Socializing tool for aspies

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Taking things literally..

The aspie "taking things literally" thing is a good formula for humor. Embrace it. Make people laugh. It's an excellent social tool to have.

What I mean by that is.. - How somebody says something, and how you have to process a little longer (than NTs) to know what they mean.
Alot of humor can come from this.
Example: In Temple Grandin, when the guy asked her something like "Did the whole herd sign it", and she pictured (in her head) a cow at a desk signing something.

I've used this kind of thought process my entire life, and pointed it out (to people), and it has proven to be a great "tool" for socializing because of the humor in it.

I do that too. It's my own in-joke that I can choose to share with someone if I want to. So many funny images pop into my head!

I think that you've made a good point. Changing your differences from alienating to interesting, or even funny; let's people know you're comfortable with yourself and don't mind seeing the humor in it. Humor gets me far. And being able to laugh at myself is a very important part of that, to laugh about it and shrug it of at the same time. A sort of confident self deprecating, thrilled-to-be-amused-by-anything, even-my-own-mistakes attitude.

Never really thought about it before, but I do that too, and it does work.

"Now there's a really disturbing image" works pretty well for a lot of odd things people say. I've not known too many people who don't get what I mean.

So true! I love using this trick. I'm usually quick to understand something's not to be taken literally, but I do often see the literal meaning alongside the actual meaning. NTs don't tend to, so they usually think you're clever for seeing it in another way. Great idea!

@ Sweetleaf

I like your sig. It's very... aspie-friendly

I use this technique constantly. What happens is, by showing this as a style of humor it teaches people how you think and as a result it also improves overall communication. very useful stuff!

It's like.. when someone says a word, or phrase, it brings up a long list of references (like some random google search), and you have to sort through them. I usually try and pick out the funny ones..

This is basically how I survive social situations. People love it when I take a word they say and then act like they had used a different version of that word.

Example: My wife said something about something that was Mexican so I said I'm not a Mexican, I'm a Mexi-bottle.

I intentionally respond literally just for the humor in it.

Most of my humor is built like this. I usually deliver it intermingled in serious discussions, with a straight face. It works for me. Those who find if funny, find it very funny, those who don't get it, don't even notice it. Works for me, subliminal humor.

Jason