how to ask this question

[Asher]

Uh, guys, aren't autism and Asperger's very different things?

No. The latest consensus is Asperger's is essentially a specific form of high-functioning autism.

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-44462006000500002&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en

Regarding the thread itself, why does it matter? I think more people than we'd like to admit -- and this includes *******s like Dr Stranglelove (he wonders why I'm offensive to him sometimes...) -- are afflicted by Aspergers or HFA in some respect. I've got a "mild" case of Asperger's myself, but I don't necessarily view it as a disability or something that needs to be fixed. Without it, I likely wouldn't have fixated on computers as a child to learn them as I did -- which is a major benefit to my life today. As people age, especially into the 20s, most of the major issues with Aspergers/HFA fall away for most people. We learn coping mechanisms or our brain chemistry changes to lessen the impact.

I don't know why you need to ask, or what you would do if it was confirmed. She seems to be doing okay (she has a boyfriend, she's going to university(?), so the only thing that can possibly come out of asking the question is potential offense on her behalf and the subsequent pigeonholing of her actions.

[Asher]

Eh, lots of smart people have eccentricities/etc.

JM

There are internet lists of people with suspected Aspergers syndromes from history that are pretty amusing. Pretty much think of any highly intelligent historical figure and somebody thinks they have Aspergers.

[Asher]

Is there any possible way to confirm this without committing a massive faux pas?

No. Just forget about it.

I see Drake has answered your question in the very first post.

[Darius871]

I didn't read the responses so this might be redundant, but the "she consistently 'creatively' misinterprets what people say" part raises gigantic red flags when juxtaposed with a question which for other people would only have a slim potential of being offensive. If she's like you say she is, there's a MUCH bigger chance of being misconstrued.

That said, perhaps the best way to segue into the topic is to suggest you have high-functioning autism even if you don't (since after all you could apply at least some of the factors to just about anybody), and then let the convo meander toward herself, as most convos with women tend to do anyway. Odds are she'll come to a conclusion about herself without you even having to say anything about it.

[Dis]

any girl at math must be autistic. I never seen a girl good at math.

[DanS]

I don't know how I would go about asking a woman if she was capable of loving fully. Probably better than even chance she'll break up with you, or it will cause a significant issue in your relationship in the future.

[Dis]

yup, don't do it. there is no good reason to do it. Some peolple are eccentric. leave it at that.

[DanS]

I'm not saying don't do it, but, well... You would have to judge whether it is worth it.

[Naked Gents Rut]

I see Drake has answered your question in the very first post.

Yes, but apparently it was utterly predictable that I would give the right answer.

[Krill]

My girlfriend is really weird (in a pretty awesome way*). A few months ago I read about autism and realized she might be very-high-functioning autistic. Is there any possible way to confirm this without committing a massive faux pas?

*to elaborate: she's really smart (roughly my level math talent), and not antisocial by any means, but she consistently "creatively" misinterprets what people say, usually to hilarious effect. There's no way it's some sort of deliberate affection; in the 3 years I've known her, she's never really turned it off (though it doesn't happen nearly as much when we're talking about e.g. math homework), and she doesn't seem to be strongly aware of it.

Unless you have met autistic people you don't know what you are talking about. Drop it and don't piss her off.

[Solomwi]

Unless you have met autistic people you don't know what you are talking about. Drop it and don't piss her off.

Even if you have there's a good chance you still don't know what you're talking about.

[Riesstiu IV]

Is it me or has it become really popular to diagnose and even self diagnose high functioning autism and asperges syndrome? I swear, I only hear about this stuff from nerds and shut ins on the internet. I'm sure they just use it as a crutch for failures in hygiene and personal relationships.

[Asher]

Is it me or has it become really popular to diagnose and even self diagnose high functioning autism and asperges syndrome? I swear, I only hear about this stuff from nerds and shut ins on the internet. I'm sure they just use it as a crutch for failures in hygiene and personal relationships.

It'll be next decade's ADD/ADHD diagnosis.

[Jon Miller]

Ask while having sex.

JM

[Asher]

Kuci isn't having sex, he's way too young! And he's not even married.