Have you ever had people you just met ask if you have ASD?

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Well, actually, he said "You're like that Rainman guy." I didn't know how to respond, so I just said: "Interesting."

I went (alone) out to a sports bar type place to watch a baseball game I didn't have access to otherwise. A very outgoing stranger asked if he and his female companion could sit at my table. I said that would be fine. He, like everyone else was there to watch the football games. He seemed to be more interested in chatting with me than watching, however. I am not sure what he saw that seemed to indicate an ASD, except that I was more interested in watching the baseball game. I did answer his questions about where I was from, etc. but I did not ask him about where he was from. When I watch baseball, I am interested in the subtleties and the strategies, which require intense concentration. Besides, this was the last game of the season, and my Giants (by winning this game) were finally going to win the division after a long drought. I did mention this to him, but he wasn't interested in baseball. He didn't seem mad about anything, but he did notice that I was acting different from everyone else. It could have something to do with the fact that I wasn't drinking.

Some girl at You've Gotta Have Friends handed me a copy of the book, 'All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome' and she told me to read it. I read the book and confided in her, that I have AS.

No never and to be honest I hate it becuase people would just think I'm an idiot or I'm mean.

If people did come up and ask me if I have an ASD I would finally be relieved that people are actually gaining some understanding or knowledge about autism and dont dismiss it as just a bunch of whiny bad behavior.

Somebody who I found out later was diagnosed with AS had asked me if I ever heard of WrongPlanet.net.

I had just met the guy a day before through a friend. I don't know if that friend had told him of my diagnosis or not.

Nope, though I've had people who've called me ret*d and said stuff was "wrong with me" within earshot.

I feel like I can sometimes spot people with AS from their mannerisms and interests, but I can't imagine saying anything about it to them. It strikes me as a private thing, that an outsider may observe but only the person affected has the right to disclose. The difference, by the way, is quite subtle, just that with a son with AS I feel like I've kind of become hyper-tuned to it (and I could be completely wrong, since I'm not about to ask those people to confirm).

I think your response was appropriate. "Interesting" works for many awkward situations.

I rather missed the whole Giants thing but I've got friends celebrating, and I am certainly happy they won, so ... yipee!! !!

I worked in a hospital for a while, and I think the two women I worked for may have known I have a disorder of some sort since they were entirely too understanding of my behavior. In fact, they treated me so much like a normal person I couldn't take it and quit.

How some people have "gaydar", we should have "aspdar".

Yes, but it was before I knew I might have it. I was insulted because at the time I didn't know much about AS and thought they were asking if I was stupid.

I had a teacher ask me if I was autistic in front of the class (not in an insulting way or anything) - then he got a weird expression on his face and changed the subject. I had just said something about Temple Grandin. It could've just been the context and it slipped out of his mouth ... I dunno.

Only about three people have asked me. That was it.

I doubt people are actually going to ask if you have it or not because I think it be rude to ask because what if you didn't have it, then you might be insulted because someone thought you weren't "normal." Plus some people want to be normal so they be insulted if they got asked if they have an ASD because it would mean they failed at faking it. And this proves a point why people wouldn't ask: