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The Big Bang Theory

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Xyzzy
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Joined: 31 Jul 2011
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17 Nov 2011, 1:38 pm

OliveOilMom wrote:

That would be funny, but the problem would be that after it was admitted, and the others picked on his quirks, etc, they would be seen as being jerks because of it. It would not be politically correct, I suppose. Some people would be offended over it. I agree that they should keep it as it is.

It's really too bad. They can pick on Leonard for being short and lactose intolerant, Raj for his selective mutism and Howard for his mother issues, education and religion. While I agree that it would probably offend some people, it would certainly help the cause to have a strong and successful advocate that embraced being "different". I didn't hear much outcry over Abed on "Community" being outed as a Aspie in the first episode. But, then again, Sheldon is an established character that wasn't deliberately written that way.

It probably is better to just leave it alone, but some ambitious writer is going to raise the issue at some point. I just hope that when they do, they talk to some Aspies for input.

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Eureka-C
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17 Nov 2011, 1:46 pm

tomboy4good wrote:

I like watching the interaction of the characters on the show too. Sheldon seems to me to be almost of an exaggeration of traits, while Leonard, Howard, & Raj, have milder "symptoms." What's really odd about the show is Penny. Why would she even hang with these completely geeky awkward guys? My gut feeling is that she would mostly blow them off: find them pathetic, view them in disgust (way too weird/geeky), or just use them as the need arose (techie type stuff-fixing computers, etc). Is she maybe a little bit Aspie too? She is most often alone (a closet mild Aspie?), not with other girls her age, & she has a super smart geeky friend. Over the years, I have observed "normal" girls doing things together as groups (even going to the bathroom together) or out shopping. Never did things like that. So again, would Penny actually choose to hang with these guys if she were really NT? Don't get me wrong, her character adds a lot of fun & interest to the show. ;-)

It's just that Penny's character leaves me perplexed sometimes. I have a difficult time seeing her as truly NT.

I seem to be a little bit of all the characters. I don't always catch sarcasm, tend to take things literally, don't notice facial expressions, am impaired in social situations, etc. I also tend to analyze human behavior a lot, whether it's about my interactions, or if they're fictitious. It's one of the few TV shows that I find myself laughing out loud. I just wonder how long it'll last.

I totally get that she hangs out with them. I am NT and my favorite friends throughout my life have been seen by others as being on the fringes of social circles. Please don't assume just because someone is NT that they are superficial.

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MindWithoutWalls
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17 Nov 2011, 2:43 pm

Leonard's mother was portrayed as being very much like Sheldon. It felt weird to me, given her education and career, that Asperger's was never mentioned. I understand why, though, given the comments I've read in this thread. What didn't surprise me was that Leonard's mother would seem Aspie, given that he does and that the traits can run in families. It also made it all the more understandable to me that Leonard moved in with Sheldon and befriended him, even if he seems annoyed by him sometimes. Doubly familiar territory, I guess.

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Xyzzy
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Joined: 31 Jul 2011
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17 Nov 2011, 3:23 pm

MindWithoutWalls wrote:

Leonard's mother was portrayed as being very much like Sheldon. It felt weird to me, given her education and career, that Asperger's was never mentioned.

I just assumed that it was so obvious to both of them that it wasn't neccessary to mention it.

The writers could give a little nod to Aspergers by noting that Leonard's mom was an Aspie and never overtly comment on Sheldon.

The one that surprises me more is Amy. She's repeatedly commented on Sheldon's behaviors, so you know that she's not making any assumptions about his self-awareness or filtering the commentary. She could have a "blind spot" for autism, but it seems unlikely.

Leonard may be on the spectrum, but Sheldon is off in the ultraviolet.

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MindWithoutWalls
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17 Nov 2011, 3:29 pm

I'm only now watching the series, so I'm about to see the last disk of season two. I've been borrowing the first three seasons from a friend. After that, I'll have to get them from Netflix, one disk at a time.

sogj
Blue Jay

Joined: 12 Nov 2011
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17 Nov 2011, 4:14 pm

tomboy4good wrote:

She is most often alone (a closet mild Aspie?), not with other girls her age, & she has a super smart geeky friend. Over the years, I have observed "normal" girls doing things together as groups (even going to the bathroom together) or out shopping. Never did things like that. So again, would Penny actually choose to hang with these guys if she were really NT?

Penny does do all of those things, frequently, it's just not part of the plot. "Oh yeah, just getting back from the game" or "hanging out with my friends" or something. We never SEE her doing those things, but she does do them. She's definitely NT.

Everyone knows Sheldon is a closet aspie. NTs pick up on that right away, I have tons of friends who don't even come close to thinking about asperger's or autism on a regular basis and picked up on that right away. It's well known and there have been a couple of memes about it.

I don't think any of the others has it. They all have demonstrated theory of mind repeatedly in the episodes. Leonard can easily tell when the others or Penny is upset, sad vs angry, etc, whereas Sheldon (and myself!!) need it explicitly explained.

I leave you with this little gem. (Ignore the top half - the whole image was commenting on the Office vs the Big Band Theory at the Emmys.) :lol:

[img][800:1172]http://i.imgur.com/UgDmb.jpg[/img]

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DrHouseHasAspergers
Toucan
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Joined: 18 Dec 2009
Age:21
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18 Jul 2012, 1:59 pm

Sheldon doesn't have Asperger's. He's just quirky.

"Prady told TV Squad’s Allison Waldman that he never had Asperger Syndrome or any form of autism in mind when writing for Sheldon, writing the character as the character."- http://autisticjournalist.wordpress.com ... -field-is/

kraven
Blue Jay

Joined: 9 Jul 2012
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Posts: 94

18 Jul 2012, 2:23 pm

yeah, can you imagine the PR crapstorm that would follow after they decided to out Sheldon as having been on the spectrum all along? After his quirks have been the punchline of so many jokes?

Even if they meant it, they'll likely never say they did.

Cornflake
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18 Jul 2012, 5:28 pm

[Moved from General Autism Discussion to Television, Film, and Video]

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