Culture of ignorance

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I don't understand why it is so difficult for human beings to understand that antisocial and asocial are NOT the same thing. Why is it considered rude not to say hello or goodbye? Especially when there is nothing said in between the coming and the going. Something in that time span should be a clue. Do I need to have a wardrobe of shirts that say "NOT a Socialite?" Or would that set of syllables be interpreted as "Proud to be a Psychopath?"

Maybe there should be an instructional short clip on the telly, in between the pharmaceutical advertisements and the reminder for the next episode of the Kardashians.

Precisely. For instance, there are many misnomers about Asperger's individuals because others can draw erroneous conclusions

Many/most Aspies that I've met via the Wrong Planet are genuinely really nice people. In fact, they will go out of their way to help anybody in need. At the same time, we may be intensely private, without need of social approval. So we can be erroneously branded as 'antisocial' or worse.

About your astute example, when I walk into lab/office, if a colleague (or anyone) is super-busy and concentrating at their desk, I would never want to distract them by saying "Good morning, and how are you? blah blah blah." Instead, I might wait till they're more free, then say "hi." While I'm not interested in attending popular parties or engaging in gossip, I do very much care about the welfare of others. And I'm a good listener.

Yes yes, I don't understand it either.

My ex-manager once brought up a complaint against me in front of a meeting because I didn't ask her 'how her day was' and when I tried to explain that it wasn't me to small talk she got all offended and acted like that was ridiculous and I was just being rude.
But really I don't interrupt people to say good morning, and I don't ask people how their day is most of the time.
So yeah. Whatever, i'm loyal and reliable and will drive out in the snow to pick up someone if they broke down, and I am proud of those qualities so screw the ones that get all upset because I have not said good morning to them.

And people are always asking each other 'how are you' but never stop to really get the answer, what's with that? I never use to get it, now I realise they don't care, its just some sort of stupid greeting.

People like you to say Hi. It's just pleasant.

Most antisocial people actually are pretty social, because it'd be against their interests not to be. It's hard to socially manipulate and deceive people if you don't interact with them. Being an extreme introvert will get you nothing from other people; probably not even respect. It's a very poor way to utilize your social assets. Antisocial people recklessly try to utilize as many of their social assets as possible, without having to give anything in return. In this sense, asocial people and antisocial people are like polar opposites. The most asocial person will only try to get other people to do for them that which they can't do on their own, and the most antisocial person will only try to do on their own that which they can't get other people to do for them.

[ And people are always asking each other 'how are you' but never stop to really get the answer, what's with that? I never use to get it, now I realise they don't care, its just some sort of stupid greeting.

I have always wondered about this "how are you" thing that NT people say. You are right, they ask the question like they want to know but when I go to answer they either walk away or interrupt me so they can say something about them selves. Why do these people bother to ask questions about something when they really don't want the answer? Apparently it's a "nice" and socially appropriate thing to do when greeting some one but to me it just sounds like they don't really care so why did they even bother to talk in the first place?

Sorry about ranting. I do agree with you though. I understand.