Aspies, do you feel NT's can tell you're "different&quo

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I don't really know if they can tell by looking at me, maybe by observing me yes, but not really by looking at me. I think most people think I'm sad or mad or something. It's quite bothersome and annoying to just be myself and someone is like "Why are you mad?" I'm not mad....but I am after they ask me that. Stupid people.

If I began talking about some of my interests, such as Roger Bannister, people would probably be able to tell something is different about me. Other interests, such as cats, are safer. I am lucky that I work in an animal-friendly workplace.

Yes, outsiders notice, although they might not identify the word "autism" with it. As far as cursory interactions (ie: banks tellers, cashiers) - no. I am quiet, shy. I have been told I talk AT people, not TO people. I am often misinterpreted. This afternoon I had a medical doctor's appointment (I had never met this man before). He was very nice. There were very bright fluorescent lights in his exam room. I felt faint and he held my hand to help me sit on the table. He asked if I were "sighted." He meant, "Are you vision impaired/blind?" I said no, then told him I was autistic. He was nice though.

Most people thing I'm really shy. Some people sense something though because they give me the "special" (as in special edumacashun(education)) treatment and it really pisses me off.

I know what you mean. There's a girl at my work who tends to talk to me like I'm a delicate child (I'm 38 and she's several years younger than me and she knows this). Most people don't treat me too much differently though. I think my body posture, movement and facial expression give away the fact that I'm different. And people constantly comment on the fact that I look about 15 years younger than I actually am....

Exactly. Now I know why I liked to pretend to be foreign when I was 9-11 years old and in some ways still do. That's how I feel and it 'explains' my differentness.



Same here. I hate it.





OMG yes. I HATE that. Sometimes they start off treating me normally then they sense something and I watch them shift into patronising 'special' mode.

Deep, quote depth.

People don't know unless they speak to me. My mind races ahead of what they're saying, and I'm too quick with a snappy answer. Sometimes I shift into Groucho mode and have a comeback ready by the time they're through saying whatever. Like that thread where the lady said (out of nowhere, because it's rainging) "Horrible out", without missing a beat I would have said, "Then don't look inside, because it's even worse." I don't do this around my wife anymore, as she has kittens when I do it.

I wonder if that's an Aspie thing as well, looking young. I'll be 33 in a few months, but look about ten years less than that.

I know that no matter how I try to dress, or act, or speak, people seem to see something odd about me. Like Young_fogey wrote, they start off treating me normally when we first meet, then after a short while they seem to pick up on whatever's wrong or different, and I get the 'special' treatment.

I think it is just because I am balding, but people at least USED to think I was much OLDER than I am. I SOUND like I am 20 though.

Steve

When I was 13, people often thought I looked about 15 or 16. Now that I'm 20, people still sometimes think I look about 15 or 16

That's a good place to be in, as long as you don't mind being carded(american slang for someone checking your ID to make sure you are old enough to drink/drive/etc...), or treated like a kid.

Steve

I think it's true in my case. Not a bad thing really now that I'm older but the AS cancels it out so it doesn't help socially.

Yes, I've read somewhere that we often have young-sounding voices!

I think that's true.

REALLY? WOW! Could you find out where it was? I've got to start making a list of all the areas I fit in. BESIDES, if I made a long enough list, maybe others would realize that THEY were probably AS people. I have a feeling that it is a lot bigger than anyone cares to realize. STILL not overwelming, but every little bit helps. Maybe autism could get a GOOD reputation, so people will think about setting the baby(autism) aside while they throw out the bath water(retardation, self injurious behaviour, etc...). It really would be better for EVERYONE, not just HFA/AS people.

Who knows, maybe some are just better at hiding it than I am.

Steve