The serie Elementary

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Hello everyone !

I was very shocked because the writers of the serie Elementary used the word "pathology" in order to qualify the Autism syndrome ! What do you think about it ?

Can you give a link to where the writers say this? I need more context before I come to a fair judgement.

I don't think 'pathology' is the worst way I've seen autism described, although it does feed into the medical model of disability. At least they didn't call it an epidemic or glibly dismiss the issue.

I really like Elementary - their version of Sherlock is the only one I find sympathetic. I'd be annoyed if its writers were running around saying bad things about autism.

I presume you mean the recent episode, "Murder Ex Machina," where one of the witnesses, Fiona, was identified as an autistic programmer. I missed the line where they mentioned "pathology," but I'll take your word for it. How was it used, and who used it? I think that would make a good deal of difference.

It wasn't the worst depiction of an autistic person I'd seen, but it still managed to spout some rather annoying stereotypes and distortions:
- Autistic people can't lie, like it's completely impossible. For all I know, that may be true of some people, but it is not true of us as a class. Admittedly, I am a very unconvincing liar and need some preparation time to even try, but I can lie. Sometimes I tell a really ridiculous, obvious lie just as a joke. It amuses my entourage as we travel from my home at Windsor Castle to vacation at Balmoral.
- Autistic people can't hurt others, again, like it's impossible. We know from media reports that autistic people are capable of murder. It's rare, probably more rare than in the NT population, but possible.

Overall, though, she was a very sympathetic character and Holmes was unusually gracious to her, considering how annoyed he is with most people. I liked how she hinted that he was not exactly NT himself...maybe some hint of him masking Asperger's after years of therapy? It might account for his hostility toward his dad if he went through years of ABA. I'd like to see Fiona in another episode.