SNL pokes fun at Mark Zuckerberg “Autistic” traits

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ASPartOfMe
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26 Apr 2018, 12:23 am

Column: Mocking autism for a laugh needs to stop

Quote:

On SNL’s Weekend Update, a mock interview between Zuckerberg (played by Alex Moffat) and Colin Jost first portrays the CEO exhibiting some strange behaviors. For example, Zuckerberg starts the conversation by telling himself aloud to make eye contact and then saying, “2...3...look away.”

Other jokes reference his facial expressions — “Unlike my facial expression, Facebook is going to change” — and his childlike responses to serious questions — “No backsies,” he says when asked if users can now delete their data.

The common thread tying these jokes together is not Facebook or Zuckerberg — they are all symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, according to the National Autism Association and are overly exaggerated for comedic effect.

To be clear, I don’t know whether or not Zuckerberg is actually autistic. However, that’s not the point. The point is that whether or not he is autistic, SNL planted those labels on him, which use the symptoms that many autistic people struggle with as a source of laughter.

What is even more sickening is how this SNL sketch falls in line with nearly every other awful portrayal of autistic people in television. Truly, it is rare to find a character on the spectrum that is not a genius, emotionless robot who finds themself incapable of understanding the complexity of human interaction.

Sheldon is a case study for autistic people in the media — he doesn’t understand jokes or sarcasm, he obsesses over unusual topics like trains, he is ritualistic in his daily schedule, etc. Again, it is never stated that he has autism, but the creators of the show have no problem sticking these clearly autistic traits on him.

Some may argue that featuring autistic characters on television, no matter how exaggerated they may be, can only be a good thing, because visibility leads to a discussion, which then leads to acceptance.

While this could potentially be true, the way other characters respond to these autistic traits prevent that from ever happening.

Sheldon’s autistic traits do not serve to enlighten the audience about those who struggle with these socially debilitating symptoms. Instead, it converts them into jokes, where the rest of the characters and the audience are encourage to point and laugh — more specifically, to bully.

Of course, there are a number of shows, such as “Community” and “Bones,” that portray characters with autistic traits in more nuanced and realistic ways. However, these shows still fail to do one very important thing — say out loud that these characters have autism spectrum disorder.

There are those who argue that attaching this disorder to these individuals will only isolate them more, making them targets for future bullying.

But labeling disorders does matter. It puts a name to a face, a light on an issue and an identity to afflictions faced by millions of people.

Shows like “The Big Bang Theory” merely use these symptoms as props for their comedy, like a banana peel or a mischievous dog. And SNL helps the situation even less.

As someone on the autism spectrum, it actually is wonderful to see more people on the spectrum portrayed in cinema. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry every time I saw the “Imitation Game.”

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MrMacPhisto
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26 Apr 2018, 5:49 am

I have not seen an episode of SNL simply because I live in the UK but have seen clips and know what it is all about. From what I know they use a lot of satire humour.

With satire humour I would actually expect them to do something like that. Satirical humour has at time’s been controversial.

As for the Sheldon Cooper character I used to watch The Big Bang Theory but I have now stopped watching it as I find the program irritates me a lot.

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26 Apr 2018, 8:40 am

With all due respect for the viewpoint expressed above, I feel we should all laugh at ourselves, all the time. And by "we" I mean, males, females, fat people, thin people, mentally ill people, mentally stable people, children, old folks, wealthy people, broke people. Everyone.

I know that for me, it has been the key to emotional wellness.

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28 Apr 2018, 11:03 am

BeaArthur wrote:

Yeah, but we're not laughing at ourselves. Instead, a bunch of supposedly enlightened liberals are making fun of us (I'm liberal, so not trying to make a political statement here). They are basically taking our autistic traits, stamping a negative label on them, and then using it as a means to make their audience laugh. What's worse, it obviously worked. And just as evidence that I can laugh at myself, I watch the Big Bang Theory and enjoy the Sheldon character, but then I need to ask myself if I just laugh because its well done compared to the SNL skit. I don't think so, I think the SNL skit was genuinely mean. They wouldn't make fun of black people like that (Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood made fun of black CULTURE and also white CULTURE), as an example.

Yeah, I thought that skit was in poor taste and I can't believe there wasn't more of an uproar about it.

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28 Apr 2018, 11:28 am

Quote:

Truly, it is rare to find a character on the spectrum that is not a genius, emotionless robot who finds themself incapable of understanding the complexity of human interaction.

That’s the only bit I agree with. I don’t think I’m able to watch the SNL programme. I think Sheldon is awesome, especially in the early days. I relate far more to BBT in the early days before they all got cosy and had babies, I mean urgh. It’s like they improved him and the rest of the gang, I don’t like that because it isn’t who they are.

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skibum
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28 Apr 2018, 2:41 pm

Sheldon played a key role in my husband understanding me better and realizing that my issues are real and not just me being a drama queen. It was watching BBT that helped him have more understanding and compassion for me. I love BBT because I relate to them so much and I think all of those scientists have Autistic tendencies not just Sheldon.

