Hi everyone!
I just found out about Asperger's as a clinical syndrome, but I'm intimately familiar with several of the symptoms that are common to the posters here. I wouldn't be so bold as to assume that I have AS based on my introverted nature, overly polite/formal speech, or trouble with understanding context. It's the physical characteristics, the funny faces I make without knowing, difficulty tying shoes/riding a bike during childhood, my penguin-like walk.
I'm 28 now, and my weirdness shows despite trying a lifetime to keep it under wraps. I always thought it was a confidence thing, that I was fidgeting around and playing with my hands b/c I was nervous in social situations.
I'm relieved that the problems I've been experiencing can now be discussed and related to. On the other hand, the fact that those issues are indicative of autism unsettle me.
Thanks to Wrong Planet for raising my awareness. This is just the beginning of the road for me. I have a lot to learn about AS, and I look forward to meeting some like-minded people.