Autistic character Carl from children's TV show Arthur

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Joe90
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31 May 2021, 1:52 pm

I know this has been discussed before but I wanted to say my two cents on it. A lot of spectrumers are against the idea of Rainman but they don't seem to be too bothered about the character Carl in Arthur. I know it could be because Arthur is a children's show but the intentions of the writers was to use him as a way to teach children a bit about a child with Asperger's syndrome. Carl seems more like a classic (but verbal) autistic child to me. When I think of Asperger's syndrome I think of characters like DW or George. I was a lot like DW when I was little, and at school I was more like George (being the quietest and the 'dimmest' kid in the class). But Carl has all the stereotypes of an autistic child.

Anyone feel the same about this?


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dragonsanddemons
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31 May 2021, 2:47 pm

I only saw his introductory episode, but yeah, to me he seems too stereotypical. But that usually is the case with ASD characters I have encountered on TV.

On the topic, one thing that really bugs me is that every single ASD character I’ve seen (which granted I don’t go super far out of my way to see) has the stereotypical interests/talents. For goodness’ sake we do not all like trains and/or math and/or math-heavy science :wall:

I always related most to Fern.


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Joe90
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01 Jun 2021, 2:39 pm

Usually I can relate to characters that aren't supposed to be on the spectrum. Most people with Asperger's are a lot more complex than Carl. I know every Aspie is different and all that but I can say that Carl does not portray a typical child with Asperger's or level 1 autism.

In fact I was the opposite of Carl when I was a child.


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