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Do you think in your opinion it is ok to tell others that you have autism? I don't really mean with friends I mean with more random people. Basically I am asking because there have been times when I have been talking with people (almost always older then myself) about my special interest and I obviously know a lot about it and could talk forever on it. I guess it's not what adults expect and you get you know that look. Like wow. It's times like these that I have thought about saying something like "I have a form of high functioning autism and this is my special interest" as a way to explain almost because these are people I don't know and I must appear very odd (I am not good with socializing at all, almost no eyecontact and lot's of stimming).

I know it should not matter what others think and these are usually people I will meet once but I wonder if it would help. I actually tried this once at a musuem where I was talking to one of the people who worked there. We were having a great conversation but I must have looked unconfortable because they asked if I was ok. I explained that I had autism like above and that the noise was hard for me. They had never heard of aspergers (which is why if i were to do it agian i would say high functioning autism) but did know about autism. Anyways they were great and really nice. She invited me and my mom to go into what must have been there break room. Which was really quiet with a nice sitting room. We talked forever and I got to see some stuff I would not have gotten to see otherwise because I was so interested.

Anyways I wanted to hear your opinions, Thanks

this is a difficult one.
there is a lot of misinformation and prejudice about autism/aspergers, so if it is someone you probarbly wont meet again, it is probarbly best to keep it to yourself.

i myself disclose on a need-to-know basis; people in my studygroups, i tell of some difficulties i have, omitting the reason why, teachers i only tell when i feel i wont finish the cource in the normal allotted time, and other people, i dont tell at all.
the only people that really know are: close family (obviously), close friends, housemates, my university counceller and one or two teachers.

I don't really like to tell peeps unless they understand it. I don't tell random people because I don't like to be seen as someone who needs to be given extra help or special treatment. I do admit that in some cases I may need a little extra but I'd like to think that I can cope as well as anyone else. If someone were to ask me if I were on the autistic spectrum I'd be honest and say yes, but I'd go on and make sure that the person asking at least had a basic understanding my autism.

I always think it's up to the person. Even though I don't always understand it. I don't tell people because I feel embarrassed about it and I have lots of reasons for not telling. But sometimes I think I should tell people but I am afraid of what if they think I am using it as an excuse or don't believe me. I even find it funny when people point out my personality traits and it's very common in autism and they don't even realize it. Instead they think it's part of me which is true but they don't know why I am like that. But if they are open minded and like the way I am, I see no reason to tell them. I like to be a mystery to people and I have things about me I like to keep private.

My mother feels the same way about her cancer and my husband feels the same way about his disabilities.

As a rule of thumb, don't tell random people. Doing so on a need-to-know basis is best. I've had the experience of telling my autistic sons' teachers about my diagnosis and it still feeling weird, even though they were educated highly on the subject.

It's best to keep medical, financial, and personal stuff on a need to know basis. People don't always understand, even when you explain things to them, and they will change how they behave towards you. Some will even break off having anything to do with you. So keep it in the "Private" folder.

It's not a matter of "keeping secrets." It is just that it is neither healthy or wise to broadcast every detail of ones life to the general public. It is prudent to keep certain kinds of info private for ones own protection.

I wouldn't proactively but there are situations, especially ones in which I'm upset/overwhelmed/otherwise not feeling well and people tend to fuss over you and try to help etc for which I've contemplated making cards along the lines of

'Hi, thank you for caring, I really appreciate it but what I need most is some peace and quiet. If you want to know why please read more at pageX. If you text me your number (mine is ...) I'll call you when I'm feeling up to it, probably in a few hours/days.'

I haven't though, probably because unpredictability of reactions is worse than surviving the 'helpfulness'...

My family, teachers, boss, and doctors are all "need to know" as it helps with misunderstandings with communication, and ways that I learn things.

My friends know, and some of my friend/acquaintances know as they helped me cope when I was diagnosed.

People who are on the verge of reaching "friend" status might be told because by then they have noticed and commented on some of my eccentricities that come from AS and that explains why I have "strange" habits. (some of which seem controlling like needing to know schedules)

There is a lot of misunderstanding on the subject so I do not tell everyone (although it might help decrease the misunderstanding if I did?) I am getting my teaching certificate, so there are several people in the program who have theoretically been taught about ASD and AS and what to do and not to do, unfortunately they seem to be the people who suddenly start talking down to me when they find out (and they find out because I need accommodations), when other people tend to be more normal and just show understanding when I explain what AS is and how it affects me.

I don't go around shouting it out in the streets to everyone I see, but those I come into contact with on any kind of regular basis know. Family, friends, neighbors, doctor, etc.

I just share it with a few close friends, and other people only if it comes up in a conversation.

Once I blurted it out to a teacher within 10 seconds of meeting him, because he said "just join a group", because I'd joined the class late, and everyone in the room swiveled around to look at me for a moment. They didn't hear, but...Instant regret Not that he was rude about it.
I told a friend last week, and yesterday RIGHT after I got back from a miserable day of school and work, she mentioned how she was not sure if she actually wanted to be a psychiatrist since she didn't want to be around "chronically depressed nutjobs who fabricate problems" I was a bit hurt and unsure how to interpret it.

...
your mileage may vary.