Am I the only person who truly doesn't need friends...

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Sweetleaf
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16 Jul 2015, 5:34 am

Not really sure its an 'ability' in all contexts to drop people like they don't exist if any conflict/problem arises...I mean I can see certain things that would justify that. Though I could also see how it could be a pattern of running away from any difficulty that arises....which you may just be like that with people, but it may also effect other aspects of your life if that's it. Otherwise I suppose its nice to be able to drop people without a second thought for situations where someone really ought to be dropped. I suppose depending on the situation it could be an ability, or more of an issue.


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starfox
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16 Jul 2015, 5:34 am

Britte wrote:
nurseangela wrote:
This is sad. I'll tell you what happens on the other end and why it matters. My Aspie friend did that with me. Just out of the blue after we had been talking every day (sometimes for 8 hrs) for over 2 mos he stopped talking to me anymore. Probably like you, he found it easy and probably forgot about me. But you know what? I didn't forget him. I still wonder what happened and if he is ok. Did something happen to him? Is that why he stopped talking to me? Or was it me and something I said? Just thinking about him brings tears to my eyes. I thought he was important enough that even my Ma knew about him. I still have pictures of him and his cat that I keep just in case that one day comes when I'll get a text again from him. If you aren't serious about friendships, then don't start any. Because the person on the other end might be taking it more seriously than you and dropping them will most certainly hurt them in the end - sometimes more than you can imagine.


I had something similar happen, and, although it has been 11 months since it happened, I am still healing from the experience. We did not have any sort of intimate relationship, just a very close friendship (or so I had thought, but true friends don't just drop friends like hot potatoes). What had happened was, I was slightly hurt by something he said, so I asked him if he meant what he said, in the way I had interpreted it, and instead of wanting to talk it through, or what have you, he told me he "no longer feels comfortable communicating with me". I wasn't upset. I hadn't had a bad reaction and there honestly was nothing to cause him to become upset with me, other than merely expressing a feeling his words provoked. I asked him if we could work through it, as I may have just misunderstood what he had said, or meant, and perhaps it was nothing that couldn't easily be sorted out, but he chose to simply walk away and never speak to me again. He had told me that we would be life-long friends, and that he had never met anyone that he felt so compatible with. We both have AS and had some identical experiences and we are both (so, I had thought) highly sensitive people (sorry to gross out anyone with an aversion to sensitivity/empathy). It broke my heart, literally, and destroyed what trust I had in humanity, so to speak. I will never allow myself to get that close to anyone, again. When I feel it happening, I will pull back and try to keep myself from feeling too much, which, for me, can be somewhat challenging, to say the least. But that's neither here nor there. C'est la vie.


that really sucks you guys


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lostproperty
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16 Jul 2015, 6:02 am

Once I reached my 20's, I only wanted a partner, no need for friends whatsoever. I haven't had a friend for almost 20 years now, but that became a problem for my partner as she became more confident and began making new friends with partners who would want to meet up and do stuff as couples. So she eventually left me because she couldn't lead a 'normal' life with me.



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16 Jul 2015, 6:11 am

I have to say that reading this thread makes me very afraid of trying to be friends with an Aspie.



starfox
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16 Jul 2015, 6:42 am

nerdygirl wrote:
I have to say that reading this thread makes me very afraid of trying to be friends with an Aspie.

Why? What are you afraid of?


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16 Jul 2015, 7:07 am

starfox wrote:
nerdygirl wrote:
I have to say that reading this thread makes me very afraid of trying to be friends with an Aspie.

Why? What are you afraid of?


Being dropped out of the blue with no explanation. Not being given a chance to amend my ways if I did something to hurt or offend the other person. Learning that my "friend" doesn't really care whether I am around or not after I've invested myself in the relationship. Finding out I'm not thought about when I'm not in the room with my "friend." Being the one "wrong" for assuming that we were closer than we were? Being the fool for trying to be a friend with someone who really doesn't want one.

