I have a friend from high school who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Actually, I have two friends who are, but the girl I know from college is just… quirky. My high school friend is very… I don’t know. He’s slightly lower on the spectrum I guess. I can only hang out with him for so long before my emotional tank is on E and I have to take a break. I also understand that nuance is often lost on him, and so I feel it necessary to be more direct, but I also don’t want to be rude. Meanwhile, he’s direct to the point of rudeness but I don’t think he knows he’s being rude. I’m not sure if he doesn’t know or if he can’t know, but to tell him he’s being rude would then be me being rude.

I’m not venting, I’m just saying as a friend of someone with high-functioning austism it’s very… confusing and awkward for me on occasion. I’m no master of social nuance myself and so I don’t really know how to deal with it when it happens.