Eccentricity vs Aspergers

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If you earn a good living and always tip well, 20 to 30%, I'm sure the waitresses regard you as eccentric rather than mentally disabled.

Necrokicking this one too since I'm deeply interested in this topic (rather than start a new one).

Nonconforming attitude: Oh yeah, to this day.

Knew in early childhood that he or she was different from others- I actually went through a lot to come to terms with that fact. I basically knew by grade school I was different.

Not particularly interested in the opinions or company of other people: Definitely on both. I'm a non-conformist by nature and I don't really give a guff what most other people think (save for what I have to say to make sure I get a job which has been a challenge lately). I'm also fairly secluded and I don't really enjoy the company of others.

Usually very serious and outspoken: This is probably the reason I get on people's bad side a lot of the time.

Non-fiction is of importance: Yes but I enjoy my fair share of fiction as well.


Only child or first born: First born

Analytical: Deeply so but an abstract thinker nontheless.

Logical perception: Yep

Realist attitude: Most of the time. I'm much the escapist and the daydreamer but my scope of what I want to do and how I view the world is mostly realistic.

Cautious of other people: This was to the point of paranoia at one point. But, yes, overall.

Feels compassion for others: Yes to an extent. This one confuses me a bit ... I generally understand compassion is a feeling and nothing more. I'd hold this in higher regard

Intelligent: IQ of 124, bachelor degree, honors in high school and college. Yeah ... I'd say so.

Preoccupied with purpose in life: Well ... lately. Mostly, it's mostly just wanting to fulfill my function and survive. In later years, this has expanded from simply getting by to, now, trying to live and own to my dreams.

Introverted most of the time: to the nth degree.

It's notable that I'm eccentric or people would say there's something "up" with me. I can't help but imagine if I wasn't diagnosed when I was young(and then finally told about it): Am I eccentric because I was autistic and trying to fit in or am I autistic and do I, therefore, come off as eccentric.

I definitely have a lot of eccentric qualities. There is indeed a lot of overlap. I knew that I was different, even from childhood. The not being interested in the company of other people hits the nail on the head too. I relate to being more or less serious but am the opposite of outspoken. Though I am the youngest child, so that is of from the description as well. Analytical fits the bill though. Logical perception is kind of true, but I am also a pretty emotional person, even if I show it in a different way. I relate to being preoccupied with the purpose of life too.

Struggling with social skills can definitely go into the attributes of this. Being socially anxious, avoiding situations or acting differently is also something I heavily relate to. There are only so many situations where the real me can come out to the fullest, but it slips through the cracks.

ASD is such a wide spectrum with a multitude of individuals so I don't think everyone on the spectrum naturally falls under the category of eccentric, but many do. And not everyone who is eccentric is on the spectrum, but it's a possibility. If someone were eccentric though, taking the ASD out of the mix, it doesn't quite affect the wiring of the brain the way that ASD does, and it wouldn't mean that certain stimuli would make it difficult for someone to function.

If you succeed - under societal terms - you're an eccentric and a champion.
If you don't, you're mentally ill.

That's how the story goes.