On topic: thanks for all your interpretations. I've decided that the next time I see this guy and have the chance to talk to him seperately, I'll inform him about my Asperger's. That would clear things up and make my life at work a lot easier. Right now he (and many other of my co-workers) know that "something" is the matter with me (if only because I'm appointed on a part time basis, and because I'm a little "different", more reticent than most people) but they don't know exactly what the situation is, and that might make things a bit obscure for them.
As for the ongoing discussion about Dutch people:
This:
UncleBeer wrote:
Since you speak of racism though: Here's an image of Zwarte Piet ("Black Pete"), Dutch Santa's ne'er-do-well black slave. He's an integral part of the yearly pageant. Is this racist, Alex?
really made my day.
Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are - how should I explain - philantropists who unselfishly shower people with (often expensive) presents every December 5th. Dutch children are led to believe they actually exist until they've reached a certain age (sorry about the spoiler

). It's kinda like Santa, but different. The name "Santa Claus" is likely even derived from our Sinterklaas (Sinterklaas ... Santa Claus; notice the similarity?). To refer to Zwarte Piet, or "Black Pete" as you so side-splittingly call him, as a "ne'er-do-well black slave" is not just hilarious -- no, it's
excruciatingly funny. I'm sorry to hear that you don't like the Dutch, but please, stop behaving like a certain mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore - you know, the kind that is generally depicted as either a hairy giant or a dwarf, that lives in caves or under bridges and that scours the internet, trying to provoke emotionally charged responses from other internet users. Enough of this.