@GoodDeeds Most, if not all, of the suggested responses are ironic, in the sense that "the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect," (first definition of irony to appear in Google). I think what Dr4gon means is the fact that the responses are ironic should not be revealed deliberately through tone, manner, etc. Perhaps the advice could be "play it straight", or "keep it deadpan" (although, deadpan might imply lack of emotion, whereas appearing to agree might require a bit more acting). — Joshua Taylor 1 min ago

This, however, isn't really compatible sex positivity and consent. Yes it's a trope that's pretty clear in culture at this point but the pressure to say yes to sex is much higher when you're in someone's room rather than still at dinner — Sirens 25 secs ago

+5 for the last sentence. I hate shaking hands and try to avoid it (wave, both hands full, whatever). But I live in Germany so I've had to get used to it. But people are starting to hug and I have real problems with that. So I have to revert to aggressive, preemptive hand shaking. Then there are the people who escalate a handshake into a hug. Just take a deep breath and go with it. — RedSonja 1 min ago

@ElizB Are you saying the value and use of nonverbal communication is disputed? If anything this is so obvious it might warrant more of a comment than an answer, but what's obvious to the one isn't so obvious to everyone. I found this answer helpful and have been missing the ideas in other answers. — sehe 10 secs ago

Could you elaborate on how he helped you realise you were on the spectrum? Maybe it might work out to use a similar approach to his. At least it sounds like you are somewhat similar. (Although the spectrum is wide and personalities can still differ.) — ArtificialSoul 6 secs ago

While I do agree that he should not diagnose him in detail, but I didn't get from the question that he attempts to do that. He is quite certain the other one might be thinking they are on the spectrum and might benefit from an outside source with experience on the topic to throw their cent in. OP does not act like they are a professional and merely wants to suggest the friend might suffer from the same condition (?) as they do. — ArtificialSoul 52 secs ago

No, I think your answer is very good (I +1 it) - it is just that teenagers are sometimes so unpredictable that what one sees as blue, they see as white, red, yellow, or whatever, depending on the day, the hour, the phase of Jupiter and last Justin Bieber tweets. — WoJ 46 secs ago

(Other than that, this is a really good answer and I've upvoted it.) — Erik 1 min ago

If you are worrying about the age difference: don't. 34 years of being told "you're so young!" (we are six years apart too), is what has kept me feeling so youthful. (And our son is has been seeing a girl six years younger for more than three years.) — Martin Bonner 50 secs ago

I don't really disagree with anything you said, but I don't think this provides an answer to the question posed. OP wants to know how to go about suggesting to their friend they might be on the spectrum, which is something you merely mentioned in the first paragraph. — ArtificialSoul 46 secs ago

Regarding the printer. If you live in an area with electricity problems you may have to check the printer is on after a blackout. — Juan Carlos Oropeza 35 secs ago

This answer is currently discussed on meta. As I feel it does not respect the premise of the question (from a misunderstanding in my opinion). I do agree with your last paragraph and think that in itself is a valid answer, but the rest seems to come from a misunderstanding of the question and the given context of the situation. — ArtificialSoul 1 min ago

This doesn't deal with the question directly, but you could ask another teacher to sit in on the session. Even if they sit in the corner and do marking, it provides you with some cover. — Chris Cudmore 22 mins ago

I wish I had problems like this. — Tyler Durden 1 min ago

I suspect the OP is concerned that his friend would think there was another step at the beginning, where he instigated it before she texted. But I agree that someone who's known to have been in an open relationship would probably not be that concerned. — Barmar 49 secs ago

Some of these answers seem a bit more harsh than called for in this situation, at least at first. Number four is a good place to start. I admit to not having been in the situation directly, and like you answer otherwise +1 — J. Chris Compton 2 mins ago

@anongoodnurse I'm not sure it changes much. Your answer is based off the idea that the father can't understand that other people feel differently from him; whether he's just astonishingly arrogant, has a mental disorder, or is trying to cope with the trauma of separation, the fact is that (a) he's trying to visit the mother and (b) the mother has repeatedly expressed a desire not to see him again. He's long since overstepped any boundaries, and harsher actions -- like the ones you describe -- must be taken. — Nic Hartley 28 secs ago

"If it is not affecting their daily life in a way that they would need help with dealing with ASD, what good is a diagnosis. This is a big part of the reason you shouldn't offer your opinion" -- If it doesn't hurt but can possibly help then I disagree, OP should suggest it to their friend. If the worst that can happen is "nothing really changes", but the best that can happen is positive change for OP's friend then why not try it when there's no drawbacks? — Quantic 1 min ago

I'll add that standing for a woman can also come from helping her into and out of her chair, i.e. pulling her chair out for her and helping her scoot towards the table. This depends on the level of interaction, such as a date vs a business meeting, as pulling out a chair is more of an intimate gesture that might not be appropriate for business. A lady in (high) heels or a large skirt may have difficulty in getting into or out of the chair, so this could also be considered chivalrous act. — computercarguy 17 secs ago

if "tapped their shoulders" stresses you out, there is a problem — aaaaaa 17 secs ago

Thanks for answering! To address the considerations you posted: 2) I don't think that she would hold it against me. Most likely scenario: she rejects me and we move on. 3) I like Jane as a personality and in fact I would make a move on her first, but I just hadn't found the courage to do so until after trying once with her friend. 1) I don't care a lot about what the others will say if she's interested. My problem is more like whether it's proper etiquette to do so, which I don't know. — JustAnotherAlt 28 secs ago

Not really an answer and I get it will get deleted. I had a bad finger sprain for 2 years and could not shake hands. I would tape my fingers even though I did not really need to in an office environment and tell them I had a sprain. When it healed and took off the tape it took them a while to get used to shaking my hand. Maybe you could wear a bandage? — paparazzo 1 min ago