Any Social Aspies?

Post Reply New Topic

I am an Aspie and I like to be social. Even though I struggle with social skills because of my Asperger's, I have social awareness. I used to be an introvert who got attached to inanimate objects and had strong interests in plants and animals, but I'm losing that and becoming more of a people person over the years. Are there any other Aspies who pay more attention to people than things and live in the social world the way NTs do? And does having problems with social skills make you self-conscious since you are aware of the social world?

I used to be way more social than I am now. Right now, I have no idea where I found the energy to involve myself when I was younger.

The striking thing is how well I do socially with people I know very well, compared to how rubbish I am at it with people I hardly know. It's like I'm two different people. Or fifteen.

I think people have always been one of my special interests, though.

I've never had a "special interest" in people in general---only (rarely) with specific people.

Up until my 30's, I was pretty introverted. An old friend recently commented how I "sound totally different" now in my 50's. I still have my introverted moments---but I've become more "social" (though only within a work environment).

In my life outside of work, I tend to keep to myself. I enjoy watching YouTube videos much more than I enjoy attending weddings/parties. I don't feel that I'm "anti" social---only that I prefer to be alone or with one other person, rather than a group of people.

I tend to me more interesting in individual human beings than in "humankind." I like biographies for that reason.

I hate studies which deals with "groups of people." Or in how a certain "demographic" (e.g., "baby boomers") thinks. I am a "baby boomer," or somebody in "Generation Jones"---but I'm not a exemplar of those "demographics." What I have in common with most people in that "demographic," I suppose, is some common experiences.

Humankind covers the gamut, really, from the Sublime to the Abysmally evil.

I am a social aspie, though I consider myself an introvert. I have always been aware of social norms and things would never occur to me to do them if I had never seen it. I also liked having friends and would get lonely. I like to learn things about people and understands why they feel a certain way and why they do things.

I am rather socially-orientated. I care about what others think of me, I am tuned into other people's emotions, and the most important thing to me about jobs is if I get along with the other people.

Even as a small child I was interested in other children and I was always drawing and writing about people (my family and classmates).
This is why I get uncomfortable about Asperger's being changed to autism with no functioning labels. Although I am socially awkward and can be emotionally immature and also need time to myself, I still don't feel autistic. I feel like an autistic NT...an autypical...or neurotypicautist. I don't know.

There are "functioning labels" Levels 1 through 3.

Level 1 requires the least "support." Aspies tend to be Level 1---but not all are. Many don't seem "autistic" at first glance.

Level 2 requires moderate support. They can take care of almost all their personal needs. It is quite evident they ae autistic. They might or might not be able to live with at least some independence as adults.

Level 3 requires extensive support. Speech is usually not present. There is a strong tendency towards self-injury. Seizures aren't uncommon, either. They might or might not be able to take care of their basic everyday needs.

In a strange way I am yes. Though I'm an introvert. I do like to spend time with people I have something in common with. Usually I spend most of my time with other Aspies, those are the easiest ones to get along with. But recently I've been going every day now for about two weeks to a makerspace with all kinds of people present. The first few times I went together with an Aspie friend of mine. She is better than me at making contact with people and that make it easier for me as well to get introduced to the people she initiates contact with. Gradually I dared to go by my self without her, but I do struggle with the communication. I know people think I'm awkward, because I can see it in the way they respond to me compared to other people they interact with.

But I have a pretty good trick up my sleeve to get conversation going and getting to know people. I get a lot of attention at the place because of my VR equipment. People get very curious about the stuff I'm working on and that makes it easy to start conversations. I also give demos to anybody who want to try and that generates a lot buzz around the place. It's such a strong experience for people. It's fun to watch somebody try it and when they come out of the experience they usually want to ask me all kinds of questions about price and hardware requirements or just talk about what they experienced. Most people have not tried VR and those that have has only tried the bad mobile variants. When I show them what good VR is like they get blown away and then they start telling their friends "You've got to try this stuff! It's amazing!"

Even though I feel socially clumsy and stupid when interacting with people there, it's very much worth it. My special interest of virtual reality motivates me as well as creating stuff and seeing people react to the things I make. Hopefully my social skills will improve as well the more I interact with people.

My social opportunities have increased greatly over the past four years. I enjoy opportunities to be social.

That's a tricky one for me but I'll keep this short for a change.

I used to care a lot about social interactions when I was a kid. All the while I learned that others don't like to be around me and once they are like that, I don't even try and to some extent I really don't care any more.

before puberty i was pretty extroverted, wanted friends, wanted to be included, was just really bad at it, no one wants to be friends with the girl that talks about frogs, bites people, kicks people and yells all the time. i remember being lonely all the time. luckily i had one friend and a boat load of cousins to keep me company, even if they didnt always like it,

my introversion only started when i was 11-14. i enjoyed being alone and found that it was far easier to enjoy my own company, and the nail in the coffin was when all my friends all agreed to drop contact with me saying i was too difficult and they didnt have the energy to deal with me anymore.

I am an ambivert - exactly in the middle between introversion and extroversion.

I like people and I am curious about what they do and talk about although I don't remember their faces, names nor personal information afterwards. I just like to participate in talks, share my opinion and help people. In classrooms and such I am the loud, quirky know-it-all that hangs out around groups of people, listening and ready to join the talk if the topic seems interesting enough.
But eventually I get overwhelmed and stop understanding anything what is going on around me. I also need alone time to think things through/do research.

Yes and no. I like people and things nearly equally. When it comes to socialising it depends on who it's with. I don't deal with jerks. No I'm not self-conscious.