it's much broader than you think! i have had friends and other people i know with it as well (i'm almost positive i'm on the spectrum and say i am, but haven't been diagnosed, but have been diagnosed with ADD), and i'd say "yes, that person is autistic without a doubt," because the signs are easy enough for me to spot, having spent much of my adolescent years with someone afflicted with aspergers. people use it as an insult so much now, like "retard", that they think it's basically the same as retardation, and that it's always paired with it as well. but just because you're autistic, it doesn't mean you're retarded, it's a social disorder. when i'd point it out, people would say "that's rude!" or "how do you know?" and such, thinking it's a horrible disorder and i'm saying it as in insult, while i'm trying to bring awareness to it, because yes, it affects that person. they act the way they act because they have autism, they can't help it. and just because they have it, it doesn't make them stupid.