Work Christmas parties revisited!

It's 9 years since I posted this about a "Compulsory" Christmas party. This week I found this thread on Reddit, where the original poster asks "am I miserable/antisocial" for not wanting to go, and the link goes straight to a comment from a poster who is also autistic and admits talking in groups is extremely difficult for them. The replies mix those saying "networking is an important part of work and career" and those defending the right not to go such as "social events one attends from obligation are likely to be a pain". The job I've had in these last few years, yes there have been some meals and the dreaded "Secret Santas" but they'd understood and accepted my non-participation. With only a few working days to go before this Christmas it isn't now likely I'll be starting in a new workplace let alone dealing with whether to go to a Christmas do or not.