Playing "Spot The Aspie"

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.........I see Aspies. They're everywhere, and they don't know they're Aspies

Ok, in all seriousness, I really do not look for them. Except for when I'm on the Wrong Planet of course! Importantly, we have the distinction that there are not very many of us amongst the general populace.

I do play "aspiespotting" and have been proven right a couple of times (thought a person was an aspie within minutes of first seeing them, later found out they were diagnosed).

Classic

It is natural for humans to be able to connect with other humans who are similar to themselves. It's like buying a pair of shoes. When you see someone else wearing a pair just like yours they tend to stand out more in your mind. Once you are able to identify with yourself you can begin to notices similarities in others. I'm also have depression and can identify when I see someone else who is most likely depressed. I'm only able to recognize traits that stand out. If someone who has Asperger's was more extroverted I would not be able to identity that they were Aspie right away. Maybe after being around them for awhile. The way someone dresses and looks is not a good way to categorize someone. I like to wear basketball shorts and a T-Shirt and sneakers.

I spot traits in people all the time.

For a while I was pretty OCD about observing AS traits in people I know, but I've since toned that down to nil and just catch things here and there as they happen vs. consciously looking for them in others.

Pretty sure a contractor I've done some work for is AS and doesn't know it. I just assume he is as he has sooo many typical AS behaviours. Assuming that he is makes it easier for me to deal with him since I don't tend to react and get offended by his AS induced rudeness, temper, and near meltdowns.

Thank you for your honest opinion

Yes I play this all the time, did tonight, saw a girl who might be but it was hard to tell, women can be harder to spot. I have only found one that I had absolutely no doubt about, pretty, but she was taken

One common characteristic of people with Asperger's is that we are more or less blind to the non verbal communications of others. As a result, we find ourselves forever saying and doing the wrong thing, with the best of intentions. We're described as arrogant, aloof, uncaring and inconsiderate. I contend that we are none of those things. I believe we are simply blind, emotionally.

We do not respond to other people's observable cues because we don't see them. Neurotypical people read the signals and respond; we don't. But just as a visually blind person can understand a world he can't see, I can understand and feel empathy and emotion even though I can't automatically see the triggers.