While I don't wish rejection upon anyone, and I've experienced plenty myself, I hope that this "no need for friends" stems from the pain of rejection rather than really not caring whether people are in your life or not, whether you are close to others or not. There are people out there that do really care and want to be real friends. But I suppose they might come across as annoying to an Aspie because they are too needy or clingy or just don't treat the Aspie "right."



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16 Jul 2015, 7:14 am

Ah I see. I think I'm just like that because of my personality. Not every aspie is the same.

I've had the same happen to me when people ignore me because they don't like to chat anymore. It really makes me angry and is annoying but also sometimes I like someone or respect someone too much. Either way the end result is never good.

Either way I pure can't handle friendship properly. Unless it's online and that's fine :)


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16 Jul 2015, 1:03 pm

nerdygirl wrote:
starfox wrote:
nerdygirl wrote:
I have to say that reading this thread makes me very afraid of trying to be friends with an Aspie.

Why? What are you afraid of?


Being dropped out of the blue with no explanation. Not being given a chance to amend my ways if I did something to hurt or offend the other person. Learning that my "friend" doesn't really care whether I am around or not after I've invested myself in the relationship. Finding out I'm not thought about when I'm not in the room with my "friend." Being the one "wrong" for assuming that we were closer than we were? Being the fool for trying to be a friend with someone who really doesn't want one.

While I don't wish rejection upon anyone, and I've experienced plenty myself, I hope that this "no need for friends" stems from the pain of rejection rather than really not caring whether people are in your life or not, whether you are close to others or not. There are people out there that do really care and want to be real friends. But I suppose they might come across as annoying to an Aspie because they are too needy or clingy or just don't treat the Aspie "right."

I respect the feelings you've expressed here about not wanting to be treated like a disposable paper towel, but I don't see any hard evidence here that Aspie are more fickle than the general population. My experience is that there's no correlation between neurotypicality and loyalty to friends. It would be a shame if you tarred us all with the same brush just because one or two of us have admitted here that we don't seem able to form enduring bonds with people.



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16 Jul 2015, 1:18 pm

ToughDiamond wrote:
nerdygirl wrote:
starfox wrote:
nerdygirl wrote:
I have to say that reading this thread makes me very afraid of trying to be friends with an Aspie.

Why? What are you afraid of?


Being dropped out of the blue with no explanation. Not being given a chance to amend my ways if I did something to hurt or offend the other person. Learning that my "friend" doesn't really care whether I am around or not after I've invested myself in the relationship. Finding out I'm not thought about when I'm not in the room with my "friend." Being the one "wrong" for assuming that we were closer than we were? Being the fool for trying to be a friend with someone who really doesn't want one.

While I don't wish rejection upon anyone, and I've experienced plenty myself, I hope that this "no need for friends" stems from the pain of rejection rather than really not caring whether people are in your life or not, whether you are close to others or not. There are people out there that do really care and want to be real friends. But I suppose they might come across as annoying to an Aspie because they are too needy or clingy or just don't treat the Aspie "right."

I respect the feelings you've expressed here about not wanting to be treated like a disposable paper towel, but I don't see any hard evidence here that Aspie are more fickle than the general population. My experience is that there's no correlation between neurotypicality and loyalty to friends. It would be a shame if you tarred us all with the same brush just because one or two of us have admitted here that we don't seem able to form enduring bonds with people.


This isn't the only thread I've seen this kind of thinking in. I am one of those who desperately wants friends but can't seem to make or keep them very easily. I know not all Aspies are the same.

What has been said here did not describe "unable" but "not wanting" friendships, and a willingness to drop people, as well as interpreting others as clingy, needy, not accommodating, etc.



starfox
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16 Jul 2015, 1:37 pm

I never said ppl are too clingy.

But yes its true we are all different. Some aspies do want friends. I'm sure we could be friends nerdygirl.


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ToughDiamond
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16 Jul 2015, 1:52 pm

nerdygirl wrote:
This isn't the only thread I've seen this kind of thinking in. I am one of those who desperately wants friends but can't seem to make or keep them very easily. I know not all Aspies are the same.

