The empathy is a spectrum. Some may not care about other people at all, but that is extremely rare. For most, the kind of empathy that is lacking is a social one. It shows up as a difficulty reading subtle social cues and a difficulty functioning in groups. We don't adapt as much to the people we are around as an NT would. This is why many of us do not get why people do things to copy other people rather than because it makes logical sense. For example, many of us dress practically and have limited to no sense of fashion or why it would actually be important to consider it. This is seen as an empathy issue. However, many of these same poorly dressed aspies do care an awful lot about the needs of the people in their lives. This is actually how I am. If someone I know is sad or crying, I will go over to them, ask them if they want me to give them a hug and ask them what's wrong. When they tell me, I will listen and let them talk it out. Because of this, many people actually consider me very sensitive. However, I will do so poorly dressed (but usually clean) and with the same basic hair style as Sheldon Cooper on BBT. It's part of the paradox that is me. I am very well spoken and come off as highly educated yet to look at me, I look homeless.
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Uncertain of diagnosis, either ADHD or Aspergers.
Aspie quiz: 143/200 AS, 81/200 NT; AQ 43; "eyes" 17/39, EQ/SQ 21/51 BAPQ: Autistic/BAP- You scored 92 aloof, 111 rigid and 103 pragmatic