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hyperbolic
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04 Oct 2006, 2:55 pm

A person asked me today what I was doing for Fall Break.

I replied that I was going to a nearby state park.

He asked if I was going with friends or family.

I said just myself.

He said, "With no friends?"

I didn't know what to reply to that so I asked a question about my programming project.

A.) What should I have said differently?
B.) What could I have responded to "With no friends."

The person was Indian, so there could have been a cultural thing at play here.

Can't anyone enjoy the solitude of the mountainside...in solitude?



hyperbolic
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04 Oct 2006, 2:56 pm

Oh, and another thing. I cannot mention Asperger's because
A.) Those here who mention that they mention it get problems out of mentioning it
B.) I don't have a diagnosis yet, and I don't know if it would be good for me to even get a diagnosis



Vinzer
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04 Oct 2006, 3:02 pm

...Couldn't you have just said yes? It's not like it's weird to go to a park on your own.


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hyperbolic
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04 Oct 2006, 3:31 pm

But he heard me fine at least to my knowledge when I said I was going by myself. And then he asked.



Awesomelyglorious
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04 Oct 2006, 3:33 pm

There was nothing you should have necessarily said, bringing up AS would do you no good. I suppose that you could have said yes and simply stated that you wanted to get away from it all and take a break or something, I mean, I assume that your introversion is no secret. Really, it hardly matters because this dude isn't likely to go berserko crazy no matter what you answer so long as you don't offend anyone.



Awesomelyglorious
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04 Oct 2006, 3:36 pm

xon wrote:
But he heard me fine at least to my knowledge when I said I was going by myself. And then he asked.

He was just asking to verify, it is a little odd to go alone but not tremendously so if you are introverted. Any answer would have likely worked, so long as you didn't insult him or his culture and heritage.



DirtDawg
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04 Oct 2006, 3:39 pm

What's wrong with that?
I have been to parks and natural areas alone my whole life, even when I had 'friends' I still preferred to be alone sometimes.

I just prefer to be by myself when I'm alone.


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Stinkypuppy
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04 Oct 2006, 4:33 pm

Just say confidently, "yes, me alone" and leave it at that. No explanation or retaliatory statement is needed. Try to be comfortable being who you are. Give him the chance to understand your position, it's the only way that he will ever be able to see your side of things. :D



krex
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04 Oct 2006, 5:46 pm

the answer "yes" would have sufficed.....maybe he was interested in an invite to come along...I have known people who have actually approached me while I was dancing and asked me "would you likie to dance?".....my response was sarcastic as expected...."I thought I was?"

Please dont flame me for being "racist" but I have known many Native Americans who have a strong sense of "community" and a deep respect for "solitude"....they are often confused by people who have constant need to be around other people all the time,yaking and enjoy the one on one relationship with "nature"....(or did you mean Indian,people from India?)


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MrMark
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04 Oct 2006, 6:45 pm

xon wrote:
He said, "With no friends?"

"I enjoy the solitude."


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werbert
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04 Oct 2006, 9:25 pm

If he was from India, have you seen the trains over there? They literally carry people on the roof. No wonder he was surprised you were going alone.



larsenjw92286
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05 Oct 2006, 8:49 am

Being honest is the way to go.


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klassobanieras
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05 Oct 2006, 2:39 pm

Many NTs wouldn't dream of going somewhere to be alone for a few days, even if they really wanted to, because of what other people might think of them. So if you do it, and don't act embarassed about it, a lot of NTs will interpret that as incredibly self-assured. Many will envy your freedom to do what you like without worrying about how it looks to other people.

Also, you might want to use the phrase "chill out" in your answer, as in "I'm going to the state park to chill out for a few days". It somehow lends an air of NTish respectability to choosing to be alone for a while.


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BazzaMcKenzie
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09 Oct 2006, 7:36 pm

Did you ask him what he was doing?

I often forget to ask people about themselves. Was he asking you what you were doing because he doesn't know what to do himself?

Ask him if he wants to go with you.


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