Hi. :|

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My name is Alex. I'm 20 years old from California.

There is a history of autism in my family, particularly with my youngest brother Maika, who seems to be a "typical Aspie" - he walks on his toes, has an unusual manner of speech, an encyclopedic knowledge of World War 2, and lots of other traits that are sort of "signals" you could say.

And then there's me. There have been suspicions over the years that I have some symptoms of Asperger's, but I have never been formally diagnosed and have usually passed it off like "Whatever. Not interested in labels or medication."

Well, today I was inspired to read more into the subject and was surprised at just how many of the "symptoms" from Wikipedia fit me.

However there are a lot of symptoms that don't fit me at all. In fact, I took the "Aspie Quiz" and my result was this:
"You have answered inconsistently on too many control-questions."

As an example; I have very odd sleeping patterns, I hate shaking hands, I get nervous when people are walking behind me, and sometimes I feel emotions so intensely that I can't even express them (Hence my screenname). On the other hand, while I'm pretty much addicted to the internet, it's not like I can tell you when it was invented, by whom, how many people buy an AOL subscription every year, and other facts like those. Also, while I guess I do miss some social cues and am generally a bit standoffish in social situations, I am not nearly as awkward or uncomfortable as I think I would be if I exhibited full-blown Asperger's.

So I guess inconsistent is a good way to describe it.

Now, I am not really interested in labeling myself, so I guess it doesn't really matter if I'm an Aspie or not. I'm just curious. So that's why I'm here! Hopefully I can figure out how much of this is coincidence and how much of it is proof that I have Asperger's after all.

Sorry this ran so long! Thanks for reading.

Wish me luck!


-Alex

To WrongPlanet!! !

Hello Alex, welcome, enjoy your stay on the Wrong Planet!

Welcome greetings to the WP, Alex.

Welcome to WrongPlanet, and welcome to my time warp.

welcome Alex

unlike you, my online tests ended up in "you're very likely an Aspie". Yet, like you, there are symptoms that don't entirely fit to me. I can't tell you when the internet was invented either! Although my knowledge regarding rats, music, or ecology are way above average, i do not consider myself a genius in those areas, or any other for that matter. don't we all have subjects that interest us more than others?

i guess those "symptoms" are signs, but all aspies don't necessarily have them all. we're not carbon copies, each individual has its own personality. then again, your quiz results might indicate that you're not an Aspie, but maybe something else. now what? that i can't tell you. or maybe it's a very light form of AS... like me. i think there are people with a stronger impairment. like how i read here that some people would rather go to the dentist than wall-mart. well i'd choose the supermarket over the dentist! i'd be out within five minutes but still, i do not hate crowds that much. or maybe that was a joke? i'm not that good with jokes.
i don't think i'm particularly clumsy either. although sometimes i carry objects and somehow they end up falling, and i find bruises on me without knowing how or when i got them. but doesn't that happen to everybody?

anyway, i'm available if you need to "talk" (translation => type).