crossouttheeyes

i don't think anyone i know would guess i had it if i didn't tell them, and i don't think anyone who knows me and don't know i have it would have guessed. people just think i'm a bit shy and a bit weird (which i do nothing to hide with how i look) is all. i have no idea if there is an "autistic look" but i doubt i have it if there is.

from a fellow newbie here, i can relate to you quite a lot, having read the whole post. i can't say i have anything helpful to say though, generally i get around by embracing my weirdness. i guess i get on with people because i try to be nice to people. or because of my looks, i don't know, hahh... oh, and hello.

...one could say everyone needs to be treated differently, so in that way i agree. i don't to much of an extent bear in mind whether someone is autistic or NT when interacting with them though, although it's nice to know and helps me understand better, and actually i'd hope people didn't treat me differently with knowledge that i have asperger's, compared to not knowing. people know just by looking at me that i'm kind of eccentric, anyway. and i'm ok with that. so i don't think it's important for people to know, in my case. meh, that's just me. i can't remember what i was trying to say or whether what i'm saying has any relevance whatsoever to anything, so sorry about the ramblings.

i probably get on better with NTs because i'm much more comfortable around more outgoing people, being quite shy myself it gets awkward around similarly quiet people. that said, when i discover someone who seems difficult in fact has asperger's or something, i find them much easier to deal with, having that information because i understand. i don't try and treat anyone differently, NT or AS. it shouldn't be important.

my ex used to do this, it was especially annoying as she got so pissy if i didn't tell her exactly when i'd be outside her door when i went to her house. one time i even looked up to see her standing in the doorway of my room because one of my housemates let her in without checking with me first. i think she did it so she could see what i get up to when she wasn't around (which wasn't a lot, certainly nothing bad, but enough to get a ton of grief about). towards the end of the relationship when it all turned nasty i started to get scared everytime the doorbell went in case it was her come to take another swing at me or something.

ohh it's not for selling anything. easiest place to hear what i do is http://www.myspace.com/nialllovatt, there's loads of music on there from the last year or so. i guess my stuff is generally post-hardcore/post-rock/modern prog/alternative sort of thing if that makes sense, kind of like a cross between thursday and mogwai if you know what i mean. i like effects a lot. all the guitars and vocals (no synths!) were done by me, the bass/drums were programmed.

i'm about the same age as he is, i sometimes feel i have difficulty maintaining friendships too, although there are a few that last. i don't think i have the problem of going on about something to the point where others get irritated, generally i'm more comfortable in a position where the other person is talking about themselves and thus try and steer conversation that way. unlike your son i am very much overly self-aware, constantly obsessing about whether i'm getting irritating or just boring or something. i think maybe this comes across when i'm around someone too long. maybe in regards to the argument thing, he just needs to not seem to take things too seriously, even if secretly it is a matter he really cares about? there's a lot to be said for faking it sometimes, or just stepping down and saying to each his own. maybe he just needs to know how? i don't know. like i said my issues are different to his.

so... my name's niall, i'm 19 and a student. i live in bath but am originally from coventry. i was diagnosed with asperger's aged around 10. i post on a couple other message boards, but it's nice to find something UK specific. i study creative music technology (second year), i'm really not into much else other than music though i don't mind talking about other stuff. i write a lot of music, sing, play guitar etc, i really love performing in front of people but i'm hopeless at doing anything else publicly. i record a lot of stuff too, don't know about this place's attitude towards links so i shall not post anything right now but i do have some stuff of my own on the internet here and there. anyway... nice to meet you all.