Aspie traits that aren't diagnostic criteria

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You're not supposed to look at this list and think "many/most aspies have all of these traits". You're supposed to look at each individual trait and think "many aspies have this trait, but not all of them do."

Thanks to one of my former co-workers who tiptoed a lot (because that was a technique that was implemented on him when he learned fencing many years ago), I have noticed I am beginning to do it more and more now. I stand on em more so than walk on them.

I also don't get the average jokes I hear everyone laugh about; I usually only understand it if it is dark humor, political humor, etc. or witty remarks... sarcasm on the other hand, I'm mixed with. I sometimes get the sarcasm from the people I know, and not from those I don't; the exact opposite can also be said too.

Adding one more to this thread (should be made sticky?)

Autobiographical Memory and Social Problem-solving in Asperger Syndrome

"Abstract Difficulties in social interaction are a central feature of Asperger syndrome. Effective social interaction involves the ability to solve interpersonal problems as and when they occur. Here we examined social problem-solving in a group of adults with Asperger syndrome and control group matched for age, gender and IQ. We also assessed autobiographical memory, on a cueing task and during social problem-solving, and examined the relationship between access to specific past experiences and social problem-solving ability. Results demonstrated a social problem-solving impairment in the Asperger group. Their solutions were less detailed, less effective and less extended in time. Autobiographical memory performance was also impaired with significantly longer latencies to retrieve specific memories and fewer specific memories retrieved in comparison to controls."

Maybe a dim "autobiographical memory" is part of my lack of self-awareness in social behavior.

I have read elsewhere that there are minor memory issues.

Here are some of the things I have that are in the aspie criteria:

Talking fast/ loudly
Poor/odd sense of humour (Just odd at times since I do have a sense of humour)
Feels uncomfortable in emotionally intense situations
Use sarcasm
Takes everything literally (Somethings anyhow)
Stutters/stammers
Arranges and organizes things
Thinks in pictures (spelled-out words or images)
Difficulty with transistion/change

I've noticed a few more on this forum that I seem to be under as well, and I can't think of them right now.

Either way, I will say the best way I've summed up Aspie...
While NT's are trying very hard to think outside of the box, Aspies are trying even harder to think inside of it.

The walk on toes is something I've done...thought I'd share since I've noticed a vote on that so to speak.

The thing I think is funny is difficulty remembering dates and phone numbers. I took one of those Aspie tests once, and to be able to remember dates and phone numbers well was what the test had placed as Aspie related qualities. I really think whoever made the test assumed Aspies were good at remembering numbers because they are good at working with them. Math has always been my best subject (art being my favorite) with history being my worst because I couldn't remember all the dates. Now, when it's something I'm interested in, I can remember dates. And, I noticed compared to most people around me, like I know my sister's birthday (year included), but she doesn't know what year I was born in. My mom doesn't remember those things that well anymore either. I also know all her kids' birthdays (including year), but she has no idea when my kids' birthdays are until I invite her to the party. I know my friend's kids birthdays, but that's because it matches her address, so I also know her address. My problem now is, especially that I'm not working, I usually have no idea what today is (today happens to be my daughter's birthday, so that's why I say usually). But, my problem with keeping track of what day it is is probably not an Aspie thing as much as the PTSD thing (and or placenta brain) cause I never had that problem until recently.

I do also find your list to be interesting cause I do many of those things that I didn't realize other Aspies went through as well, at least enough for you to add it to the list.

I'm going to add some things I think could be included, and it would be up to everyone here to vote on it I guess. Some of it's based on what I see here, and some is based on what I go through that logically to me is Aspie related.

The religion thing...someone started a post on that one. I really think Aspies are less apt to take part in the social side of spirituality, i.e., church and religion. Seriously, the only difference between a church and the country club is the religious decorations and a swimming pool.

Alienation. This is a learned thing I think as a result of the "poor" social skills and reactions of NT's to true diversity. I did spend many years of my life talking about the human race like I wasn't part of it. I think this is true, hence the name...wrong planet. I don't know if they include that in diagnostic criteria or not, but I don't think they should because it's not really a part of Aspergers as much as what happens to us because we are.

