Do you seem weird to most people?

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I was thinking about this today. I've asked several people about how I seem to others, and the answer is "weird", "off", or "odd".

I have been told that I am quite obviously unusual to most people, and that it's almost immediately apparent. This bothers me for several reasons. One, I'd like to blend in with and function in normal society. Two, I'd like to get a decent job. Three, I'd rather not go for the rest of my life without friends just because I tend to scare people off.

So, I'm wondering how common this is for other people with ASD, and whether it can be overcome.

So, please let me know your answers, and any additional information that may be relevant, such as age, employment status, etc.

I am sure they call me different, lol.... I never join in conversations about girls or sports, don't care about gossip and I am always doing my own thing on my own. I try to be friendly and helpful towards other people but don't care to join their activities.

I am perfectly happy this way.

Oh I think I am weird beyond my appearance from autism. My cousin who is my best friend irl and my internet best friend think/know I am weird. Have a weird sense of humor. I have a character on my online game who I made I just for the purpose of acting as weird as possible. A masked Hobbit who runs around holding a rolling pin and a shovel while howling like a wolf and spitting fire. The real me haha.

I can appear perfectly "normal" until I relax and let the mask slip - then people seem to be either intrigued or puzzled. The most common comment is "I didn't realise you were so serious", People who engage with me about my beliefs are soon very confused and weirded out.

There are about 20-100 people I make sense to. Everyone else finds me absurdly incongruous.

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Universally, people believe that I am absolutely bonkers!

I sort of live Ezra's character--except that I find carrying a shovel rather cumbersome.

Well he also has a sparkler.

Yes I do and always have, some here would be surprised to know.

Edit: And not trying to be, either -- in fact trying not to be, but failing often, I've gathered.

Yes. I look unusual because I'm trans and genderqueer, and I act unintentionally unusually because I'm autistic.
I can come off ok if I am well prepared in advance and have had time to construct a facade, but anyone who meets me more than once knows right away that there's something not right about me, and they usually don't want to meet me more than the once.
Yigeren - I don't think it precludes you from any job or any friends permanently (or at least I hope not, for both our sakes). I think you just have to find the right situation. People who aren't going to hold being a bit weird against you, and jobs where it doesn't matter because you're good at what you do. That's what I'm shooting for anyway, in a period of trying to find work again after two and a half years of illness, and trying to make friends after almost a decade.

The sparkler is less cumbersome---and has more of a purpose than a shovel.

All I can say is that what I always thought was normal behaviour coming out of me is apparently not. Weird, edgy, mercurial (yes, actually heard that one...was a writer I knew), take charge, arrogant, stuck up, snob, pushy.... all of these have been applied to me from other people at one time or another.

I just always thought I was doing what everybody else does.

I am just like you. I don't care to change my basic personality or way of life. What I do care about is how to learn to recognize and adjust these things so that they are not a source of friction between me and others. I do want to be able to move around in society without being the 'standout'.

I would rather be recognized for my achievements and not noticed for being out of place.

A lot of people have described me as weird over the years. However, I've learned that if I keep quiet and only answer questions when someone asks me directly, I come across as very shy rather than weird/different. I wouldn't call myself shy, honestly, but that's how people often see me. It's usually not until I try to participate in a conversation or activity that the weird label comes out and gets applied.

When I have meltdowns, definitely. Other times, I don't know. I know that a lot of the time when I try to conversate (I know that's not a word, but I like using it ) with people, I am awkward. I have trouble keeping the conversation going and don't know when to end it. I think I come across fine sometimes, but for all I know, there could be something I'm doing wrong that I haven't even realized yet.

I really appreciate all the responses so far; they have been very helpful

I do like those things that make me unique, and I want to have friends who accept me as I am. But I think that I put people off before they even have a chance to really get to know me.

Plus it would be nice to be able to associate with the neighbors, other parents, teachers, etc. without making it completely obvious that I'm different. It really complicates things. My social problems give people incorrect negative perceptions about the kind of person that I am.