To borrow a term coined by my friend to describe people who are rather anti-social and tend to be rather quiet, I think the term “pseudo autistic” is one that suits me fine.
You see, I’m horrible when I find myself in a situation where I don’t know many people. Like last night, when I went along with my friend to her friend’s party. I just couldn’t do the mingling thing and try to chat to people I didn’t know. Seriously, I feel uncomfortable in such situations and then my pseudo autistic tendencies will surface. But well, at least on my part there’s self-awareness of these tendencies so maybe I’m on the lower end of the pseudo autistic scale.
I’m fine with one-on-one or small group interaction though. Maybe it’s because I just don’t find that so intimidating. I’m quite shy by nature. Was a shy child, am a shy adult. I take time to warm up to people and often I need people to draw me out.
So if you ever see me at a party and I come across at being aloof, I’m really not. It’s really shyness more than anything else!