WrongPlanet.net
WP Members: > 70,000

Aspie Affection

New Today: 6
New Yesterday: 30

Eye Contact 1, 2  Next  
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wrong Planet Autism Forum Index -> General Autism Discussion     
nerdfiles
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse


Joined: Dec 26, 2011
Age: 28
Posts: 40
Location: Earth

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:12 am    Post subject: Eye Contact Reply with quote

After recently doing MDMC, I've noticed that I can maintain eye contact better. It reminds me of my time as a child when I would often stare blankly into space, and coincidentally _at_ someone should they be standing nearby. Rarely in conversation.

However, now I understand what eye contact feels like without distraction to thinking. It will require some training as now I am giving people _too much_ attention. They won't stop talking _with_ me. It's exhausting. I still don't know how to "jump in" well or "simmer" the conversation to a close. They just rambling on and on, with all sorts of tiny factual bits about themselves and things. It is quite boring, considering that I spend a lot of time thinking, counting, introspecting, building mental games, developing arguments with myself.

Now I'm simply bored with people. I figure a week off might help, but I'm quite unsure. I find that I am no longer attracted to women, and all I really want to do is read or work. It feels as if I've simply gained an ability to read people better. What mostly goes on in me, during conversation, is a strange kind of "eye tracking." (I've recently noticed an ability to predict certain speakers words and utter them myself.) But for the most part, I'm simply tracking their eye movements and predicting based on their sentences where their eyes will go.

But I am noticing that I am more quickly becoming bored with people (NTs, perhaps) and their conversation styles. It's quite odd (and exhausting).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
NorthPark
Velociraptor
Velociraptor


Joined: Dec 23, 2011
Age: 17
Posts: 429
Location: San Francisco

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My parents pointed out that I didn't look at people in the eyes. I didn't make good contact until 14. Even so, it's not perfect. Enough to pass as normal though. What's MDMC? And finally, I only look at people in the eyes if I know them well, their eyes are nice, or if I have a crush on someone.
_________________
Help in the fight : www.shop42a.com
March 19, 2013 The day the Law Abiding Citizen Won!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nerdfiles
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse


Joined: Dec 26, 2011
Age: 28
Posts: 40
Location: Earth

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

NorthPark wrote:
My parents pointed out that I didn't look at people in the eyes. I didn't make good contact until 14. Even so, it's not perfect. Enough to pass as normal though. What's MDMC? And finally, I only look at people in the eyes if I know them well, their eyes are nice, or if I have a crush on someone.


MDMC is an stimulant and enactogen of phenethylamine, cathinone and amphetamine. It's an illegal research chemical drug that I managed to experiment with twice.

I still avoid eye contact with all at times. But now when others talk, I can stare them down or "gaze" at them. But I'm primarily doing this to track their eyes with their mouths so I can compel more speech or give them a sense of comfort. I agree with your "crush" idea, but only in that my eye contact has usually been highly circumstantial. So I might make eye contact with girlfriends. But most conversation I used to avoid it. Or I would find a sitting or social arrangement that did not involve us looking face-to-face. What's more, I did not begin dating until 21-22. And even then, I have been on fewer than 10 dates. Many of them I doubt my partner at the time would have called it a "date," but more along the lines of visiting the park together. Or going to the museum.

However, now, I still require, when talking, moments where I must stare off in order to think or "puzzle." Often friends mock me for my blank stares and my expressionless demeanor.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
reecare
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker


Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 63

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I could barely make it at all when I was little and still struggle sometimes now. If I'm close to someone I can do it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cammyyy
Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker


Joined: Sep 18, 2009
Age: 20
Posts: 192
Location: Ontario

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I don't know the person I find it extremely hard to maintain eye contact for more than a few seconds, but if they're a friend or family member I don't have any issues maintaining it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
treblecake
Deinonychus
Deinonychus


Joined: May 13, 2012
Age: 17
Posts: 310
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hate eye contact, it feels so unnatural. I usually look at their eyes for as long as I can which is less than a second, look away for a while and repeat this throughout the conversation. After years of doing this it's gotten slightly easier but I still have to instruct myself with every conversation I have.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bunnynose
Sea Gull
Sea Gull


Joined: May 18, 2012
Posts: 200

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

While we were talking, the friend who recently suggested I have AS said: Now look me in the eyes when you answer.

