Anyone else afraid of being "found out"?

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It seems to me that nowadays the more the public is becoming aware about the existence of Asperger's Syndrome, the worse it's becoming for some of us to deal with the stigmas attached. For many people, "Aspergers" has become a catch-all for describing any kind of excessively-odd behavior. Its pretty similar to how the general public automatically looks down on someone when they hear they're bi-polar, automatically assuming they'll flip a s**t on a moment's notice.

It seems that arguing for it is sometimes an uphill battle when the rest of the world is so ignorant. Because of this, I've told almost none of my close friends that I have it. I'm very much afraid that they'll stop taking me seriously and start relating everything I do to Aspergers. Is anyone else afraid of this?

Nope. Everyone knows to call me antisocial anyways.

I've made the mistake of telling a woman, that I used to be friends, with. She kept asking, if everything I did, was because of “The illness”. For one thing, ASDs are not illnesses, and for another thing, I'm glad that we're not friends, anymore.

Usually, the only circumstances that I'd tell someone was when I was feeling really vulnerable and thought mentioning it could help explain how sometimes I have difficulty understanding certain situations from time to time...and so on.

In hindsight, it's kinda like saying "Please, don't hurt me! I bruise easily." Sure, in a fight that may work, but then you're known as the wimp that bruises easily.
(did that analogy make any sense? )

I am usually afraid to tell people because the most common response I've had is they don't believe Asperger's is a real thing. They think it's an "excuse" for why I can't just start acting "normal" and that I am indulging in my eccentricities.

My ex knows, she seems to believe aspie traits are way too "severe" and I don't implicitly belong in the category. That even "some of the traits" would also make her aspie.

Then she gets irritated at me for being everything I can't help.

"Work on it..." common response.

My mother told my aunt, who told my cousins, who told their cousins.. and family friends. So pretty much when I see people they treat me oddly because they realize I'm acting funny, and I'm not able to hide things because they know.

So perhaps, in hindsight its better to not be found out/is a valid fear... so that no one uses that low tone with you like they are trying to comfort your mind.

Kind of, when it comes to a majority of my peers. They just think I'm shy. I don't really do anything else that seems "eccentric", besides maybe a few things here and there... and the fact that I go to the library for lunch.
I wouldn't mind if people my age I actually know, know... but only a few do.

yeah, the being "found out" issue is worst for me when I consider work situations.
I am avoiding being diagnosed ASD because I don't want it on my, um, "record".
I believe that this diagnosis would make some employers view me as unsuitable.
Personally I am totally satisfied that I fit into the ASD category.

Not really. My parents told everyone they knew, so everyone basically knows I have AS. When I move away from my hometown, however, only my future employer will end up knowing about it if I can help it.

I don't want to be labeled, so yes I guess it would be a problem.

I wont tell anyone because i know they will look at me differently and possibly think I'm dumb. I am afraid people would dismiss my behavior as textbook symptoms of the "problem" i have and not see me as who i am. Not to mention I'm sure most of my buddies would just laugh and tell me something along the lines of "you don't have anything wrong with you, your just a wuss", at least that's what my mom said when i tried to tell her... maybe some of y'all have more understanding or closer friends, but for me it just doesn't make sense to tell em. i dont like the idea of being thought of as different.I would rather be noticed as probably just a little weird then definitely "ret*d".

I doubt I'll get 'found out'. A lot of people hear the word 'autism' and automatically think of the stereotypes, such as not being able to talk. I told one person, and she said "you don't have that!" Most people have no idea...

Not many people know I have aspergers, besides my parents and a few doctors and teachers. Though I never tell anyone else that I have aspergers, as like the general consensus of the thread here, I also fear people will treat me differently and at negatively and think I'm using it as an excuse to be odd.

Not really; most people still have never heard of it and I have to eventually tell people that I have it so they have some kind of idea on why I operate the way I do.

Yeah, I think a general lack of education about what it is, is the problem. When people hear anything related to autism, they think of "Rain Man". The first reaction to hearing about Asperger's is generally "You don't have that!" and then the SECOND reaction is "What is that?". Then the third one (once I've explained as best I can) is, "That's not a condition, that's just <i>you</i>." Well... since finding out about Asperger's and hearing about all of your experiences it is clear that it is not just me. Which is comforting to me, but not to other people. But I guess if they don't know anybody else who has it, it seems like it's just me being weird and I might at some point decide to stop acting the way I do.