Sarcasm Detector Needed

If anyone watches The Big Bang Theory, one of the main characters, Dr. Sheldon Cooper, has this inability to recognize sarcasm.  Granted, he has a lot of the traits of Aspies, but this entry isn't about him.  Maybe I'll analyze that later.  However, he's the type who needs a sarcasm sign.

I don't get much of sarcasm.  Everything to me sounds literal.  So if I say "can I ask a question" and someone says "no" I may think they are serious until they do one of those smiles.  Then it hits me that the sarcasm sign is flashing.  However, it would have been nice to banter and not get stuck at a point where it is confusing.

Now, I wonder what a sarcasm detector would look like.  I can't draw out the image, but I can think of some features now:

• Ability to tell if the sarcasm is meant as a good joke or a tell-off
• Knowing if a response is appropriate, with a possible cue
• A ding of approval when the sarcasm is employed successfully in return by the using party (like me)
• If the sarcasm is directed in general, at you, at another person in the vicinity
• A shock trigger if you actively question if the recent exchange was sarcasm
• A pony just because everyone wants one

Okay, we can't really have one of those, but it would be nice sometimes.  A chance to have something freeze time or go off in the membranes telling us "YES, THIS IS SARCASM.  LIKE YOU'RE CORRECT."  Then again, not getting sarcasm has provided for some awesome moments of humor in my life, so maybe it's not so bad.

Knuckle Hair

Simply put, it's my worst habit. I play with my knuckle hair incessantly. It's usually when I'm bored or when I stare at it and realize the hairs are in messed up order.  It really defines my nervous nature and my need to play with something while working.

Why I do it is hard to describe.

Having been caught doing it can be distracting, but I have managed to be conscious about it at the right moments.

Do you have any habits?

The Kind of Videos I Find Funny

I have a thing for studio production logos from my youth and before my youth.  This is something I love, and I get all of the references.

Story About Flirtations in Key West

I finally have time to post that entry I was talking about and never did post.

While I was on said vacation, I showed a sense of bravado which is atypical of a good number of autistic folks.  A part of the trip was two days in Key West, Florida.  While in Key West, we stopped at Margaritaville to have lunch.  We had a cute waitress who, based on my straw hat, thought I had a resemblance to Woody from Toy Story.   I joke that I’m the cute one amongst my friends, though I’m also the most prone to saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.  However, I decided to use this conversation with the waitress to attempt to go for her number.  I asked my friends if they thought I could, and then two of them sneak me money for a bet that I won’t, all while using an extremely corny line.  It took me a long time to get the right moment to ask for her number, and it came out awkward since she knew I was a tourist and was not going to stay unless I got hit on the head and decided “hey, I’m going to stay here.”

Here’s where I relate to the spectrum: when it seemed like I nearly got shot down after taking over six sentences just to ask “what’s your number?”  I started a story by saying “I’m truly sorry, I’m embarrassed now by doing this.  I don’t want you thinking I’m one of ‘those guys’ you know.”  She then tells me to hold on a second, and next thing you know, she gives me her number.  Later on, I gave her a call to make sure it wasn’t a fake; it was indeed legit.

What this story makes me think about is dares, or breaking from introversion.  It’s not like I’m a smashing success on the dating scene, as I am not a great ice-breaker.  I viewed this more as a moment of getting my own confidence back while talking with a cute woman, rather than making this some conquest.  On the outside, it may appear like this is a conquest to some females.  They would think I’m just looking for a cheap thrill only.  I think that’s a valid case.

However, from my view, I look at this as a test of my own abilities.  So she’s not a conquest, but a test case; I don’t know which is considered worse.  However, that's what goes through my mind here.  It's not necessarily any different from trying to get an outside chance with an attractive woman or show off your own abilities with the ladies in front of your closest peers, but rather to see what you can do with your own awkwardness and maybe, just maybe, turning it into a positive.

For the record, if this blog becomes famous and the subject is reading this...well, then the subject is reading this.  In terms of other Key West stories, what happened in the 305 will stay there.

I'm Back from Vacation!

Sorry for the long layoff; I was on vacation for a while.

I want to post an entry related to the trip by Saturday, so don't be too sad that this isn't that meaningful!