And so I began to respond. But before I could continue, I realized I was looking down at the wooden floor. So I blurted out: Oh, sh%t! I'm not looking into your eyes!

lol

A few months back at this crappy temp job, the boss was trying to give me instruction on some useless software he uses to keep track of business. We were sitting side-by-side and he complained, You don't look me in the eye. To which I replied, Well, it's kinda hard to look at you when you're sitting next to me (and [not spoken] I hate your guts!).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
vanhalenkurtz
Velociraptor
Velociraptor


Joined: May 10, 2012
Posts: 460

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I trust someone I can do some eye contact. Rare event, and brief. Eye contact with people I don't really know is too personal. I feel a lot of eye contact is hierarchical or even hostile. Of course, avoiding eye contact send that same message to "them."
_________________
ASQ: 45. RAADS-R: 229.
BAP: 132 aloof, 132 rigid, 104 pragmatic.
Aspie score: 173 / 200.
NT score: 33 / 200.
EQ: 6.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jetbuilder
Phoenix
Phoenix


Joined: Feb 24, 2012
Age: 28
Posts: 740

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I honestly don't remember if I had issues with eye contact when I was a kid. A few years ago I started to realize that I had to make a conscious effort to make even brief eye contact during a conversation. When I meet someones eyes, I suddenly get very uncomfortable and look away. I started looking at the other persons nose or mouth during a conversation but then I'm nervous that they'll notice that I'm staring at their nose.

Only one persin has ever said anything about it, so I don't know if I'm making just enough contact to pass as normal, or if most people just don't feel the need to mention it.
_________________
“Standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.”
---- Stephen Chbosky


Last edited by jetbuilder on Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:15 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Raziel
Tomcat
Phoenix


Joined: Oct 26, 2011
Posts: 1797
Location: Europe

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have some problems with eyecontact.
When I'm in a situation that makes me feal uncomfortable, it is imposible for me to make eyecontact, but most of the time I have the feeling I just forget it, but in other situations it also can get normal or nearly normal. BUT when I find someone interesting it can also happen that once in a while I begin to stare. Embarassed
_________________
"I'm astounded by people who want to 'know' the universe when it's hard enough to find your way around Chinatown." - Woody Allen
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
PTSmorrow
Phoenix
Phoenix


Joined: Mar 14, 2011
Age: 54
Posts: 719

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't make eye contact because a) i find it extremely unpleasant and b) i can't listen while i'm looking someone in the eyes.

All i can tolerate is a very quick glance like cats practice it -- quick glance, wink, then looking aside. Goggling is considered offensive and provocative.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Verdandi
Miss Kitty Fantastico
Phoenix


Joined: Dec 08, 2010
Posts: 10181
Location: University of California Sunnydale (fictional location - Real location Olympia, WA)

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I made eye contact with my nephew's girlfriend today, totally accidentally. Was sort of like having something bore into my skull.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ghoti
out of water
Phoenix


Joined: May 05, 2012
Age: 45
Posts: 1309

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I still can't do it. It totally freake me out, but i try to compensate by looking in their general direction.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
zooguy
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker


Joined: Mar 11, 2012
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It would be interesting to know why we don't like I contact - I know part of it is that it is a destraction from owr thought processing. I think part of it in my mind is partly I don't like humans much. "I started seeing myslf outside the human rem when I was in the second grade" Also they don't seem to be able to think outside their gray matter. "brain" When I first realized I was not like others was in the second grade. Sitting behind my first crush I looked around and in my mind was none of these people know I exsist but I sense everyone of them. Maybe I just konw I am not part of the normal human race and it makes uncomfortable to feal them - Just a thought?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
AspieOtaku
Leader of the Otaku Legion
Phoenix


Joined: Feb 18, 2012
Age: 30
Posts: 5887
Location: Mountain View, California, United States

PostPosted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I cannot maintain eye contact very long only for a few seconds at a time and when someone is talking to me and I am listening I am staring away. I get nervous and cannot fully concentrate when I am staring at someone in the eyes long enough.
_________________
Your Aspie score is 193 of 200
Your neurotypical score is 40 of 200
You are very likely an aspie
No matter where I go I will always be a Gaijin even at home. Like Anime? http://www.anime44.com/anime-list
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wrong Planet Autism Forum Index -> General Autism Discussion   
1, 2  Next  

 
Read more Articles on Wrong Planet



Wrong Planet is a Registered Trademark.
Copyright 2004-2013, Wrong Planet, LLC and Alex Plank. Alex does public speaking for Autism.

Advertise on Wrong Planet

Alex Hotchalk / Glam 

Alex Plank  Aspie Affection 

Terms of Service - You must read this as a user of Wrong Planet | Privacy Policy

Subscribe: RSS Feed  Wrong Planet News  Wrong Planet Forums




fine art