Feelings of superiority. Not narcisistic (I'm sure I spelled that wrong). I do think we all often get feelings of superiority, but like the last thing, I think it's a result of being Aspie in a world of NTs. I've seen posts where people say they are sick of hearing how we think we are better than NTs and so forth, and I know I've had a lot of feelings where I am better (many times, it's because I really am better at many more things than the people around me). I do think in many cases the feelings are justified, but irregardless, I think it's common for Aspies to have those feelings. I think the alienation plays a major role. We have a food chain, and if people are at the top of it, where would an Aspie place himself if he decided he wasn't really part of the people thing? Plus I think it's a coping mechanism to feelings of alienation. In my case, I just do things better and learn faster, and it's because unlike most people around me, I actually care enough to put forth the time and energy into making sure that the job gets done, gets done right, and with the best I can offer it, and I don't place feelings, popularity, ego, and laziness above my mission (of course, this only refers to missions I consider important...lesser important things like cleaning the house, well, I hate cleaning, so every excuse justifies my procrastination). I don't know if that's an Aspie thing or just me, but that's why I feel that way.

I always wondered if other Aspies hated cleaning. Logically, I can see how that one could be shared by many others.

Not only do we not make eye contact, but what do we look at? I always look at the mouth because that's where the noise comes out. I am curious as to what other Aspies stare at.

Intense feelings. Consider intensity as a scale. I think it's very possible Aspies use logic more because they don't know how to deal with intense feelings, and I think they feel more intensely than NTs. This is why it's harder to control that anger because we feel it a little stronger than the next guy. There is a difference between controlling one's emotions and the intensity of the emotion. A person is very capable to have no control over less intense emotions. But, I really think Aspies have it harder to control emotions because they are so intense. Not only do I see it with anger, but also social anxieties, sadness, love (for family, friends, and lovers), etc. Now, tolerance, I seem to have no theory because my tolerance, or my ability to take more before getting that emotion seems to be thickening upon age. I have a much higher tolerance now for things that make me angry than ever, and it takes a lot more for me to allow new people in my life where I would consider them family. The social anxiety I still seem to have very little tolerance for, but I'm still improving on that with age.

In another post, I noticed as kids, a lot of Aspies stacked things, or lined them up.

There was a post that totally blew my mind on Aspie similarities, and it was back in like July that I read it, but I can't remember what it was. If I do, I'll post it then.

I use to get all the teddies and dolls I could find and line them up like they was in a class room and then i would pretend to teach them but it was kind of really boring cause i couldnt get them to do anything. I only remember having one doll my mum bought. I use to take her everywhere but she was boring. I looked after her all the time. When i went to bed. I put her to bed. I even used to pretend to give her food when I was eating. I use to talk to her and all she would did was stare at me with her stupid big green eyes. So i threw down on the ground and jumped and jumped on top of her head until it broke off.
Apart from that i use to play outside all the time. I ride my bike, play in the dirt, climb trees. I wasnt really a girly girl.
Actually I remember still playing with dolls when i was like 11. I think I was kind of immature. In some ways anyone. I might have been hanging around with teenagers smoking but in others ways I acted like a baby. I am still can be the same. I remember this year. I went walking along the look outs. I bought this teddy. It met some thing to me cause it had special name. It was small enough to fit in my handbag and when no one was looking i would take him out. When I sat out at the look out so did my teddy and he could fly too. I know it might seem ret*d but I dont really care.

Just reminding you guys that I am unable to edit the first post and add to the list.

how about making a list so far by compiling all the symptoms that have been listed by all members? anyone want to do the works? if not i may do it later today, but now i need to go and do some other stuff...

Actually I kept my room perfect everything had to be straight. No one was even allowed to sit on my bed in case they put a wrinkle in it. That is how I made my bed. I would iron our every crease and it wasnt made properly until it was like that except I am not AS. I was diagnosed with autism.

duh....i just noticed that the main author has updated the list accordingly...well saves me the work load i guess:)

thanx..!

The ones that come to mind atm :


* Heightened awarenness and sensitivity to sensory input

* More difficult to stop a train of tought. This is both advantage and disadvantge

* Distuguishes naturally between objective case and subjective person ( I have annoyed alot of teachers and NT ppl with this over the years )

* Strong sense of justice and ojective truth that can overide cultural and social norms.

i have learned so much from this. my son was just diagnosed as autistic and it was his tiptoe walking that alerted an occupational therapist. we are trying to learn as much as possible and its weird cause the more i learn, the more i recognise behaviors that i had as a child and still have but with the social situation thing, i think i have just learned to sort of act, i don't really understand normal socialising, like clubs and bars. i've always just thought i was a bit different, which is fine because i am in art school now but all this stuff makes sense.
did anyone ever chew to a rythem, like i totally remember chewing while reciting bah bah black sheep in my head, and it felt important that i chewed the same amount of times on each side of my mouth.