Have you ever realized this?

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How much humor and comedy seems to be making fun of people on the spectrum? I was watching The Best of Will Ferrell SNL and I noticed many if not most of his acts seem to be imitations of stereotypical Asperger/autistic behavior.

Does Hollywood have a vested interest in making us seem like mindless, annoying, and insensitive buffoons? Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey in particular seem to play Aspie-type characters who are complete jerks. I think Adam Sandler and Steve Carrell play more likable Aspie-like characters.

Comedians make fun of everybody of every ethnic/racial group, and people on the Spectrum, too.

They target EVERYBODY--including themselves.

There are some caricatures of Aspie/autistic people on TV--prominent amongst them, Sheldon.

In the 1950's, "eggheads" were made fun of. Stereotypical "eggheads" had many Aspie characteristics. This sort of humor continues to this day.

I think because more people know about autism and aspergers now it's become... 'trendy' to talk about so comedians are putting in their act. However kraftie is correct comedians target literally everyone

It's hurtful when they make fun of us who are on the spectrum, the privileged Neurotypicals have no idea how hard it is for us.

It does feel a bit annoying to me.

It seems to me that socially awkward persons , such as those whom might be termed as being the stereotypical geeks , or nerds are frequently the but of comedy , think Steve Urkel of "Family Matters" . Also I remember watching these sketches , from a sketch comedy show I often watch called Studio C (Think Saturday Night Live , only more so family friendly). In them it seems that the characters in the class might have some conditions along the lines of Asperger syndrome . , .

Urkel actually became quite respectable later on in the show.

He became one of the main characters, and one who was relied upon for many things.

Comedians often ridicule disability or causally use the word "ret*d" but I have never seen a comedian ever specifically ridicule autism. I sense paranoia in this post.

Only one standup comedian who made fun of autism is Ron Funches because (like me) he is a stay at home father with an autistic child. I totally understand his comedy.

I'd have to say that Sheldon Cooper, of "Big Bang Theory," is a caricaturized version of an Asperger's-like person.

The show is a comedy of manners, so to speak. It contrasts Aspie-like people with more "normal" people.

However, the "normal" people genuinely do care about the Aspie-like people, and vice versa.

Socially awkward people are easy to make fun of, because we look like we're intentionally being jerks and getting our just deserts.

I quite agree. Just to throw one more thing in: Storytelling, in a short time period, requires characterizations to an extreme so that it is obvious and does not take up precious time that should be used to propel the story itself and not get bogged down in the details. I don't think they view Aspies any different than anybody else, and I bet many of them are aspies themselves.

An opposite take on Aspie personality type would be "The Professional" starring Jean Reno and Natalie Portman. Now, I am new to this and if anybody disagrees, please say so. I am still identifying traits myself, so this may be an erroneous conclusion.

Nope, I never have & never will have any problem with comedy. Don't really care what people are laughing about so long as they can still laugh...

I think them videos are kinda funny lol

This

You cant accuse someone of "making fun" of a group of people whom the comedian doesnt even know exists as a group.

Folks with aspie traits have always been made fun -since vaudeville days- and before.

But aspergers as a label didnt even exist outside of Austria until 1994, and wasnt even widely know (even among professional shrinks) until ten years after that. So any TV show more than a few years old was in the pre aspergers era -including current TV sitcoms that have been running more than a couple years-including the Big Bang Theory. Even though its a current show the BBT is still from the pre aspergers era, and thus can not really be accused of "making fun of aspies".

So most comedic performance you see that make fun of folks with aspie traits cannot be said to be "making fun of aspies" because it was impossible for anyone to have the intent of "making fun of aspies" at any point in history prior to a couple of years ago.

And now that we are in the era of awareness of hfa/aspergers there may actually be less making fun of folks with aspie traits. Or at least if its the same amount you would now be justified in complaining about it for the first time in history.

No, nothing's changed regarding NT vitriol. If anything, that's probably gotten worse. Whatever, they covet intellect they deservedly don't posses. I pity that.