How much do/have you pretend(ed) to be NT/non AS?

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I don't pretend to be anything... I used to when I had the horrible social anxiety before I started taking the Celexa... and it really showed, and THAT's what made me seem strange... now I don't; I'm NT enough (I don't seem different) and even if I wasn't that wouldn't matter! If I WAS the wierd kind of person I'd BE that kind of person but it just so happens that I'm not... I'm not trying to be NT or anything! I NEVER make a conscious effort.

im sure if i was on some kind of med i'd seem more NT. but theres no way thats gonna happen unless a judge orders it or i loses cusdoty of myself wich will never happen

In high school I did my best to pretend to be NT. I didn't do a terrible job of it either, never made a friend but was convincing enough to keep it hidden until my English teacher outed me. I got comments of surprise at hearing about it.

I've been pretending since I was in preschool. Well the best I can. I didn't get real good at it untill my junior year in high school. I don't pretend anymore. It takes to much energy, and I find it painful in a sense. If they don't like me they don't have to be around me.

I never pretended to be like the normal children, because I couldn't manage. I can pretend now: I just don't say anything, look straight in front of me and laugh the laugh I learned in front of the mirror.

Now, seriously, I can't pass as an NT at all, not even in front of strangers on a street, although I have no other disability besides autism. I have no explanation as to why it is like this.

I don't pretend to be NT at all. It'd be a waste of my time and everyone else's, quite frankly...

I can't really pretend, and I don't really want to. Often my real self is hidden in public, whereas at home I act more Aspie. It's not something I'm consciously in control of though. It just kind of happens that way. In public I appear shy, aloof, quiet.

Before doing anything or going anywhere that would involve interaction with others I'd try and think of all the things that people might say to me and prepare a response, just like an actor learning lines.
After each time when I made a mess of it I'd analyse it to death and think of what I should have said instead.
Gradually I built up a repertoire of responses to most of the situations I might find myself in. One of the benefits of doing this is that I discovered I'm a brilliant actor, having spent a lifetime of pretending to be somebody else.

These days I can get by as long as I don't say too much and keep interactions as brief as possible, avoiding them if possible. Similar to Ghostgurl, in public I appear aloof, preoccupied, in a hurry to be somewhere else.

Ive been done pretending for many months now.

I don't understand how all those who say they don't bother to pretend earn a living. If I didn't make every effort to pretend, I'd die of destitution.

i guess i tried to belong to the group when i was younger... always wondered why it was always me with the bad luck. i felt like watching a movie: the moment you switch on a movie and grasp who the protagonist is, you know that hes in for something out of order... i so wondered why it was always me - and if all others thought the same of themselves, why do i perceive whats happening to me as special? then i found out that people dont make the effort to think these kind of things.

some day, i just thought "screw it". having a few pals who took me the way i was, and having one girl of those tell me that she could absolutely imagine having me as a boyfriend helped with confidence, too.
years later, i found out about as via the wired article. all it did was putting a name to it, with all that implied: being able to search the internet about it and the like. it didnt really change me... but id never pretend to be like others when i clerly know i am not. whyt use would that be? i wouldnt want anything i only got for pretending something i am not. im too proud of myself to sink that deep.

im on the same boat as richard benson: no meds for me, no change, ever. i actually get asked every once in a while what can be done against as... i usually answer with a question on my own: "would you want to change a superior mind for what you have recognized to be an inferior version?"

If a person with AS were to act like an NT, what would you do to act like them?

I did in high school and collage, when I realized i stuck out like a sour thumb. Only when I started posting on here did I realize that I dont have to hide who I am, im very mild and have a few qwarks, everyone thinks im smart and weird, so ill go with it, and I do just fine, whereas before I always dressed like everyone else, hung out in places like them, did what they did and talked like they did, but I much rather prefer being myself, and its not a problem, because Im apart from the group in a good way, a way that im happy with.

I don;t think I know how....

I tried to "fit in" in High School, I had never heard of AS and the only way I'd heard of Autism was "Rainman" of course. I must have done a really bad impersonation because I was not "accepted" in any way and was "that weird girl" from about 3rd grade on. It never changed. My Top SSG used to scream at me "Your the true individulist, you don't belong in this mans Army" and I'd agree and ask to be let out. I'd only joined to get to Europe (which was fabulous I must say.) Got out Honorably in 11mos. and 4 days. Did't fit in there either. And really tried, even into my 30's I was trying to "fit in" w/ other people even through it was all an act sorta. Looking intrested in their chitchat, nodding and laughing at the right moments. I dated a couple cops when I was younger and they explained a lot of things about reading Body Language, and how to tell when someone is not being truthful,ect. ect., and being detail-oriented really helped me learn it in all of it's minute complexities. Still no knowledge of AS at this point. But I finally got to where I could "play the game, and say my lines" well enough to support us. It may all be an act but I call it the Acadamy Award performance. One of the other girls I work with is possiably AS (on meds and won't work w/out them. her, not me)and we high-five at the beginning of the shift and tell each other how it's time to "get our fake on" Finally I'v quit trying to fit in and am really happy just being the way I am. Even at my job now, I'm just "reading my lines" Most of my customers don't suspect anything , the ones who've been coming there for years know somethings up proably. They all know about my daughter, and theres TONS of Dr.s there, so maybe they know, but I don't really care anymore. I like not being a "sheep" Wish I had known about AS sooner, would have saved me a lot of inner conflict thruout my life I think.

I never really pretended to be NT, just tried to copy what everyone else was doing as far as conversation goes. I did that because I wanted to make friends...but I think pretending to be someone who I am not just made me seem more AS because I was more anxious. And therefore didn't make friends anyway.

Now I am myself where ever I go, I don't try to hide my differences as I see no point.