What do you think of this article?

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http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle ... gers-girls

For those diagnosed with an official ASD, does it describe you? I think if I had met with that doctor I would have been diagnosed with an ASD, it all describes me very well--and supposedly I don't have one. It makes me wonder about my own diagnosis, and also if he's being a little too broad with his diagnostic criteria.

It was a good article.

The one part I didn't agree with was as follows: "They might have one friend, while boys with the condition won't have any. Also, boys hyperfocus on facts and certain interests, such as trains or weather. Girls escape into fiction. They have imaginary friends, live in another world with fairies and witches, obsessively watch soap operas or become intensely interested in celebrities."

I've never been good at making friends, and have had many time where I haven't had a single friend. The only reason I socialized at all growing up, was because my mom would force it. She would actually have to bribe me to get me to go over to other kid's houses.

I also take issue with the claim that "boys hyperfocus on facts and certain interests" whereas "girls escape into fiction."
This, in and of itself, is a stereotype. I think these tendencies actually come down to personality type, and not gender. I certainly would fit more into the 'boys' category on this one.

The part I could relate to the most was this one (though it may not apply to everyone): "They learn to observe people from a distance and imitate them. It is only if you look closely and ask the right questions, you see the terror in their eyes and see that their reactions are a learnt script."

I think the article hit it on the nose. I spent my childhood retreating into fiction, and still do in some ways. I was diagnosed when I just withdrew completely into my internal world and was stuck in a depression/anxiety black hole.