Aspies For Freedom

Something I have learnt to understand recently.

When I am socialising I really enjoy busy pubs, restraunts, etc. because within enclosed spaces I can get 'lost'. I hate being the only one/ couple eating/ drinking in an empty establishment.

Outside in open space, like public parks, by rivers, etc. I love being alone, hearing only silence or light noise like traffic/ aircraft in the distance.

I other words, in busy enclosed public places I enjoy close company as I feel more relaxed and more normal and involved. In open spaces I am looking for more freedom and get annoyed when other people are there.

What are your thoughts on this?

Well I don't like socialising, but I do occasionally & there is no way I would enter an empty establishment.
Otherwise I feel very much the same as you..

I personally, can't stand busy places- stores, restaurants, bars, anything. It is too loud for me, I can't keep up with conversation, and the 'cosy' atmosphere makes me feel very uncomfortable. In any space, I dislike being 'bothered' or interrupted. If I'm not expecting to be around someone, its hard for me to recognize acquaintances much less be happy to greet them upon a random meeting.

I was sort of observing myself at the mall today. I don't really like shopping very much, but I need a few things so I went out alone to do it.

I prefer to be left alone when I shop, unless I have a question, then I want someone to be available to answer my question.  What I can't stand is walking into a store too busy to walk around and shop without bumping into someone or not busy enough so that the sales people are enticed to talk to me because I'm one of the few in there.  If a store had  nobody in it, I didn't go in, if it was too busy, I quickly left - even if I found something I wanted to try on, I'd rather leave than wait in line.

When I'm in nature, I feel the same as you - I prefer to be alone to enjoy it without distraction. even the sound of a car passing can annoy me.

(BTW, I found nothing today - what tacky, ugly styles this season!)

This is pretty much how I feel about shopping, although I probably would go into a shop with nobody in it, as long as I didn't feel I was being watched by the staff.  Being the only shopper in small shops isn't always very good, although I go to some near where I live, but I know the staff reasonably well and they are nice people.

I always need to know I can get out a shop quickly, I check for the exits and I get really panicky if it's busy and I can't get out in a hurry. I was once in a big, busy shop and when I was standing in the queue I realised I couldn't see the exits so I just dumped my shopping and left, rather than wait to buy it.

It's weird; I like noisy spaces when I need to concentrate.  Twenty conversations blur into white noise and I can ignore them, whereas if there's total silence little background noises get under my skin.  Unfortunately teachers tend to be less receptive to 'hey could I take this test in the cafeteria during lunch hour?' than 'Could I take this test in a quiet room alone?'

If anyone feels the need to sit close to me or look over my shoulder I lose focus completely, though.

Also, I spend a lot of time inline skating around the suburbs, which is a lot like being alone because if you pass someone all you have to do is smile and maybe say hello; then you've passed them.  On foot its different, though.

I like hanging out with my friends...but if everyone's yelling then i have to leave.  Other than that I don't like busy places at all...unless I'm with my mom

The busiest place we go, probably, is actually our local public transportation.  NONE of us like it.  My husband and I both listen to headphones, and when our daughter is on the train with us, she uses one of our pairs.  

My daughter despises the noise at school.  She loves to be in a quiet home.  That is what she loves the most.  

My husband does not really like any place with crowds, ever.  

Part of that may be AS, part of that may be that we live in a place that tourists frequent and it is often hard to get around town without getting caught in a crowd.

I've noticed that when I'm drunk or stoned, my dislike for being in crowded places more or less disappears.  Every thursday night, I go to a bar with a few friends, have a few beers, and every single thursday night for the past 2 years I've gotten up on the stage and sang whatever song looks good with absolutely no problem.

It's weird, I don't like being in really crowded tight places, but if I go into a bar and have a few drinks, suddenly I love every second of being there.

I have the same thing.  I can also be quite out-there when I've had a few drinks - talking randomly about all sorts of things to strangers and wanting to do all sorts of things for a laugh or attention.  I figured out people liked me around when I did those things.  I'm more on the shy side when I'm sober.

I have to think about this.  The noisy place is tolerable as long as I can have a corner to hide in.  I want to observe but find it difficult to participate in conversations in noisy places.  I just can not follow the conversations.    I don't mind being the only one to use a facilities only I might wonder why no one else is there:  danger.  

There is nothing like crossing a quiet empty field of fresh snow where there are no footsteps but your own.  

Are we pack animals or predator cats?

I'm a quiet place person myself, I find I like to be alone alot and quiet country place like the fire hills of hastings is perfect, I can go anywhere up there and don't feel restricted by crowds of people, my problem with crowds is being six foot four I tend to trip over the person in front and feel I need to get out of there to breath!

so it's quiet places for me unless with friends. my attention is on them only so the rest of the world doesn't bother me.

Amen to that.  Sometimes a busy store or restaurant makes me feel like a puppy cowering between lanes of the highway.