Literal Thinking in Conversations?

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For example. Say your friend is pouring you adrink or something.
"Say when."
"When."
"No say when to stop."
"When to stop."
"No! I mean tell me when you want me to stop pouring you the drink!"
"Oh... stop pouring the drink..."

This always happens to me, even though I thought I had learned to "properly" respond to social cues...
Also in the movie Adam, when the girl asks him if he can give her a hug, and he says yes and just stands there. Lol u have same problem?

Well thank goodness I am not this literal. I never thought of it that way.

Allways, there is no other way to communicate without misinterpretation then to say what you mean and mean what you say

I have always thought and spoken literally, even earning the nickname "Technical Tom" as a teenager.

To this day, when asked "how are you?", I think and often reply with: "how am I what?" -- it always registers as an incomplete question/sentence..

Fortunately, I have adapted to the less literal ways of most others, and am less obvious about it than I used to be..

Yep!

Member of Mensa and comprehension factor of zero, to quote one of my elementary school teachers (back in the Jurrasic period)

_____________________
can you tell us all if there are many other aspies in Mensa? "this enquiring mind wants to know." [yes, i find entertainment value in that rag]

When I was younger, about 8 I didn't understand what 'say when' meant. I'm more on the ball these days. I can't relate to that bit on Adam. I just feel awkward when I hug but I can hug.

I do often correct people when they say a sarcastic joke. But then again sarcasm doesn't have to 100% factual every time.

i often take things said in conversation literally... i was often being told i was pedantic as a kid or took things too seriously. it can result in some funny moments though. i'm the sort of person that still says "when" to a drink being poured. also when asked "what's the matter?" i'd be like "a man that makes mats"... "noooo, what's the matter with you?"..."there's no matter with me unless you're a matter." lol

I do that, all the time. When someone says when, I'm the most likely to say it, when I want somebody to stop filling my glass, or putting food on my plate.

I restrain acting on things [boy am I good at inaction] and I have trained myself to hold back on some of the "say when" things. But I am very inclined to assume someone means what he says. Or else to doubt he means any of it.

Years ago, my then light of love shared with me this clipping of a piece from the Toronto Star that she thought screamingly funny. It was the humorous writer's rant about this total loser such that if you asked him "How are you" he would start to tell you.

Well, hey, WHY ASK IF YOU HAVE NO INTERSEST IN THE ANSWER? So the writer goes on about this totally lame spaz ret*d weirdo, EVER so cute and funny.

I sat her down and explained how and why this article was totally lame spaz ret*d and demeaning at that, totally derogatory to me, antitruth and plain WRONK.

She had the grace to understand my point.

Never had any problems with that.
I don't even need to think about it, I didn't even understood you're post at first. I didn't saw it as 'Say; When;'. But as ';Say when;'.

And if somebody say for example say when, think what reason people would say you to say "when" .

I don't remember having problems with those statements, but I've definitely been known to take things too literally. I'm usually the last person to catch on to non-visual joke or social queue. My friends just have too much fun because of that!

Sometimes I do that. I've also noticed that I'll respond as if things are literal when I know they're not sometimes. Like someone will be telling a joke and will give some humorous reason for why the sky is blue, and I'll say no and tell them the real reason. It annoys a lot of people, but even though I know it was supposed to be a joke I can't stop doing it.

On another site, my literal thinking made me the subject of derision and dismissal. I asked a question after literally interpreting another poster's words. She insisted I was trying to be rude. I suppose I'm just used to this reaction. People need to learn more precise wording.

Why? Okay sometimes you can wonder to take it literal or not but, because it can be both. But if you look at the situation or the post you can know if it literal or not.
Aspies can think logical so, so try to use your logic. And try to look the whole image, less narrowed. In your narrowed view it can be logical, but when you look at the whole image its not.

Sorry for my bad English.

I could not tell what she meant by it. It is precisely why I asked. Logically, the words she used did not fit anything besides what I asked. If I had known not to take it literally, I wouldn't have had an issue. Are you suggesting my interpretation was purposely flawed?

I looked at it, less narrowed, and it appeared even more disturbing. I questioned her word usage, and she was incredibly offended. I have learned that if I don't ask, and misunderstand, I'm in trouble.If I do ask, I'm offensive. There really is no middle ground.

Why use words if you do not mean them? Precise language really reminds me of the book, "The Giver". While I dislike the need for "sameness" in the society portrayed in that book, the usage of precise language appeals to me.