[rosebay11]

In case there is any misunderstanding of what I've said, at no stage have I insinuated that Sam has Aspergers.

I have known some young people with this condition and IMO, they have not resembld SAM. Asperers' sufferers can, as stated above, range over a wide spectrum of intelligence from being slow learners to being geniuses. Usually their biggest difficulty is in fitting in socially with others. They tend to be introverted and have difficulty expressing emotions. Many that I have known have been acutely aware of their dificiencies on a social level and had tried very hard to overcome this condition.

My favourite example of someone who has aspergers is Yvgeny Kissin, the young Russian pianist. There are documentaries on him showing how he has battled with the condition. Generally IMO, aspergers sufferers can come across as being rather "formal" and "stiff" in their social interaction with others - but, at the same time, are very sweet people, in my experience.