South Park takes on Asperger's Syndrome

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I haven't watched South Park in years. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, although I've never been offended by anything they've ever done...

Most people I know stopped watching the show in 1999. Show is a lot like Family Guy...tries to be controversial but just isn't funny and comes off as trying too hard.

ADD diagnosis was a fad. I got tested for it three times when I was in school. Teachers were basically saying that any kid who routinely misbehaves or doesn't pay attention has it. I think it might still be going on though.

I was misdiagnosed with ADD when I was a little kid, because nobody in America knew what the hell Asperger's was back then. I had to wait till later in adult life till I was finally diagnosed properly with Asperger's.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

South Park is an equal-oppurtunity comedy show. I can't say this any more or less disturbing and/or funny than anything else that has been made fun of in the show. The writers do know how to write good satire, for example the whale wars episode.

Hope I can catch it.

I was misdiagnosed with ADD too because they thought that was the problem. I have ADD but it wasn't the correct diagnoses for me. Sometimes I question if I really have ADD or not because AS can be mistaken for ADD. Then I finally got the right diagnoses when I was 12 and bam no more labels after that nor lot of doctors.

I have a feeling that the people they're going to be taking potshots at are the self-diagnosis crowd.

Ya know, those folks that try to use it to excuse their behavior?

Yes, That's what I think too. Especially since it's Cartman. He'll likely be trying to use it to his advantage in some sort of way.

I dont think it will offend me

Cartman's probably going to meet some kid who accidentally offends someone and no one cares because he has asperger's. then Cartman is going to make it an excuse to tell be an as*hole.

Basically the tourette's syndrome episode with hamburger jokes.

I think Matt and Trey think like us.

Aren't they different than other people to you? Didn't they make a big left turn with South Park?

A lot of people here haven't liked it in a while. I haven't like it either,

But this show gets ratings...even though it's s**t right now.

That's interesting to me.

Don't think of this show trying to make fun of us when you watch it. and if you watched it. re-watch it,

Curses, they know our secret!

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

Drat! Now what am I supposed to do with my black trenchcoat and Neo shades?

I watched the episode last night, and to be totally honest, I really wasn't all that sure what to say about it. I sort of had mixed opinions (and still do). But now that I've had time to ruminate on it and slept on it, I think I've got an at least somewhat coherent position. I'll try not to post too many spoilers.

This was one of those rare episodes where I think Matt and Trey left enough room for loads of different interpretations of their position. Usually, I'm able to pick up a pretty concrete viewpoint. In this case, though, the line between outright statements and sarcasm/satire was so subtle that I'm still not exactly sure what their actual intention was, other than a continuation of the story arc. I suppose that could be a reflection on how complex an issue AS is. I can only give my interpretation, and discuss what I saw as the good and bad points.

First, the good parts. I thought Matt and Trey handled the transition from the last episode, "You're Getting Old", quite well. With the cliffhanger on which they left us, I wasn't sure where they'd be able to go from there. I was struck by how many themes came up that weren't explicitly tied to AS in the episode, but were nevertheless things with which Aspies generally have to find some way to cope. The best example was the main theme of change, but cynicism and depression were also big parts of it. I can honestly say, I myself have had plenty of experience finding fault with things that others around me seem to absolutely adore; I don't think that's a very big stretch for a lot of Aspies. I had a laugh at the way they did it, too-- not only the parody of The Matrix, but also the subtle nod to They Live. I'm also very glad they brought up the whole vaccination controversy; in my opinion, that was probably the single greatest statement the creators made about the issues associated with AS. Randy's reaction during the press conference was suitably offensive (which, knowing how ignorant and misinformed Randy usually is, was the entire point). And Cartman was very much up to the classic Cartman schtick of exploitation and selfishness.

I must say, I am still a little disappointed by the extensive use of the "ass burgers" joke, one which I know we've all heard ad nauseum already. But at least they tempered it by also acknowledging that the name shouldn't be any reason to deride the disorder (which is, in retrospect, a bit hypocritical and a bit of a mixed message, given that they themselves spent an inordinate amount of time poking fun at the name). I'm willing to let the "Asperger's isn't real" remark slide in this case, because I think it's one of those things where they suspend disbelief for the sake of the plot. I don't think it's a true statement of what Matt and Trey actually believe. I'm far more concerned with the scene in the hallway of the Asperger's Research Center. My biggest fear with the episode was that Matt and Trey would take a stance knowing nothing about AS, and then write it off as a joke disorder-- not so much because I'd find it insulting myself, but because the best way to combat the social stigma which comprises so much of the problem for Aspies is by spreading positive, accurate awareness of our differences and similarities. You may say "It's only a TV show"-- but a TV show was how I caught my diagnosis in the first place. A TV show completely changed my life, mostly for the better. I think Matt and Trey, being comedy writers, made some inaccurate portrayals of AS as being lower-functioning than most cases actually are, for the sake of getting away with the name joke and some brief gross-out sight gags. I can understand why they did it; I only hope that the episode doesn't turn actual undiagnosed Aspies off the path toward being diagnosed because they think AS is the way it was depicted here.

That said-- there are worse things than being depicted as cynical Matrix-style rebels. That's not a bad metaphor for the actual AS experience, really. Like Neo, many of us sense something wrong from an early age, even if we can't put our fingers on it. Official diagnosis is, in my experience, kind of a "red pill moment". And the idea that we're a group disconnected from a lot of the socially perpetuated illusions of the world, and that we often need to put up some sort of facade (with or without alcohol), isn't too far off the mark either.

I love the movie the Matrix I feel it was a good episode the ass burgers joke got old but it never offends me when people use it either I like how they made Stan get drunk for his way to cope I have done that myself from time to time it was a good episode I really liked it I think Matt and Trey like people with AS because I do see the world as a sh***y place some times

I think the "AS is not real" thing from the show was not Matt and Trey themselves saying that think AS is not a real condition. I think they were showing how ignorant people are of autism and AS.

I put my own opinion in my blog, if anyone cares to read. Spoilers! Just warning you.

http://www.aspergersgeek.com/2011/10/ca ... ilers.html