So do you connect with people at all?

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I sometimes connect with people but it is rare.

I do have 2 online friends and 1 real life lover whom I have a fondness for at the present time so share a connection with them on some level. They all have Aspergers though so it may be because we share similar quirks or have a similar way of thinking in some ways.

Most people think in a way that confuses the hell out of me to the point where I am not able to form a meaningful connection with them. Trying to communicate with them is a nightmare as well. It is almost impossible.

I used to kid myself (a quarter of a century ago) that I was an "untouchable." But now... it's like every year I become a little more invisible.

No, I don't connect with people at all.
It seems other people relate to each other in a very spontaneous way, without even thinking about it. I can't do that.
Maybe right now I am a non-connector connecting with all the other non-connectors on this thread.

I connect well with people who are on the quirky side. All of my closest friends are eccentric in some way: they tend to be intelligent introverts who are a little nerdy. My boyfriend is pretty much the prototype of this, and it's why we click so well. He does not have ASD, but people tell me that he has traits: my mom often says that he's "really odd" and "avoids making eye contact".

I also sway from the mainstream in many facets of my life (i.e. I'm a vegetarian) and have found that I really click with people I can share my views with. I've met a few great people recently due to shared interests and views.

I do connect with people but making those connections are just difficult is all. They do exist and i am able to but only with some people. I could probably connect with more people (theoretically) but there's an in balance in my social skills so I never really get to know those people unless placed in a more optimal situation.

I have connected on a strong, personal level with exactly two people in my life; one IRL, and one online. Unfortunately I had to move away from the IRL friend, and the online friend seemed to loose interest.

As an earlier poster put it, few people seem to be interested in the type of friendship I value. I prefer honestly, clarity and directness in my relationships, but so many people seem hung up on upholding mutual delusions and indulging in superficial social rituals. Rather than go out to parties or gossip, I like to go for walks with people, lay in the grass and talk about things.

And for Christ's sake, there is nothing wrong with silence! If you have nothing to say, say nothing. I love that scene from Pulp Fiction where the girl says you know you've found someone special when you can "comfortably enjoy silence" together.

So for the most part I'm a loner, and most of the time I'm okay with that. Even before I knew about ASD I considered myself an alien, which helps me cope with not being able to "plug into" most people. Although at times I do miss being able to text a friend and ask him what he things about such and such. Having a second opinion or outside perspective on certain things can be invaluable.

I can connect occasionally with people with similar interests or mindsets. Where I fail is developing those connections into friendships. People make overtures of friendship to me, and I completely drop the ball because I have very little ability for small talk. I do try not to completely withdraw though.

This is pretty much my situation. I look back on the BFs I've had and the friends I have now and in the past, and I would bet $50 that at least half of them were/are AS. And they are much more enjoyable to be around than any of NTs I know. The NTs always wanted to go out drinking, or get high or go to a party. The ASpies all are happy to sit down with food and drink and discuss deep subjects or just be silly. Or they want to watch movies or go geocaching or attend an outdoor classical concert or art festival -- nice mellow quiet things.

The problem I've had with having friends if that they apparently have a different idea of our friendship than I do. They claim to be friends, but yet they don't call to check on me, or ask me to do things with them. Now that I think of it, if they're all Aspies, they probably all dislike the phone as much as I do. But also, when I ask them to do something with me, they tell me that they don't plan things that far in advance. And then when I ask them later, they will have made plans for that date. Seems a bit fishy to me....

One interesting thing I've picked up on with my friends -- they all have a particular rhythm/cadence in their speech pattern. If someone has this rhythm, I'll click with them right away. If they don't, it's very unlikely that I will be any more than civil to them.