An article on how to feign sincerity.

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Helpful to aspies.
http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Feign_Sincerity

mmmkay.
Yes you're right, helpful. I'd have trouble with the eye contact part, but I think I can handle the rest.
Good advice. Thanks for the link.

No sir I don't like it. I don't like it at all.

Feigning is a lie, and lying to gain something is pathetic.

I'd definitely feel odd using the suggestions in the article to fake something, but they are a good way to let most NTs know that you are interested in what they're saying. For some reason my demonstrating rapt attention by staring out the window isn't as convincing.

Feigning interest is a social grace. While it isnt completely honest, the alternative is considered insulting, and a large reason that aspies are disliked. It might be a white lie, but it is considered socially acceptable. It is an social skill.

The article comes off less like a way of being polite to a bore than a seduction technique. IMHO. It makes me doubt every pleasant interaction I ever had.

One Aspie trait that I DON'T have is that lying doesn't bother me at all. My family wasn't made up of the most honest people to begin with, but I had trouble lying because I didn't have the skills to do it, not because it bothered me. When I was in high school one guy friend of mine taught me how to lie pretty well. Since then I've honed it pretty well. It's not that I go around lying all the time to be malicious or anything but when I need to lie I'm glad I know how to. I don't go con people out of money or make up scams to hurt people, nothing like that. But if I need to lie, I'll make something up at the drop of a hat, and it's actually pretty good too. You can get really creative with it, but you always have to remember what you said. One thing I tend to lie about is to get out of social obligations that I committed to before I really gave it any thought, or which sounded like a good idea at the time. I don't want to just say "Nah, I'm not interested in hanging with you today", so I make up something. Also, with bill collectors, you have to lie to them if you want them to work with you most of the time. Sometimes you can tell them the truth but they are quicker to make arrangements if you either give them a good lie, or schmooze them first.

PaganMom