Peripheral Conflict
I work on a desk with three other colleagues, who are all part of the same team. I, personally, get on OK with all of them.
Two however don't! They are contrasting personalities and one thinks that the other is trying to pass the blame for different things. I have alluded to this before in one of my blog entries.
Last Thursday things got quite heated between them. There was talk of both referring the issue to our ultimate senior manager and the atmosphere around the desk got quite tense.
I stayed out of it - which I have learned is the best thing to do in circumstances like this - but I still felt uncomfortable and very uneasy. I am not sure why this is?
I would be interested to hear other people's views on this and if they feel the same way. I read once during my psychology studies about "conflict de-touring" which is where a dispute passes through a third-party, though I am nore sure that this is an exact similarity.
Despite the mistaken idea
Despite the mistaken idea that aspies have no empathy, we often feel others' feelings very keenly. The tense atmosphere between your co-workers has changed your working conditions and you are naturally feeling the tension.
The best thing would be for either you or one of the others to be moved elsewhere or for the manager to get the other two together and insist that they sort out their differences, with a mediator if required.
Unfortunately, you probably don't have the power to get these things done so the best thing is to continue not getting involved in their dispute.