The 11th Doctor and Autistic traits of fictional characters
Inspired by a thread at Gallifrey Bay (here http://gallifreybase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50869).
Does the 11th Doctor (the main character of the newest season of Doctor Who for those unfamiliar with the show) display some traits of Asperger's/Autism? Is it somehow offensive to suggest he and other fictional characters do? If not why do so many NT's seem to be leaping to take offense on our behalf?
I can't read that thread unless I sign up, but I've thought that he does seem to have some AS traits but I hadn't seen it mentioned anywhere so I never mentioned it either. Thought it might just be me thinking that. I don't know why it would be offensive?
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My dream is to one day know what my dream is.
~Michael Novotny
Yeah, it was the fact that so many people said "That's offensive to autistic people!" that interested me the most. That and the fact that it's the neurotypicals saying it. I only saw one person who identified as autistic disagree and even he didn't seem offended, just disagreeing.
Edit: The reason one NT gave that noting "Hey these traits of the 11th Doctor are similar to those found in Autistics!" was "offensive to autistic people" was that . . .
someone with a small cough and shouting "YOU HAVE A LUNG DISEASE - YOUR GONNA DIE!"
Which seems far more offensive that the post I'm supposed to be offended by.
Considering it's the the NT's taking offense on our behalf that's my primary interest here I wonder if I have the right sub-forum/thread title to get the replies I want . . .
the closest I ever thought the Doctor ever came to being anything like us was #3, Jon Pertwee; he could be very wacky at times, but was mostly a very serious, no-nonsense Doctor.
In fact, in the 5 Doctors 20th Anniversary Special, he is not brought to Gallifrey with companions; just by himself in Bessie; that screams of the Autistic loner type.
also #7, Sylvester McCoy, was considerably like us too, I think.
I still think the greatest representation of how I actually view myself is from a very powerful and classic scene from the 10th Doctor storyarc "The Family of Blood/Human Nature"; you probably know the scene I speak of
SilverPikmin
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The Eleventh Doctor seems to be a bit ruder than the previous two--I've noticed him seeming to interrupt and not listen to his companions. I don't know if that's intentional or not, or even any different from before. Anyway, maybe that's why they think he has autistic traits.
And I don't really have a problem with people asking questions like this. I can't really understand why it'd be considered offensive--maybe it's just because it's somewhat taboo to talk about people's mental illnesses.
Mostly because it was inspired by a thread on a Doctor Who forum where someone who themselves says they have "autistic traits" (don't know if they consider themselves fully autistic or have a diagnosis) said "Hey this portrayal of the Doctor seems to have a few autistic traits." and then a bunch of NT's jumped in and said "Hey, that's offensive to autistic people."
Oddly enough they never accurately explained to those of who asked why we should be offended what was so offensive about it.
As someone who likes her fiction with a side order of Epileptic Trees, I have to say, seeing someone with a small cough and deciding they have "a lung disease" (well, duh, why else were they coughing?) which will prove fatal is completely reasonable. Actually, more than reasonable.
Seriously, someone please tell that person that:
1. Autism is not fatal.
2. People on the spectrum do not find it offensive.
3. Sounds like Asperger's.
4. I'm allowed to think what I want about my fiction. It's called freedom of speech. It's guaranteed by the First, and just because a Brit Twit like you doesn't know what that means doesn't mean you get to tell me what theories are and aren't PC enough for you. Especially you don't get to tell actual autistics to be offended. After all, it might hasten our end. From, you know, that terrible fatal disease we have.
This is the same problem with people who won't make jokes about the Holocaust. Seriously. It's done. It's fair game, okay? Hitler was just a guy. The Holocaust was just a genocide.
Seriously, someone please tell that person that:
1. Autism is not fatal.
2. People on the spectrum do not find it offensive.
3. Sounds like Asperger's.
4. I'm allowed to think what I want about my fiction. It's called freedom of speech. It's guaranteed by the First, and just because a Brit Twit like you doesn't know what that means doesn't mean you get to tell me what theories are and aren't PC enough for you. Especially you don't get to tell actual autistics to be offended. After all, it might hasten our end. From, you know, that terrible fatal disease we have.
This is the same problem with people who won't make jokes about the Holocaust. Seriously. It's done. It's fair game, okay? Hitler was just a guy. The Holocaust was just a genocide.
The scary thing is I may be the only one alive who will easily back you on that statement about the Holocaust ':B-)
Seriously, someone please tell that person that:
1. Autism is not fatal.
2. People on the spectrum do not find it offensive.
3. Sounds like Asperger's.
4. I'm allowed to think what I want about my fiction. It's called freedom of speech. It's guaranteed by the First, and just because a Brit Twit like you doesn't know what that means doesn't mean you get to tell me what theories are and aren't PC enough for you. Especially you don't get to tell actual autistics to be offended. After all, it might hasten our end. From, you know, that terrible fatal disease we have.
This is the same problem with people who won't make jokes about the Holocaust. Seriously. It's done. It's fair game, okay? Hitler was just a guy. The Holocaust was just a genocide.
The scary thing is I may be the only one alive who will easily back you on that statement about the Holocaust ':B-)
I find it absurd to keep looking back to the holocaust as if it was the only genocide, people die in genocides every day.
And YES, we should make jokes about it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCn7Xk_6sb8
This is my first post so I hope I don't trip over myself.
I am currently in a thought loop about this exact discussion, well the fact that we may be aliens.
I'm going to throw my theory out there and see what sticks!
It is my personal belief that we as autistics are the next evolutionary step in human development, (now whether that is the result of aliens seeding DNA over the four corners of the globe or the process of evolution we might never know) and because we as a society have reached a "Global" scale that DNA now has the opportunity to express itself, how many Aspies on here are of mixed genetic heritage? Is that why the Rates Of "AUTISM" are accelerating, is it the natural byproduct of the activation of the homo sapiens BOX Gene?
We are from what I can asses from reading ENDLESS testimonials and stories from other Aspies, more suited to a different environment than the one we were born in. Do we belong on another planet, or are we just the natural evolutionary step to adapting to THIS one. With Inevitable climate change and a possible "meltdown" of "normal" society, are we just kind of waiting in the wings for our genetic predecessors to kill each other off in an overly emotional burst of Panic? Leaving this planet as solely our responsibility.
We communicate in a way that requires a much more sensitive approach to our environment and our lack of emotional "HANGUPS" that slow down "normal" people. Lack of emotional control is a limitation in my opinion and we as Aspies seem to only lose our cool when confronted with an illogical emotional response by someone who is not capable of thinking on a Global Scale. We as aspies don't have any difficulties comprehending things like 4th and 5th dimensional states ( at least the ones I've met) because we don't think in a linear way.
I would love to hear some feedback on this if there are like minds for the discussion.
WE ARE TIME LORDS, we just haven't figured out how to build our Tardis, YET.
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