First, let it not go unsaid that aside from having Asperger's, I am an INTJ personality. If you are unfamiliar with Meyers-Briggs Personality Type theory, it's based on Jungian psychology, so fire up your search engine and have yourself some fun. I'm very introverted, I don't flaunt my knowledge, but no one plays Trivia Crack or Trivial Pursuit with me anymore.
Here are two examples I get a lot:
- "It doesn't matter what I (think/feel/want), you have Asperger's." In other words, because I have Asperger's, I am apparently completely self-centered, solipsistic, and have zero regard for others. I try to explain that ASD is not even remotely close to APD. I get this at home a lot.
-"Oh my god, you are so Dr. Cooper from Big Bang Theory. I bet you love that show/you would love that show." Who? What? After hearing this more times than I care to recall I finally watched the show, and while I do think it's great to see more introverted personalities who display ASD characteristics, why must I be likened to a comical portrayal? I'm not trying to be comical, this is how I am. Why can't I be "so Dr. Reid" or "so Dr. Brennan"?
Funny story, at work we got out of a meeting and had a follow-up meeting to clarify any questions on the individual departmental level, and some of the, for hierarchical reference, subordinates had asked "What is PDCA?" I was already engaged in my work when the question was turned to me. I asked that the question be repeated, and what I had heard was "PVCA", to which I immediately responded "Polyvinyl Chloride Acetate" and turned back around to my computer. The Sr. Manager leading the meeting then said he would have the answer by the next meeting. Later, people would ask me where I came up with that, I said I heard Victor, not Delta, and the follow up question was why I even knew that.
I listen to a myriad of things while I work, and one day I was just cracking up at my desk, laughing out loud. This is not a problem, people actually feel a little better when I make such displays of joviality. Finally someone asked me what was so funny, so I told them. I was listening to a hilarious mock-debate on You Tube between a string theorist and a quantum loop gravitational theorist, but the theorists had to defend the opposing theory, so the string theorist was debating on behalf of quantum loop gravitational theory and vice versa, and it was more like a Friar's Club roast. Little had I known that there was an episode of Big Bang Theory on the night before involving such a less-than-lighthearted debate on the same subject.
Alright, maybe I bring that one on myself. Still, I prefer Dr. Reid over Dr. Cooper as far as comparison to fictional characters goes.
Finally, work is much like high school was. I am not very well liked by the majority of people because they see me as a know it all, when my job is to be incredibly knowledgeable of the processes and systems here. Intelligence is alienating, and being introversion is seen as pretentiousness. I can be pleasant to talk to, I'm just not the one to start the conversation. There are four people in the building that either understand me or pegged me as being on the spectrum. Upper management relies on me for things that are beyond my job description and hierarchical position here, which is fine, but ignore when I explain how they can resolve the issue in the future. Instead, they keep coming back to me.