Stuff Asperger People Like

British actor Chris Packham‘s girlfriend has given the thumbs up on this Aspie’s affectionate side.

While some Aspergers may be stereotyped for not showing affection, Charlotte Corney, who has held a long-term relationship with the Springwatch star since 2007, has nothing but great things to say.

“I didn’t know he had Asperger’s when we started dating. When some of the traits started coming through I found it upsetting. I couldn’t understand why he behaved in the way he did sometimes.”

The 42-year-old added: “He’s still affectionate. If we’re sat on the sofa he’ll cuddle me – he’s not unaffectionate and I don’t feel neglected. He’s just different from other people I’ve been out with. He’s so honest. It is a good thing because it’s healthy but sometimes it can be hurtful.”

In Stuff Aspergers Like, there is an essay on the issue of touch, humorously titled “The Touchphillic and the Touchphobic.”

“Both touchphobics and touchphillics experience sensory sensitivity to touch, but touchphillics thrive on it. The heightened experience is more enjoyable and may make them habitual gropers (consensual, not the kind on the subway), covering their partner’s body as if they possessed eight octopus legs. They expect to be octopus-groped excessively as well. But most humans have only two arms and two legs, so this craving is never satisfied unless there’s something freaky going on behind closed doors. Touchphobics, on the other hand, may feel uncomfortable with touch and not even engage in less arousing and more general affectionate behaviors like hand holding, arm touching and hugging outside of some contract forced upon them by the neurotypical partner who feels rejected for her octopus desires.”

Ms. Corney sounds as if she doesn’t have any octopus fantasies, which is perfectly fine, as Packham seems to have an average desire for touch and affection.

Graham Racher/Creative Commons

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