New Sherlock series equating Asperger's with sociopaths?

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You know what's deeply bizarre? All the people online diagnosing Mark Zuckerberg with Aspergers... based on an actor's portrayal of him in "The Social Network." They don't even seem to realize that they weren't watching the actual person.

I'd say that the makers of Sherlock went for the grand effect without doing their homework first.

And the worst thing is, when Sherlock came out, a friend called me and said enthusiastically 'Why, great series, and Benedict Cumberbatch's version of Sherlock Holmes is so lovely, so much like you!
I still can't figure out what she meant exactly but I am sure she thought it was a good thing and that I'd like it.

heh, i thought i'd better clarify before everyone thinks my boyfriend is a crazy stalker.

Hehe, don't worry, emlion, nobody thinks like that, and most people can't even find the country I live in on the map

Just to update you all on this, the second series is running here in the UK now and in episode two Watson specifically refers to Holmes as 'Aspergian.'
And for those of you who haven't watched it, Sherlock Holmes on the BBC is set in the present day, not Victorian England, so of course he could be a diagnosed Aspie. (Although he is probably too old as Britain lags a long way behind the US in diagnosing adults, most of us are unable to get a diagnosis on the NHS, despite the recently passed Autism Act.)

My take on it was Sherlock does have some autism spectrum traits and he's not a sociopath; he just said that to mess with the police guy. If he were a sociopath, he wouldn't be capable of caring about John and Mrs. Hudson like he does.

I think the combination of autism spectrum traits (may or may not actually be Asperger's) and his extraordinary intelligence and observation make it so he can make a conscious effort to behave in a more neurotypical way when he really needs to, because he's learned how neurotypical people behave, but it doesn't come naturally for him. I feel like that's how it is for me, I can behave in a way that's totally contrary to my nature when I need to but I have to make an effort and it's too tiring to do it more than occasionally. Like making eye contact; I have to remember and force myself to do it. Often I'm kicking myself some time after a conversation when I realize I forgot to make eye contact. When I remember to do it, it's uncomfortable but I do it anyway because I think it's beneficial (I think making eye contact makes people more likely to trust what I say, or rather that not making eye contact makes them think I'm unsure or even dishonest). I think it's the same kind of thing with Sherlock.

I think it's just typically poor writing from Steven Moffat. I don't understand why he is so praised - I find his writing is hollow, shallow, contrived, emotionally-manipulative and poorly researched. It might seem "clever" on the surface but anyone can see how poor it is when they look under that surface. One only has to watch his Dr who episodes : "audience substitute childen", female characters defined by their gender, deus ex machinas, catchphrases for the schoolyard ect.

I attempted to watch this Sherlock show but found it just as poor as his other work. If you want a modern Sherlock Holmes, you'd probably be better off watching an episode of House.

But you haven't actually seen it... Okay.