My brother couldn't possibly be any more opposite to me (we even look nothing alike) yet he is the ones who has the immediate Aspie stereotypes. He's a huge Star Trek/sci fi fan, has a sky high IQ (high even for a MENSA member) with no common sense, terrible with money/remembering to pay bills, works in a very specialized line of work that is well known as an Asperger haven (not computer science) and is a science whiz yet I'm the one who can check off every true Aspie symptom as defined by the DSM IV. That's probably why he doesn't doubt for a second I have AS: he literally has spent his whole life around Aspies.
On a side note, he did recently admit he was also targeted by bullies just like me but was able to fend them off using his ability to come up with humour on the fly, so at least we have THAT in common. I could never understand why bullies backed away from him so easily but hounded me so that's a good explanation. I definitely wish I had his social and communication skills as people his age and younger literally believe anything he tells them to the point he could (and did) convince my best friend growing up that I was a horrible person without any evidence or proof. How frustrating that everyone believes the liar but the truth teller is always doubted!
22 Aug 2012, 1:54 pm
