Aspies and Privacy

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Do you think Aspies are very sensitive about their privacy compared to NTs?

Yes, very much so. I'm fiercely protective of my privacy.

Can't speak for other aspies, but I certainly am.

Must have my privacy. Very important to me. Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night just so I can be alone in my kitchen to think without interruption.

Yes...well definately yes in my case anyways.

Interesting. While never seeing it as a diagnostic or clinical symptom, I can say that I am fiercely private and can have some real problems if others trespass and disrespect that need... just never made a conditional association.


M.

im a pretty private person, i guess. it probably just depnds on the person though

I like my privacy. Not everybody needs to know what I am doing in my spare time and I like to keep things separated. Besides that I like to be alone some times, just to think and catch some breath.

This need for privacy probably fits with the symptoms, most autism-like people need time and space to be alone.

I have no idea how I compare to the average person, but here's my take:

I am an extremely private person. I prefer to lock doors, take walks on my own, stay up late or get up early (this may also be because I don't sleep a whole lot), do solitary things (this may also be because there aren't many people who have the same enthusiasm and attitude toward doing the things I like as I do), and so forth. I went through a stage in junior high/high school where I would stay up very late doing homework and then just continue being awake, or I would set my alarm clock to wake me up at two or three o'clock in the morning. On the weekends it would be five or six o'clock. I just loved the silence and the freedom. I still feel the same, though I try to get better/more regular sleep (I usually get six or so hours a night now). I sometimes feel like sleep (much like eating sometimes) is just a bodily function that interrupts something far more enjoyable.

ohhh ya, so much so that I MUST live alone, even during hard economic times, my TOP priority is assuring I can live by myself here.

It depends. At home, yes. But at work, many of the NTs use screens to block off their cubicles or open their cubicle closet doors to hide themselves, I don't get it. I don't want people to see what I'm writing on forums, but I don't hide like that, I just minimize the screen if someone comes over.

Heck yes! I have everyone else in my house trained that they do not go in my room unless the circumstances are really calling for it or they have verbal or written consent

Yes. I go berserk if my privacy is threatened.

Unfortunately all this is the main reason why I can't have a successful romantic relationship with anyone...

It used to be a big deal for me, but not so much anymore.

I think I could set a world's record for surviving solitary confinement and come out refreshed and relaxed. Three days back in the world and I'd be ready to kill someone just to be alone again.

I have no idea how my need for privacy compares to other peoples', or NTs'.

But yes, I do value my privacy greatly. I would rather be by myself than with someone else, generally. In college I tried to convince my parents to pay a bit extra so I could have a private room with no roommate (to no avail - so dorm life didn't work out for me AT ALL). I cherish my time alone. I have no problems eating alone in restaurants, taking myself to the movies, attending concerts alone, etc. I bring a book or something to do with my hands/attention wherever I go.

Unfortunately, I was raised in an atmosphere of "If you're not doing anything wrong, you don't require privacy." My mother refused to knock on my door before entering my room, rifled through my belongings pretty regularly (and left evidence that she'd done so), listened in on my phone calls, and I literally could not even use the toilet without her barging in if there was something on her mind. I had a lock on my door, but since I USED it once, she didn't like that, and removed it. I came home one day from school and it was gone.