Stuff Asperger People Like

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If you happen to be in the company of the Asperger and he or she has not told you about their “special interest,” it won’t be long before you find out and once you do, they will never shut-up about it.

Special interest, otherwise known as the “big interest,” can be explained by experts as Aspies having an “encyclopedic knowledge,” of certain information. Special interest range from computers to history to sports facts to porn (see, some Aspies really aren’t that different from neurotypicals) to horses to you name it. The special interest probably developed at a very young age and the Aspie has devoted lots of time reading, researching, collecting, or doing whatever it takes to learn more about the topic. He or she has also taken turns driving various individuals nuts talking about the special interest-from family to teachers to friends and even total strangers who don’t have the audacity to walk away.

It’s important that the Aspie create an environment where the special interest can be pursued. This includes making a strong presence during family vacation decision meetings where he or she can ensure the family is visiting a city which includes museums, shops, and other places where the special interest can be fostered.

The urge to chase the special interest can pop up anywhere. For example, if a husband and wife are sitting at the dinner table at (insert special or important person’s home-boss, in-laws, etc.) the following conversation might take place:

Aspie Spouse: Hey,___, can I use your computer for a minute?
Host: Sure, it’s right over in the other room. Forgot to send some emails to the co-workers before you left work?
Aspie Spouse: (looking at watch) No, I’ve only got 15 minutes left to bid on a rare CD on eBay! (the rare CD being of part of his music collection of 100s).

Note: Although this might incite a dirty and embarrassed look from the neurotypical spouse, the pursuit of the special interest will not be hindered provided the host has paid the DSL bill and the cat hasn’t broken the computer.

Big life decisions must be planned around the special interest. When choosing a home, the Aspie is faced with tough choices. Pay more for the home with the 2-car garage so that 1 garage can be used for the special interest? Although they have 2 children, a 4 bedroom home is necessary for extra storage for the special interest collection. If they are “accidentally blessed” with another child…well…children should learn to share now shouldn’t they?

It is known that many Aspergers, especially in the U.S.,  marry people from foreign countries. This may be due to several reasons. Many countries do not have the same social rules and thus these rules do not get in the way and the social “awkwardness” does not occur when dating someone from another country.  People from countries other than America will often attribute an Asperger’s social differences to cultural or simply don’t care. Whatever the reason, it is important that the Aspie recognize this early on and, like every other social mountain they might have to climb, learn to how to successfully work around this difference.

Dating and marrying a foreign person can be an exhilarating and satisfying experience, but like any relationship, it must be taken with caution. For example, some Asperger men or maybe even women place personal ads inviting foreigners to come to the U.S. for love, marriage, and hopes of a family. However, not all of these individuals are looking for love and some socially naive Aspies learn the hard way that they were taken for a green card ride.

Once an Aspie male or female learns of the advantages of intercultural love, he or she should jump right on it and waste no time in finding love. No stone should be left unturned, no opportunity missed. Take as many foreign language classes as possible in high school or even college. Join culture clubs, both for learning about the world around you and checking out the European hottie down the street from you.

While still living at home with the parents, encourage them to host a foreign exchange student, preferably multiple, and all of the particular gender you are interested in. You might even try to convince these exchange students it is “custom” for the exchange student to marry the son/daughter of the host 5-10 years down the line, much like arranged marriages in other countries. Say it was written in the exchange contract and approved by the school. Heck, say it’s the law-do you really think 16 year olds have bothered memorizing every one before they came over here?