“As I've gotten older, I have taught myself to act "normal." I can do it well enough to fool the average person for a whole evening, maybe longer. But it all falls apart if I hear something that elicits a strong emotional reaction from me that is different from what people expect. In an instant, in their eyes, I turn into the sociopathic killer I was believed to be forty years ago.” TeachEmotionalTaughtFoolNormalAgingAveragePersonActSociopathKillerNormalcyReactionAspergersOlderSociopathyAsperger SAsperger S SyndromeSociopathic Book:Look Me in the Eye Source: Look Me in the Eye
“When Martha first met me, I was anxious and jumpy. I was always tapping my foot, rocking, or exhibiting some other behavioral aberration. Of course, now we know that's just normal Aspergian behavior, but back then other people thought it was weird, so of course I did, too. One day, for some reason, she decided to try petting my arm, and I immediately stopped rocking and fidgeting. The result was so dramatic, she never stopped. It didn't take long for me to realize the calming effect, too. I like being petted and scratched. "Can you pet me?" I say when I sit next to her.” PeopleKnowsTryingFirstsLongReasonCoursesNextRealizingResultsFeetEffectsArmsMetsOne DayBehaviorNormalDecidedDramaticPetAnxiousCalmingTappingAberrationFidgetingCalming Effect Author:John Elder Robison
“In the past, when people criticized me for asking unexpected questions, I felt ashamed. Now I realize that normal people are acting in a superficial and often false manner. So rather than let them make me feel bad, I express my annoyance. It's my way of trying to strike a blow for logic and rationality.” PeopleWayFeelsTryingPastFeltRealizingActingNormalLogicAskingBlowStrikesMy WayAshamedUnexpectedSuperficialRationalityAnnoyance Author:John Elder Robison
“And now I know it is perfectly natural for me not to look at someone when I talk. Those of us with Asperger's are just not comfortable doing it. In fact, I don'treally understand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs.” KnowsLooksFactsNaturalNormalComfortableStaringAutismEyeballsAspergersPerfectly Natural Author:John Elder Robison
“I don't really understsand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs” NormalStaringEyeballsAspergersPerfectly Natural Author:John Elder Robison
