Born almost completely without the "social gene"?

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Many people here have friends they hang out with. But are there any aspies here, like me, who were born almost completely without the 'social gene'? Maybe 2% of the time I'll want to socialize, and then never for long. The rest of the time is spent completely isolated from others, even family. As if the concept of socialization does not even exist or compute. Wishing I was more social so I could work lol

I think I know what you mean. For me I'm f*****g terrible at socializing with people in person. I have internet friends but only a few in-person friends. When it comes to socializing I've been lost ever since middle school gave me almost incurable social anxiety.

ATP I've given up on socializing. I'm waiting until I get out of school and seeing where I go from there. It's not worth it.

Nope. I can't socialize with people well face to face either. No theory of mind or body language give-and-take comprehension whatsoever. Never had it, never will. I prefer straightforward communication rather than anything non-verbal or innuendo. Probably because that's all I can do! lol XD I have severe social phobia on top of the ASD.

I really feel half Asperger's and half classic Kanner's.

I can't socialize at all and if I do manage to make friends I will destroy the relationship myself. I find having a relationship with people causes me more anxiety than not knowing the person.

Unfortunately it's an extrovert's world, especially in the workplace.

But what are the massses of introverts going to do?

I used to think I was an introvert, but I think I'm actually an extrovert. I love short, spontaneous, happy interactions - like in line at the coffee shop or with a waiter or waitress. But "socializing", no. Not interested. It's SOOOOO slow and so petty and SOOOO illogical. And people are often just faking it and I don't understand why they do it. What's the point?

BUT

I love working with people who love their work so much that they forget about all of the social acrobatics. I don't want to be "friends", I just enjoy working with them, very much. No talk about personal matters, no talk about other people's personal matters (gossip), no covert intentions or manipulation, no fear of embarrassment - just happy people or, more accurately said, people who are in "happy mode" - doing what they love doing. But THEN they want to "get coffee" or otherwise "hang out". Socially. No. That's when I make my excuses and leave.

why do you want to socialize if you aren't really interested in it? sometimes we live with the goals that people expect of us and forget about our own.

I....don't know. I think it's because I wish I was a little more like the people around me, a little more NT. That and feeling a lot less anxious about social interactions when they do come up. Mainly I want to work, and for that to happen I need to get used to people.

Try and adapt, I guess. There are work options which might appeal to introverts, such as working from home, in which one isn't forced to socialise constantly with all that is involved.