ToughDiamond wrote:
I find all this hard to explain unless I assume I've somehow selected in favour of AS people. Yet I've never consciously made such a selection, and can't see how I've ended up with so many (likely) Aspies. All I know is that I tend to like eccentric, individualistic people, and that I try to keep away from the hurly-burly of mainstream (NT?) types because I don't want them pressurizing me and saying stuff like "you must do this, it's the done thing." I guess I warm mostly to people who seem disconnected from and independent of, the main crowd.
I see my friends around me very much alike. I have a friend whom I allow to nag me if it seems appropriate for him, though.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
klikmaus wrote:
(...) I DON'T like being alone but I am also uncomfortable if I can't "do my own thing". I guess it could be stated I just want to have other people AROUND while I do what I do, not so much for the interaction but just for the sake of other people physically being present and not dogging on me for my eccentric interests. The intimate relationships I have formed with NT's have all been unhealthy and at least borderline abusive, I struggled constantly to please my woman but nothing was ever good enough.
(...) I now realize that this was a relationship of convenience to her and not one of genuine love.
My only relationship so far (apart from a forming one) had been a very similar experience to me. The change I expect from this new relationship is that she really seems to like me and my personality as it is and at the same time she seems to be much more a giving type of person, altruistic to some extent. The two major characteristics I've been searching for (or rather, longing for). Having common interests are only on the third place of my wish-list, I see there are signs of it, but honestly, I don't believe in relationships formed purely on the basis of common special interests. Similarities in the way we think and having some common interests and themes we can talk about is good enough. Having common aims in life is another thing, very important indeed, especially for a person being well in the 30's.
As for the original question, I see eccentric individualist NTs and people with some of the ASD traits around me, including friends and relatives. I'm not diagnosed, but I think I'm the only one who is likely worthy of having an instance of ASD diagnosis. The only exception would be a friend whom I suspect to be HFA, not AS. I don't recall ever meeting a person with AS in my life. Sometimes I think of what would be like to meet somebody very similar to me. Hard to imagine. I guess I could simply turn away and run...