Is it common for people with Asperger's to mimic?

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Yes. I see mimicry as a survival skill in the NT world. I've learned to mimic mannerisms, body language, even speech patterns & phrases in order to appear more NT when I need to deal with the NT world. It's helped me have various jobs. But I must say, it takes a lot of conscious effort and energy to do so, and it leaves me feeling exhausted at the end of the day sometimes.

I would agree with this. It was a matter of emotional survival for me ... although I never got it right.

I will say this:

I am 47yo, and there comes a time where you become your own person. This has nothing to do with AS or NT.

I am fortunate to have finally become my own person - and I must say that I am a better person than any of those who I tried to ''mimic'.

It may take time; but stick to who you are - and know that person which is who you really are. Aspies have wonderful traits; traits that more NT's should have. Have faith in yourself. Believe me, even if it takes until you're 47 years old, it's worth it to become fully yourself. Strive for that goal - and when you reach it, you will know freedom.

I think that the NT world is more accepting of me now. I don't have funny hair or wear a biker jacket anymore and my manners are more refined. I'm doing what works for me with my role model and being back to my Mod roots. I actually enjoy the whole society thing, now. Mainstream society isn't bad when you open your mind to it. That doesn't mean that you listen to Top 40 and wear the latest fashions. It just means that you care enough to be seen as presentable and you make yourself happy enough so that you can enjoy the company of the majority of the people in the NT world or who are a part of mainstream society. The Kinks were very into society in the 60s and I apply that to my life in the 21st Century.

Being that I feel male, I enjoy being seen as a well respected man.

I thought this sort of thing was more common in NTs, especially young NTs who become part of a crowd then they start acting like part of the crowd even if they're not with them. My cousin did that. When she turned 13 she started speaking in this common ''London'' accent all of a sudden, and it was because a lot of girls at her school were speaking like that.

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I was wondering if it was an NT thing, because I do know that other people mimic each other to fit in. But I never really cared about fitting in... I just admired the confident image certain people had, and felt a kind of impulse to be like them. Not sure if that was normal or not, and obviously I didn't go around asking other people if they did it too. But to be clear, my values and interests are my own. I was prone to imitating people on very superficial characteristics.

By the way, I am being totally open about my experiences and the fact that I am not sure if I have AD (see my profile). So if the dismissive people are trying to start a flame war, I am not interested. If that is not your intention, then carry on dismissing me, I'm fine with it.

NT's learn behavior from each other as well.

That's why they're NTs.