SpongeBob autism theory

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I think SpongeBob SquarePants is Autistic

He has problems understanding social cues and has other traits that Autistic people have

Nickelodeon would never actually admit this because it could cause irreversable damage to the show but I really do believe it!

His traits have "Autism" written all over it

What do you think?

What do...Abraham Lincoln, Sherlock Holmes, Thomas Jefferson, Henrich Himmler (head of the Nazi SS),and SpongeBob SquarePants, all have in common?

They have been diagnosed as "autistic" by someone on Wrong Planet at some time.

Am not in grade school, nor do I have children in gradeschool, so I have never watched Spongebob.

Comic characters are often obtuse in the social realm.

But I have good reason to believe this to be true

His mannerisms and his behavior is in line with ASD

Like he has trouble understanding and interpreting social cues, cries a LOT, is overly-obsessed with his job & hobbies, etc

Also I believe the show is about neuro-typicals vs. neuro-divergents based on the way SpongeBob and his friends interact with the other characters and how they are treated

In other words SpongeBob SquarePants is really a cartoon about the current American ableist society and the struggles that neuro-divergent people have fitting in with said society

Plus the character's voice actor Tom Kenny has outright stated that he believes SpongeBob SquarePants is on the spectrum

Even the hardcore fans have no choice but to see the truth in what I am saying!

Nickelodeon would NEVER admit it and they would admit to Lisa Loud in The Loud House being Autistic long before they admit SpongeBob is because such a major revelation could cause the show to collapse and get cancelled

They HAVE to protect SBSP at all costs or it's the end for their network!

Oh and maybe this is also the reason SpongeBob isn't married or had children yet

Everything in my theory does match up though

But until it's proven true by Nickelodeon or United Plankton Pictures this is all just speculation right now

Heinrich Himmler on the spectrum? I had never heard that one before. Rather, historians describe him as someone who a very sadistic man and that's even before he discovered Hitler at those socialist meetings.

Now Spongebob on the other hand, yes, I would agree that he acts like a character who would be on the spectrum. He would probably also have ADHD.

Well it's nice you have something to relate to. I don't know this sponge bob person as I don't watch cartoons so I can't comment.

I think it's possible but there is a lot more than autism going on.

In related news~ There's a chracter on the Nickelodeon show, The Casgrandes who is thought to have Down Syndrome. I'm not sure if it's official or speculation since I've only seen a couple full eps.

You are referring to CJ Casagrande and yes he was intended to have Down Syndrome from the very beginning!

His voice actor even has Down Syndrome

Unlike SpongeBob SquarePants The Casagrandes was created to be inclusive first rather than the other way around

But that doesn't change the possibility of SpongeBob being Autistic!

Oh that's cool. I ocasionally sound like CJ when I talk if I'm tired or nervous due to a tremor disorder that can affect my voice. I know what I'm trying to say but my body doesn't respond & work quite right.
I remember seeing a petition on this forum a couple years ago for The Loud House to add an Aspie character. I didn't sign it cuz they have 14 main characters some of which have a bit of autistic traits.

Yep Spongebob could be autistic & is a savant. He has cooking abilities that he should not be able to have given his other various issues. I don't think he was intended to have autism or be modeled after after anyone who is autistic. They wanted a goofy character & that's what it turned into. Stating or officialy admitting that Spongebob is autistic would obviously be very controversal due to his problematic traits negitively stereotyping autism.

^^^This is important. Characters are not anywhere near as complex as real people. Cartoon characters, as much as they are simplified and exaggerated visually, are simplified and exaggerated personalities.

They will often have narrow interests, social abnormalities (to generate narrative conflict), vocal irregularities (again, to create 'character') and a simplified understanding of events (black and white thinking) that drive narrative towards a conclusion. They are predictable and limited in ways that make telling a story easier.

Could you 'diagnose' Bugs Bunny? He has a limited diet (only ever seen him eat carrots), speaks in monotonous voice, fails to notice when he's annoying Elmer Fudd (to the point Elmer often tries murder him) and appears socially isolated.

With the caveat that I've never seen Spongebob Squarepants, I think you could probably make the case for most cartoon characters partly because they are limited and partly because the spectrum is so broad and encompassing.

I have always suspected Lisa Loud as being Autistic because she is super smart and has other Autism tendencies and like I said Nick would be FAR more willing to admit to that first before SpongeBob SquarePants because they have less to lose

As for SpongeBob SquarePants...if he really is Autistic that wouldn't change my view or perception of the character

If anything this might make me love him even MORE since I would have an animated cartoon character who shares things in common with me

But I can also see why Nickelodeon is so hesitant and reluctant to reveal such a bombshell

It's exactly as you said:

His traits would bring a bad kind of awareness to Autism and even possibly detract from the show's overall enjoyment

Which is why it would be smart to wait until the show ends or gets cancelled so Nick can't cause irreversable damage to the series/IP (The "SpongeBob SquarePants Universe")

It is very possible that SpongeBob wasn't originally designed to represent Autism or other developmental disabilities but like you stated that is exactly what the character turned into

So regardless of if he was originally created to represent disabilities or not, they have inadvertently made the character that way!

However, there are so many of his traits to consider with him having a disability:

-His driving issues
-His obsession with certain things (Krabby Patties, Jelly-fishing, his friends, working at The Krusty Krab, etc)
-His inability to read and interpret social cues

And perhaps the BIGGEST one of them all...

Being an adult who acts like a kid!! !

Or to put it another way:

Having the mental age of a little kid

I remember what my neighbor Anita told me on Facebook Messenger about Autism and constant obsessions

Also she mentioned something about "being stuck in a child-like state"

Doesn't that sound like SpongeBob SquarePants to you?

He’s also very sensitive. I think he might have autism too.

No Elmer is

I don't know Sponge Bob either but it stands to reason that lots of people whether NTs or sponges, can have social anxiety or be shy and awkward. That's how producers get an audience to empathize with a character so they'll like the character and buy the merch. The same is true in reverse of characters who are exaggerated in the other direction (superheroes).

Being awkward or shy doesn't make a person autistic and I'm sure the same is true of sponges.

Sponge Bob seems as autistic as Osakers, so it seems fair to place him in the most likely category as well.

I don't know Osakers.

It's cool if they do make autistic cartoon characters.

I heard there was an animated Disney movie about a mute autistic girl on a boat, or something?

Do you know what that would have been?