Greetings

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Hi,

My name is Jacob. I was diagnosed with Asperger's/ASD a little over two years ago (after being misdiagnosed with bipolar type II four years prior). I currently work at Barnes & Noble while I pursue a master's in library science. As an undergraduate, I majored in English.

Before entering retail, there was no question I regularly demonstrated symptoms of ASD. Since then, there are stretches where I seem utterly neurotypical (like while assisting a customer during the "hunt" for a book). Occasionally, I even wonder whether my diagnosis of ASD is just a fad. Then, I find myself in a situation where the diagnosis seems blatantly accurate. What I have discovered is that, superficially, I manage to fit in. Mostly, I do this by not taking myself too seriously. I can always be count on to inject some humor into a situation, even unintentionally. I accomplish this by unabashedly being myself. Intimately, I still struggle and find myself incapable of fostering close relationships (both romantic and otherwise).

Originally I searched for an economic, philosophy or political forum to join. Then I figured, since I have been in the dumps lately, might as well look for a forum with people I probably have much in common with. That's how I ended up on the Wrong Planet.

Welcome, Jacob.

You'll find there's a fair bit of philosophical and political discussion here, too - so the best of both worlds! (though I warn you, the political threads can get a bit heated! )

Hello Jacob

I usually work in retail too, for several years in a book shop and before that I was a barmaid. I had excellent relationships with customers, helping them find or choose books (books are my special interest ) but those relationships fit within set limits. For the first few months I also get on ok with coworkers but then the expectation begins that it should become friendship and that's where it all goes to sh*t. They build it up on their assumption that I must enjoy being with them and then become annoyed when I don't want to socialise with them. I actually find them exhausting. Quite a few people on here work in retail, it's human interaction with a person who isn't going to get emotional all over you

Hello Jacob,

I met a young man like yourself at my local Barnes and Nobel. He was also pursuing his teaching degree, and we got on about George Orwell and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Our conversation got me so excited that I believe that it appeared that I was flirting with him, so I dare not talk to him again. It is so rare to find someone like that, so you are probably influencing people more than you will ever know by working in the public. I hope you make more like minded friends here.

Hi Jacob,

I'm new here as well, and figured I would say hello to other new members who've joined recently. I actually applied for a BA in English at my local university but was rejected without a reason. I've reapplied for the Diploma in English and so have my fingers crossed that I'll be accepted into this course. I'm a writer, and so I'm trying to hone my writing skills this year as a way of bettering myself and improving my employ-ability in the future. I have some difficulty following what people are talking about at times so I find the written word less fraught with difficulties such as these.