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Aspie Character on New Zealand soap?

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zen_mistress
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27 Aug 2008, 2:45 am

I saw Aspergers mentioned on TV tonight, one of the only times I have seen it on TV in a soap..
Shortland Street is a New Zealand hospital drama... many will have not heard of it, though I think really old repeats are played in various other countries during the day : )

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/838013/1642234

Quote:
Gerald is suspicious when his mother drops by unannounced, but invites her to stay for dinner. Gerald is determined to stand up to his mother after he catches her fishing for information while he's out of the room. However, Gerald's tough front fails to protect him, and he's left speechless when his mother suggests he see a psychologist, theorising that he has Asperger's syndrome.


http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1385186

I dont know about the spelling mistake, Asperger's?!? but interesting to see it mentioned in a soap, even though New Zealand is a small country. The character of Gerald is a serious young man who has discovered he is asexual, and has an obsession with cleanliness.

I dont know whether it will turn out he has it or not though.... anyway I feel a little silly admitting that i watch soaps : ) :oops:


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pandd
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27 Aug 2008, 3:31 am

Yes, I'm not overly concerned about the spelling, but I am concerned about the (erroneous) description of Asperger's Syndrome as a personality disorder.

I'm actually not surprised by this development.

At any rate, including a character with does not necessitate referring to Asperger's Syndrome as a personality disorder. Personality disorders are psychiatric illnesses and describing Asperger's Syndrome as such implies that all persons with AS have a psychiatric disorder. To me it is offensive to imply people with AS cannot be free of psychiatric disorder when this is clearly not the case.



zen_mistress
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27 Aug 2008, 4:10 am

pandd wrote:
Yes, I'm not overly concerned about the spelling, but I am concerned about the (erroneous) description of Asperger's Syndrome as a personality disorder.

I'm actually not surprised by this development.

At any rate, including a character with does not necessitate referring to Asperger's Syndrome as a personality disorder. Personality disorders are psychiatric illnesses and describing Asperger's Syndrome as such implies that all persons with AS have a psychiatric disorder. To me it is offensive to imply people with AS cannot be free of psychiatric disorder when this is clearly not the case.


Yeah I know, they should have said it is a developmental disorder. Slap on the hand for the soap's researchers!


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