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I'm not sure if I have AS/PDD-NOS, but I hope to see somebody about it soon, and I'll be very surprised if I'm told that I don't have it.

Basically, for starters, I've always been "different." Evidently I usually played by myself as a young child, and I do know that it wasn't until I was about 13 that I finally started to "get it" and make more friends than the 2 or 3 that I already had. Problem is, it appears that I no longer "get it" and am having an extremely difficult time interacting with people. This is almost certainly due at least in part to some trauma I experienced during my teen years (more on that in the "Public School Horror Stories" thread once I've made 5 posts and can insert links), but I also know that I'm just getting more analytical and self-conscious all the time as well, but now I feel like I'm talking out of order.

Basically, in 2004 (mind you, this was when the aforementioned trauma was starting to wind down a bit), somebody suggested that I had Asperger's. I knew nothing about it, but the source of the suggestion was unreliable at best, so I didn't give it a second thought. Then, in 2006, I started going to film school, and almost immediately classmates were teasing me about my antics. Different people in different places would playfully compare me to "Rain Man" (being in film school and all), and they'd say things like, "You are so damn smart, yet so stupid." One of the specifics incidents I remember was when we were all having Chinese for lunch and a few of my classmates were reading off their fortunes. I butted in with, "They don't actually work," and immediately everyone was like "AHHH!" and one of my friends (who'd previously asked me if I'd ever seen "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" [I haven't], then declined to give his reason for asking) was like, "You just... don't get it." Then he had to take me aside and explain to me that they knew their fortunes wouldn't actually predict anything, since nobody else had the patience to do so.

Incidents like this became increasingly common. It was customary for the film crews to write anonymous feedback for their directors so that the principal of the school could read them to the class (for better or worse). So, after shooting my film, we're in the theater, and the principal pulls the first bit of feedback for me out of the basket, and I quote: "(my name here) is special." The class busts up laughing, and I don't even know what to say to that. (What can one say?) He proceeds to read a couple more things from other people on my crew, and they were nothing but positive, but still...

Anyway, to move forward, here I am today, and even my new friend who supposedly has high-functioning autism has to warn his friends about my quirks before introducing them to me. Apparently I really am that bad. I honestly don't see it though, but then, I suppose most people with AS wouldn't.

My symptoms include over-analysis of everything, taking everything too literally, misinterpreting social cues, giving off misleading social cues, having difficulty discerning the volume of my own voice (I tend to talk too loudly at inappropriate times) in spite of having excellent hearing (I can detect 18KhZ sine waves), body rocking, and several others that I've forgotten at the moment because I'm tired and I've been writing this too long as it is. I just wish I knew for sure, right now, what was wrong with me, because I'm sick of being so weird and want to change it, or at least certain aspects of it.

I know there was more I meant to include, but as I said, I'm tired and I've already written quite enough I think. (I always take far too long to get my point across.)

So, anyway, hi everybody! haha

I'd say you're somewhere on the Autistic Spectrum, which might not help much. Whether it'll be diagnosed as Asperger's or not, I couldn't say & there may be some other explanation. Hope whatever it is leads to getting the help & support you want & need!

Welcome aboard - sounds like there's a good chance you belong here.

That's a shame really, because if you belong here then the rest of the world's going to be a bit strange and harsh. And that doesn't improve.

Well, unless the attitude of the "normal" population to its autistic brethren shifts - that would do it.

Welcome to WP!

Greetings, and welcome aboard the WP, Cactus_Man.

To WrongPlanet!! !

Thanks guys!

Yeah, basically, a point that I was trying to make last night was that I appear to come across as either really stupid or really smart to people when they first meet me. (Not sure how it works; I guess it just depends on when they catch me.) It seems like it's typically the former, though. I often feel like people aren't taking me seriously and that they think I'm some kind of idiot, which certainly isn't true. (I mean, it's not true that I'm an idiot.) Then there are also people like the guy who said "We know the fortune cookies don't actually predict the future;" at a party several months ago, he introduced me to his girlfriend as "a genius." Even the people in my last semester of high school who genuinely disliked me remarked, "This guy's gonna be the next Bill Gates" because I kept saying things that they didn't understand.

I'm frequently offending people without realizing it. Also (and if this isn't a symptom, I don't know what the hell is) I was OBSESSED with cars starting in jr. high. I subscribed to two magazines, but that wasn't enough, so I started calling every manufacturer's 1-800 # and requesting brochures. (Which was fun; I eventually perfected my English [adult-sounding] accent and would pretend to be a refined millionaire when calling the more upscale brands. "Yes, I'd like a brochure on the 911 Turbo. What cars do I currently own? A 1992 Acura NSX and a 1998 Hummer. I love my NSX, but it is starting to show its age, hence my interest in the Turbo...") It got to the point where some brands (like Nissan and BMW) would just sent their entire year's worth of brochures to me annually without me even having to ask anymore; I guess they picked up on my game. Anyway, I'd read EVERY word on EVERY page, and study EVERY detail of the car in EVERY photo, to the point where going through a single brochure could easily take more than an hour. I currently have several hundred pounds (in weight) of car brochures on my shelves, organized and bookmarked alphabetically--some of which are from brands not even sold in the US (Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Renault, etc.). But that wasn't enough either, so I bought models, books and posters. I managed to memorize the price ranges, horsepower figures, and various other statistics for dozens of cars.

Then, when I turned 18, I finally got to drive and I realized that numbers in themselves don't reveal much of anything about the cars. Hence, I'm still into cars today, but I don't agonize over meaningless figures. Other current interests are computers (my major) and jets.

So... yeah... I still need to see the doctor, but I'm pretty sure I do "belong here" haha

Welcome, but there is no way out.

Wowser.. firstly welcome oh spikey one (cactusman) I was reading your post and more than ever before I realised it's time for me to get assessed, it's not just my son thats an aspie, it's me too... you sound so much like me and beautifully articulated it. I look forward to reading more of you wonderful thoughtful expressions. Thank you

Hi Cactus_Man, welcome!
I am also new here.
I liked the following sentence you wrote:

Like some more?