do you fit the stereotype??

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this is a difficult question for me to answer. stereotype is about other people's perceptions of me. i haven't a clue how others actually see me or interpret the things I do.

The firefighters R hot stereotype is totally true. Once, I thought that there was a gas leak at my house and called the firefighters, and they came in two byoootiful red fire trucks, and they were all so hot. Older or younger, they were hot, so so so hot, all so hot.

I fit well with most of the aspects of the nerdy AS cliché (albeit with facial piercings and a mohawk). However, since I am now 30, I have gradually become better at at least appearing to be comfortable and outgoing in social settings (despite what I might actually be feeling).

I don't know really, maybe somewhat.
- I'm bad with maths, really bad, I look at it a mechanical level, instead of being creative about it, I try to remember a way to solve a group of problems and try to apply it wherever I can. When I come across a problem, I don't know how to solve it beyond my memorized method.
- someone has mentioned it on the thread, I do rocking motions while sitting and I realized I was rocking as I was reading that comment
- physical contact feels weird, but maybe that's because I'm so used to it. When I pose for a photo with my female friends I can barely force myself to my arms around them
- my muscles are great compared to how how physically inactive I am
- I don't have obsessions per se but when I come across a subject I'm interested in, I'll explore it vehemently for some time until I feel I've explored it enough
- my balance is actually extraordinary, I never stumble and fall, when I was playing soccer, no one could bring me down. But my fine motorics sucks, my handwriting is very bad and I can't draw
- I come across as intelligent and quirky, I make a lot of eccentric jokes and really hit it off with people similar to me, the others just find it cute. People who aren't weird like I am seem to like me in small doses, they'll talk to me and laugh during classes, but wont' ring me up to hang out after the classes are over
- I've managed to get over serious social impairment and I can hold my own, but it's hard and I still rather not socialize when I can avoid it, I'm scared of talking to strangers on the phone or in person, one of the reasons I've never had a job
- I sometimes have a hard time articulating my thoughts, which is funny, because I'm studying education and will probably work as a teacher, but I'll compensate with preparation I guess

I definitely fit most of the stereotypes as a kid, but not so much today.

As a kid, I had a monotone, formal voice and definitely talked like a "little professor". I had very obvious special interests, which were often strange and very advanced for my years. For example, at the age of 3-4, I was interested in dinosaurs, knew all of their names, and had memorized concepts such as periods of time (cambrian, cretatious etc.) I was very, very nerdy. I loved stuff in categories or series, and preferred very specific toys and books over others due to their membership in a series or some other specific aspect. I played by lining up and categorizing toys, as well as reading the same books over and over again. Today, while many of my interests still involve specific things, they are definitely not nearly as encompassing and intense as they were when I was a child....some I will only touch upon every few months. As well, I don't talk about them unless I think the person might be interested.

I had no theory of mind and had no idea how to behave around other people. I mainly interacted with people by collecting info from them related to my special interests. (like asking them where they got their bathing suits...I kid you not!) rather than play with them or engage in conversations. I now have friends and can engage in conversations well with other people, depending who they are.

I had obvious sensory issues, but I can only remember stimming at one time during my childhood (my hand freezing up and shaking). I never rocked or did any other repetitive motor mannerisms, other than constantly standing on my tiptoes to the point where it was obvious and people noticed. I didn't mind physical contact though...touch wasn't an issue, but temperature and smell were huge issues. I was also an extremely picky eater. I no longer have any of the above sensory issues today.

no my drug use had no bearings on my diagnosis as i was diagnosed at about 5. at the insistence of my mother

Some of it but not all of it.