There are so many contradictory AS stereotypes.

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There's the stereotype that we have low self-esteem and think our lives are worse than everyone else's, and then there's the stereotype that we're snobs who think we're too good for everyone else.
There's the stereotype that we respond to questions with a terse "yes" or "no" answer, and then there's the stereotype that we give unnecessarily lengthy answers to everything.
There's the stereotype that we're completely emotionless, and then there's the stereotype that we're all just a bunch of whiners.
There's the stereotype that we're usually apathetic, and then there's the stereotype that we get annoyed over every little thing.
There's the stereotype that we don't try hard enough to make others like us, and then there's the stereotype that we try too hard to make others like us.
There's the stereotype that all we're good at is rote memorization, and then there's the stereotype that we're highly creative thinkers.

And these are only a few examples of contradictory AS stereotypes!

At this board I've seen examples of both stereotypes in each of these cases, even though they're exact opposites.

The point is, as much as some of you sometimes like to pretend all Aspies are similar, we're all very different and sometimes we're exact opposites. In fact, it's even possible that some of us are as different from each other as we are from NTs.

I agree 100%.

Tim

good one!

Individuals are always very different, NT or AS. Stereotypes just plain suck in every way.

One view I had from a professional that most of the time, aspies are incapable of discovering that they have AS by themselves.

OK, These are misunderstandings that have affected my whole life!

1. Low self esteem? HOW do people get this idea! I NEVER had low self esteem!

2. Snobs? It SOUNDED like it, but NO! I was helpful. Sorry nobody could accept that!

3. I RARELY gave a terse yes/no. It is more likely as of about 12 years ago, because one guy wanted ME to do all the mental work so HE could get the credit for EVERYTHING. Still, ask me how I am feeling, or if I want X, etc... And I may give a terse answer because there is no point in saying more.

4. Emotionless? I SEEMED that way, but really wasn't.

5. Nobody gets upset over EVERYTHING, but anyone will over some.

6. HOW would they know how hard we try? I HAVE tried a lot. Most would say I haven't. I have spent time, money, effort, etc... I have been in multiple cultures, etc...

7. I am LOUSY with rote! Pattern, episodic are a LOT easier. and I don't parrot! Have you seen references to rote HERE?

BTW I went to regular schools, etc... Nobody ever knew I had such a condition.

They might not be contradictory at all!

Steve

I'm a really emotional person, always have been. Just not about the stupid crap that upsets most people.

I feel like I embody most of those sets of stereotypes at the same time somehow.

I think the reason for it being a stereotype is that they don't understand fully our condition.

My belief is that if you want to konw what AS is, wander around WP for a while. Do not expect an NT "expert" to get it right.
And what it is like to be an aspie, cannot even be stated - what is it like to be a specific aspie, that makes sense.
And all persons are contradictory. This is because each potential human behaviour makes sense in some situation (including the inner situ of who a person is), and not in others.