I'm also thinking that these things ARE a spectrum.
I mean, there are engineers on both sides of the family, and as an English-y type, I can say that all have a tendency toward behaviors that shade toward the autism spectrum. But they are fully functioning, social creatures. Would any of them need some sort of diagnosis? NO!
In fact, the behaviors that one might look at and say "Hmmm...AS?" about actually tend to HELP them in their work, and don't interefere with their personal relationships because we who are not engineers knew what we were getting into when we chose to live with these guys! If I had to live with an extroverted guy who wasn't highly focused on his latest project, it wouldn't work for me. I chose a suitable mate for my personality, and I'm happy with what I got!
I really dislike it when people try to "diagnose" personality. I think that approach valorizes a certain sort of extroverted personality and devalues another sort of introvert, a sort that has historically made many of the significant advances in our society. I mean, think about it: who figures out how things work? Who makes scientific advancements and discoveries? The party animal, or the guy who is a little too obsessed with his latest obsession, be it cars or space...or flint-knapping and spear design, back in the day! I think some measure of that kind of "obsession" and introversion is useful and desirable, not debilitating or problematic.
I'm definitely with Erica and the rest of you who are annoyed with the armchair doctors out there!