I have not seen that particular SNL skit but I have seen enough SNL to know that a lot of it is crude and in poor taste. So I can imagine that this skit is probably in that category.

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28 Apr 2018, 2:51 pm

Awwww...SNL made fun of Zuckerburg's autistic-like traits.

I am sure that poor Zuckerburg is using a pile of his ten thousand dollar bills as Kleenexes to wipe his tears, and blow his nose on while he cries about it!... right now as we speak! :lol:

Zuckerburg is a big target. So he is fair game to be shot at.

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28 Apr 2018, 2:59 pm

skibum wrote:

As rigid as Sheldon appears, I relate to him too, especially with taking things literally and appearing to put people down without even realizing it. That part I strongly relate to. I really like BBT, I love the whole social awkwardness of the group of nerds, it makes me feel really at home to watch it, lol.

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AspieSingleDad
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28 Apr 2018, 6:06 pm

naturalplastic wrote:

Zuckerburg is a big target. So he is fair game to be shot at.

So, just to state the obvious, Zuckerburg isn’t the only target of this SNL skit. All autistics are. Have you even SEEN the skit?

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28 Apr 2018, 8:30 pm

BBT,is a caricature of autism meant to be entertainment. Makes autistic guys look like bumholes. Not really cup of tea.

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28 Apr 2018, 8:47 pm

This is making me curious. I am heterosexual and have very strong asexual tendencies. But this conversation makes me wonder how the homosexual community feels about shows like Will & Grace or Champions where the homosexual characters are portrayed in very strong stereotypical ways. Do homosexual people find that offensive or do they find it funny? I guess that would totally depend on the individual but I was just wondering.

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lostonearth35
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28 Apr 2018, 9:48 pm

Dan Akroyd has Asperger's and Tourette Syndrome. You'd think they'd show more respect towards people on the spectrum because of that. But I haven't watched SNL for years and it was only funny in the 70's and 80's.

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28 Apr 2018, 9:51 pm

So homosexuality is a sexual orientation. Autism is a developmental disability, and a serious one at that. A better example would be to make a show about Down's Syndrome children. How well would that go over? Not too well! So why can they get away with making fun of autism as opening as they did on SNL? I have my theories on that, but thought I'd just leave that question open to anybody who'd venture to answer it.

Zachwashere
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29 Apr 2018, 12:45 am

Quote:

Your right in that it does depend on the induvidual. I'm gay, and it doesn't bother me.

For what it is worth, shows like BBT and SNL are doing what they are in business to do: get views, and thereby, get revenue. That being said, they(especially SNL), tend to do it in a way that can be offensive to some.

Don't get me wrong, I can laugh at myself and my Aspie traits, but I would also like to see shows that portray more realistic features of Autism in their characters.

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SabbraCadabra
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29 Apr 2018, 1:10 am

The last time I watched SNL was when Dave Chapelle was on, and aside from his opening monologue (which I assume he wrote himself), everything was just as terrible and unfunny as it has been in the past two decades. I'm always surprised when they make the news, because I can't believe people still watch it.

I always liked Sheldon and his friends, there are bits and pieces of them that really remind me of myself and my friends. Most characters on that show lie somewhere on the spectrum, so it's not like Sheldon is specifically being targeted for being "different", but they do make fun of each others' shortcomings, just like me and my friends all do.

I'm only on season 3, though. I know things get pretty weird later on.

skibum wrote:

But this conversation makes me wonder how the homosexual community feels about shows like Will & Grace or Champions where the homosexual characters are portrayed in very strong stereotypical ways. Do homosexual people find that offensive or do they find it funny?

I'm not gay, but I feel like too many shows/movies use the "homosexual character" as the odd one out, the comic relief. Disney's live action Beauty and the Beast is a good example :roll:

I don't find it offensive or funny, I just roll my eyes.

I don't watch a lot of TV though, but I remember shows like Roseanne and Mission Hill had gay characters who weren't just joke fodder who lusted after anything that moved.

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29 Apr 2018, 2:11 am

lostonearth35 wrote:

I am not sure if he is Autistic.
In 2013 he told The Daily Mail “I also have Asperger’s but I can manage it. It wasn’t diagnosed until the early Eighties when my wife persuaded me to see a doctor.”. There were hardly any people who knew about Aspergers in the early 80’s.

In 2015 he told this show at 11:40 he was self diagnosed.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_contin ... 5rQJpYHIAA

I am not against self diagnosis but his autism claim has a credibility problem.

It is plausable the writers do not know about a SNL star from 40 years ago supposed autism. There has been a lot of speculation that Zuckerberg is on the spectrum. The fact that they were referencing eye contact says to me they were making fun of autistic traits not just quirkyness.

Anything is possible but a person with a condition diagnosed by persistent issues with social communication built THE social network is hard to fathom.

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