What has been said here did not describe "unable" but "not wanting" friendships, and a willingness to drop people, as well as interpreting others as clingy, needy, not accommodating, etc.

Sure, I agree it could be scary to read some of the things that have been posted on WP. Maybe the best way of avoiding getting too involved with a fickle person is to have a discussion about attitudes to friendship and loyalty with them at an early stage in the association. In that respect, Aspies might be more likely to give an honest answer than NTs. Such a conversation doesn't have to be couched in terms of "you and me," it can be just about "what do you see friendship as?"

There are always going to be some very mind-blind Aspies out there who haven't yet learned that other people have feelings, and that when you take on a friend you have some responsibility to handle those feelings with due care. All you can do is to try to detect that kind of person at an early stage.



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16 Jul 2015, 2:34 pm

I am in two minds on the subject. My general attitude towards the majority of people I meet verges on contempt but I do sometimes meet people who fascinate me and enrich my life. I am a much happier and well balanced person because of them and I am prepared to risk getting screwed over and bullied to meet them.

Most people are jerks but it's worth enduring them to meet the gems.



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16 Jul 2015, 3:37 pm

I don't believe I am in need of friends, but I do require an aspiration which isn't ultimately self-destructive; self-mutilation and suicidal ideation have fascinated me in the past. Personally, it's rather difficult because I must be one of the rare folks on the spectrum who doesn't possess any real "gift" or even an intense interest in something.

The equation really is quite simple:

Uncomprehendingly poor social skills + a low level of intellect = Doomed for life


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starfox
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16 Jul 2015, 3:51 pm

JakeASD wrote:
I don't believe I am in need of friends, but I do require an aspiration which isn't ultimately self-destructive; self-mutilation and suicidal ideation have fascinated me in the past. Personally, it's rather difficult because I must be one of the rare folks on the spectrum who doesn't possess any real "gift" or even an intense interest in something.

The equation really is quite simple:

Uncomprehendingly poor social skills + a low level of intellect = Doomed for life


Ah that's not so. It's only your perception. Social skills can slowly be improved even for us. You can always improve yourself a little if you don't feel happy yourself. Intellect isn't everything, you ought to know. Also I think your intellect would be average at least.
Also I don't have a 'gift' either, actually I think most aspies don't.


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Zajie
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16 Jul 2015, 3:56 pm

I don't need any of those social stuff you mentioned like those complicated stuff, I only need people to spend time with and feel comfortable around, feel close to, nothing complicated, light hearted relationship with others only, it doesn't have to be friends only, it can be family too.



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16 Jul 2015, 4:04 pm

After reading through the additional comments, I would say that:

1. Starfox, I actually wish to be more balanced, and I admire the ability you have, not to care so much, and I wish I were more like you in this sense. I do not see it as a flaw, or negative in any way. I don't have a need for more than one friend at a time, but, I know that probably isn't what you had meant, within your original post, although, I may be wrong.

2. nerdygirl, I am sorry, if my post instilled or perpetuated any fear in you, with regard to making fiends. I do not want my post to affect anyone in such a way, as there are in fact, very caring people, who do feel it is worth working through misunderstandings, disagreements or what ever hardships may come about. Yes, it is a bit risky, to allow ourselves to bond with another person, as the end result may not be a positive one. If you have the courage to take a risk, you might wind up in an incredible, lifelong friendship. I guess I should not have expressed the actual impact that my experience has had on me. If it helps to know, the chemicals in my brain overreact to certain stimuli. I have an over-production of oxytocin and some other chemicals, apparently, that cause me to bond to people to easily and quickly. If you are not the same, you will perhaps have more control over your emotions and, the pace of your relationships, and, in turn, the paths they take - if that makes any sense. Do not give up, on forming friendships. I am like you, in the sense, that it has always been difficult for me to make friends, so I empathize with you, completely. Don't let my post discourage you.

3. ToughDiamond, the way you think and the things you've expressed, make so much sense to me, and I have acquired vast knowledge and insight from you/your comments (in various threads. not solely within this one).