Are you desired or not desired?
I would say the answer to the two categories here depends on the way we hide our traits, the traits and personality features that are seen as inappropriate or things about us here that society struggles to cope with.
I hope I don't/but I may get niggly responses to this - I think that being desired by people (socially in general and family) or not being desired by society [b]BOTH pose equal but different problems.
(At the moment) I fit into the first category, but recently felt I am slipping into the second.
I am an aspie of a very child-like exterior and delivery thus I am passive, vulnerable and am generally seen as endearing and kind (too kind!). Therefore this category poses the question of managing deeply the way I present myself to my family in the first instance and then to the 'outside' world. I also have a lot of ironic features about me which is summed up by saying 'if you think i'm this, then it's likely that i'm the opposite of that'. On the plus side if one exhibits the features I have mentioned then if you have a loving family then you are one step to some kind of stability. BUT have you ever wondered what it's like to be pulled this way and that way by almost everyone who you come into contact with because they all want to be close to you, recently for me TOO close, and that's family included and others in the 'outside' world. So the natural reaction for an aspie when perception of trust is grey is to - withdraw, here's the paradox!
For people in the second category, I feel for anyone who does not feel desired, and has to deal with rejection on a regular basis, I have experienced rejection with employment recently and this is still up in the air for me. Not feeling desired by your close family, I could not imagine how that would feel for you. On the positive side you certainly have exceptional freedom for your independence and solitary interests. But I guess it depends on the individual.
I guess in some cases, the phrase 'opposites attract' could work well here with the aspie
in-demand choosing the aspie not in demand as their best friend
This is an interesting subject, I hope whoever reads this sees insight into both categories. Obviously we can only reflect on what we've experienced in our own worlds and will never truly understand what's it's like to be on the other side of the fence, unless during our lives we do in fact drift over onto the other side of the fence, hopefully the move will be positive for you!