We as Aspies should stop trying to make friends/relationship

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Say we are 1% of the population, but that is a huge number of people. And there don't have to be any strict standards ( not like MENSA ), basically anyone who wants to affiliate can.

Things are only a problem when people are in herd think mode, like they are usually in schools, work places, churches, and families. Outside of those venues there is no problem.

But I don't think any of us should ever be begging for pity. The well read Autism / Aspergers advocates are bascially doing that. "Sorry I have a neurological difference, otherwise I would be better able to measure up to your standards. In the mean time I'm having my head zapped with a trans-cranial magnet, to try and make myself more normal."

None of us, and no one, should ever have to live like that.

Rather, we should be developing and applying our special abilities, and building organizations which help us do that.

Nobody here is looking for pity....just treat us like people for Pete's sake.....

I had a friend one time. He loved the essays that he forced me to write for him so that he could graduate. He had the biggest smile in the world. I'll never forget how big his smile was when he accidentally threw me down a flight of stairs. He tried to apologize but it's hard to talk when you're laughing that hard. I miss my friend. I wish the evil men in the uniforms had never come and taken him away from me.

"Please treat me like people for Pete's sake" = Seeking Pity

"Treat me like people or you will suffer the same consequences as the last person who didn't' = Standing Up For Oneself and Others. And this is the only reason that any group ever gets treated decently.

People listened to Jesus because behind him were the Zealots, and they were always armed and ready to strike.

People listened to Gandhi because behind him were the Sikhs, and they could have sent the last of the remains of the British floating down the rivers within 48 hours.

People respect Native Americans because they took scalps.

People will listen to and respect those who are different, when they stop accepting disability labels, and instead start suing in courts and otherwise holding perpetrators accountable.

The most difficult realms will always be employment and intimate relationships, because there are no rules. But once we organize and stand up for ourselves, we will be respected there too.

Making friends has always been something that I'm terrible at. The only reason I had any friends in school is because a couple of other somewhat awkward girls approached me and sort of made friends with me without me noticing how they did it, otherwise I likely would have had no friends at all.

Despite my struggles to make friends (which I still really suck at) I don't think it's fair to say we should stop trying to make friends with people, just because it's more difficult for us. I don't think giving up is the best way to deal with most challenges. I may meet fewer people that I am able to form friendships with, fewer compatible people. But in some ways that makes the connections I do manage to make that much more special, because they are rare. At least that's how I've come to see it as I've gotten older. It can make you appreciative of what you do have, even if you don't have all that much.

Gratitude and optimism are things you kind of have to train your brain towards, you have to cultivate them mindfully like a garden. Consequently, these are attributes that can draw the right sort of people to you. You can cultivate attributes that make you a better friend, so that when you do meet those rare special people that you can connect with you have something to offer.

Elaine isn't sexist. She just sees the s**t for what it is.

Excuse the hell out of me for disgusted with the hook up culture. It is nasty when both men and women participate in the hook up culture.

It's not meant to be sexist. She probably could have added that women helped bring on the hookup culture by being looser sexually.

People just be sexin without knowing much about one another. Pathetic.

@Richard_the_ Dogged: You are conflating/confusing "Respect" with "Fear".