touchy subject

A close or romantic friendship between two people tends not to be expressed in spoken language, but in the very areas that people on the spectrum are least able to manage and control.

Having said that, some people on the spectrum whose autism characteristics are not immediately obvious, seem very desirable to non-autistic partners perhaps because their non-spoken communication seems less threatening, polite, attentive.

Sometimes people latch on very quickly to the fact that you have trouble reciprocating emotionally so nothing develops. But there are plenty of threads here about difficult marriages and marital breakdown, and previously undiagnosed AS is considered a possible factor in marital breakdowns where one partner finds the other unduly insensitive.

For those with outwardly more manifest dificulties they will seek relationships but find themselves rebuffed and hurt.  It can also be very difficult for a person with AS to initiate making approaches, either involving having to work up to the move to the point of obsession, or coming over very much the opposite of desirable.

I'm not trying to be negative or discourage people from seeking romance. Far from it. But it is important to read up on the difficulties, which is why I suggested books, and also biographies of people with AS are quite revealing. That will help prepare you for what may prove unconventional. I just think being informed is better, and I wish discussion forums like this addressed it more.

Also he may simply find his own company sufficient. Sometimes that's a mercy.

A close or romantic friendship between two people tends not to be expressed in spoken language, but in the very areas that people on the spectrum are least able to manage and control.

Having said that, some people on the spectrum whose autism characteristics are not immediately obvious, seem very desirable to non-autistic partners perhaps because their non-spoken communication seems less threatening, polite, attentive.

Sometimes people latch on very quickly to the fact that you have trouble reciprocating emotionally so nothing develops. But there are plenty of threads here about difficult marriages and marital breakdown, and previously undiagnosed AS is considered a possible factor in marital breakdowns where one partner finds the other unduly insensitive.

For those with outwardly more manifest dificulties they will seek relationships but find themselves rebuffed and hurt.  It can also be very difficult for a person with AS to initiate making approaches, either involving having to work up to the move to the point of obsession, or coming over very much the opposite of desirable.

I'm not trying to be negative or discourage people from seeking romance. Far from it. But it is important to read up on the difficulties, which is why I suggested books, and also biographies of people with AS are quite revealing. That will help prepare you for what may prove unconventional. I just think being informed is better, and I wish discussion forums like this addressed it more.

Also he may simply find his own company sufficient. Sometimes that's a mercy.