Watch wearing, Social Rhythm, and AS Timing

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Was reading an article over on Aspies for Freedom, about how researchers at Uni of Bangor have apparently established that a high proportion of people on Autistic spectrum are missing, or have damaged/inactivated versions of, a small group of genes to do with rhythm, bodyclocks, timing etc , which may explain a fundamental aspect of Autism which is failure to know when to respond and for how long, when to make certain signals so to speak in the social dance, aswell as why so many AS have problems with sleep rhythms, and time management even.
A discovery which seemed quite exciting because I def experience this sort of "self-consciousness" about timing around people, wondering whether outstaying welcome, when to go or stay, when shut up, aswell as highly freaked out/stressed reactions when people don't stick to agreed times etc, are late, and basically a mass of "exaggerated" behaviours and incapacities re TIME!!
Even thinking I want to watch a particular TV programme can be a bind in an otherwise pleasantly timeless day!! Though if I have to keep to a clearly defined timetable enforced by someone else I actually quite like it. It's relaxing. Why thought I'd like life in a nunnery sometimes. School for instance ; the timetable aspect was actually quite restful!

So was wondering whether the fact that I haven't worn a watch for years might have something to do with this. Apart from short periods here and there it is now at least 20 years since last wore watch regularly. I realised that I hated the object, not just the way it felt, but that this object on my body was functioning as a timer. Prefer finding a clock. Maybe I sensed that for me wearing a watch was actually TOO much like NEEDING to wear a timer!!
It is often not practical at all, especially as am so "nervous" about time and being late.
Anyone else ?

No, no time issues. I've never really worn a watch, but that's because I can't stand having anything around my wrist - it drives me nuts. Electronic watches always seem to stop on me as well, and I forget to wind up traditional ones.

I'm usually a pretty good judge of time, apart from the odd occasion when I lose whole chunks of a day, when I can't remember doing anything (no, not drunk LOL)

Can't wear a watch for the time keeping aspect of it. I have several bracelets with watches and wear them, but never use them as a watch. Most of them don't even work!

When I had my son, my magnetic field changed and it makes electronic devices go bonky. Watches stop keeping accurate time around me. Actually clocks in general do. If cell phone didn't reset itself the clock would be broken. Husband had to stop wearing watch to bed, I broke it. Have to reset laptop clock constantly. Starts to lose time about once a week.

I'm pretty unconcerned with time in general. Doesn't make much sense to me except to keep other people on time for whatever meaningless activity they are concerned with getting to.

That's interesting cos seems like you do have some unusual attitudes to time there, of not thinking it's very important etc. Whereas for most standard NT life it's pretty critical/essential.
So maybe there is something "particular" about autists relationship to time.

I wear a watch 99% of the time. I can't stand not knowing what the time is. I am also pretty bad at timekeeping without it.

Ever since I was a kid I always wore a watch, until about 5 years ago when I lost the last one I had. I never replaced it and now I use my cell phone as my clock.

That is really interesting, because I do have problems with sleep and time management (or at least keeping track of time). That seems to be common with people with AS.

I used to wear a watch, and haven’t gotten a replacement band since it broke. I don’t like the feel of the strap around my wrist-it just feels bad, so I always took it off after I got to work (only really wore it while I was out, but not at work or home, which meant it was off 95% off the day).

I *HAVE* to use a Palm to organize myself, and I wouldn't probably watch TV anymore without my Tivo-too stressful trying to watch shows without it.

Kateyjane, that's really interesting-sounds like a superpower I can detect electro-magnetic fields and radiation, but I don't think I can affect them. I also have experienced some psychic phenomenon, which bizarrely is apparently common for people with AS. (And I can manually open my eustation tubes too.)

Maybe we're all mutants or aliens cross breeds or something.

The only time i don't wear a watch is in the shower. I hate not knowing what time it is

I always wear a watch.

This is interesting b/c it's true that I often lose track of time, and like you said, OP, it makes sense that people with AS would have trouble with timing when it comes to social situations...I never know when to stay, when to leave, etc. And, as so many people have mentioned here lately, many of us have trouble with SLEEP!

I don't like anything restrictive around my wrists, neck or feet. I never button up shirts either at the collar or at the wrists and I do not wear socks.

I used to carry a pocket watch, but now I have my cell phone and a PDA with the time, so I no longer carry either one.

I used to wear a watch until I f*cked up the watchband. I plan to get it fixed though. I hate not knowing what time it is.

I wear a watch, both for fashion reasons and for knowing the exact time. I guess a watch is a normal part of everyday jewellery, and it would be a bit unusual not to wear one. And of course at university I don't want to be late, so I need SOME way to find out the time. I don't think that's Aspie-specific. Everybody else wears watches too.

I only wear my watch if im goin out but i don't wear it indoors as i can't have it on me wrist all day.

I'm so used to the weight on my wrist that it feels weird NOT to wear a watch.