or that I just could not relate to the thinks they see to think are important.

Sincerely,
Matthew

My mom said that when I was a child, I was very quiet and preferred to play myself, usually talking to my imaginary friends. I remember getting irritated at my younger brother because he always wanted me to play with him, when I always wanted to be left alone. Same with my friends at school - they were very clingy and wanted my attention constantly, and I felt smothered by them. I absolutely hate family gatherings and company coming to our house, and I can't stand crowds. If my family members are home from work/school for prolonged periods of time, I start to feel irritated by their presence.

But I am not a completely solitary person - overall I enjoy living with my family members, eating dinner with them, running errands with them and most of all, just talking to them. I am extremely emotionally attached to my mom, and if she works many long shifts in a row at her job or if she has to go out of town due to family issues, I become much more prone to meltdowns. If the house is empty for too long, I start feeling lonely.

tl;dr - Both too much alone time and too much socializing aren't good for me. I need to maintain a balance between the two in order to feel my best.

I'm in my late 20s, and at this stage, I doubt I'll ever have a "typical" romantic relationship. I'm asexual, I have a hard time outwardly expressing love toward others (the phrase "I love you" is not part of my vocabulary), and the thought of kissing someone just seems...unpleasant.

I generally prefer to be alone, but I do enjoy being around people from time to time even if I don't have much to talk about with them. At work, for example, I'll go between working in my cubicle and working in an open area with a laptop. That arrangement works well for me because I have some contact with others, but when I've had my fill, I can go retreat and hide in my cubicle.

Your thread question is in the past tense and so my answer is yes, I did used to want to be around people.

I was never much good at 'being around' the other kids at school but I did enjoy the company of older people, usually my parents' friends, as well as younger people.

I have put a lot of effort into 'being around' other people, particularly when I was around them socially, but always knew that it wasn't really paying off in any remotely meaningful way.

Since learning about my Asperger's a little under 3 years ago, this all now makes perfect sense.

I have now become so much less concerned about socializing, to the point where I have lost all interest in it, other than with my family.

I suppose if I had friends, I would probably have some enthusiasm in being around them.

But since I don't, I know that social interactions are just fleeting moments with strangers, that will lead nowhere whilst creating high anxiety.

So now, other than my work and my family, I prefer not to be around people.

I couldn't stand being around people when I was a child, far preferring solitude or the company of animals. My budgies were my best friends until we got a dog, and then I spent most of my time with him. I was often asked why I didn't go play with the other kids, but I really had no desire to do so: I had books, and art supplies, and my animal friends.
Once I was in highschool, I learned to "play the game" so I could fit in as much as possible--I put on a big smile, and learned how to nod at the right times, and force myself to go do social things, but social interaction with others just ...drains me. It's all an act, it's all forced.

I do have a few close friends, and my husband and I spend most of our time together, but there's a great deal of companionable silence. I think I'd be the happiest person in the world if I could just move out to a secluded cabin out in the middle of nowhere with just my husband, my half-sister (also ASD), and a plethora of animal companions. So long as I have silence, an endless supply of books, tea, and yarn, I'm happy.