When Hollywood turns Asperger's into a joke

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The big bang theory is such an awfully written show that I cant stand it, thats my main problem with it. How it makes autism the butt of the joke every time is just boring. You cant build a show on the whole oooh, look how impossibly difficult, completely selfish, extremely arrogant and awful he is aaaall the tiiiiimee *laugh track for eternity*.
But its the same routine with other characters on that show, Leonard is always the complete stereotype of nerd, howard is always the stereotype of a nerdy complete creep, Penny is uneducated blablabla and so on and on and on. I mean, ugh.

Once heard someone, an NT (superbright and analytical person) describe The big bang theory as "autism blackface", haha.

But seriously, everything can be turned it to a joke. That does not put it above criticism but there is no subject that cant be made in to humor. With anything you make fun of, there is someone in the world that will have an emotional reaction to it. So? Like I said, a joke does not mean = above critisism, not at all. But if you can laugh at something that might have made someone else feel a bit iffy, then how can you blame someone for laughing at something that makes you feel something. You can criticize something, but not hold a stranger accountable for how something made you feel, you know?
Like Steve Hughes said "What's wrong with being offended?
So what, be offended, nothing happens"

I dont mind aspie characters on shows. The are very often so extreme, they are asperger all the waaay and thats the whole character, done. But I think thats normal when just starting to introduce something like aspergers to tv. I think representation of aspie characters it really, really good. I actually love it. It makes me happy that its happening. I loved Abed on community. Hannibal is a show that I think does is really really well, although that guy is only told to be closer to the asperger side of the spectrum than to ...something else. But still, its something.

Sorry for the superlong post, its just such an interesting subject and I get excited!!

When marketing a product usually any publicity good or bad is good for sales of said product. But we are humans. Publicity about us that leaves a negative impression will have negative implications for some of us. The seemingly widespread idea around here that bad publicity about us is better then none at all I believe just shows desperation. I find it humiliating. The argument for this is that we need to suffer being laughed at now because it is the first step towards eventual acceptance. This is wrong on 2 counts.


1. Even if the predicted positive scenario plays some spectromites will likely be hurt. Deliberately hurting people in the short term for long term gain is appalling
2. It might not work out as hoped and spectromites will have been hurt for nothing

I think this is an improvement on portrayals of the recent past, (although I do worry about the article's statistics, which appear to refer to the 1 in 160 *children* with ASD as being the portion of the general population with AS).

However, comments like this (from below the article)

"Not to excuse how such jokes would hurt those with Asperger's as make them feel as though society is making a mockery of their condition, but the reality is the exact opposite. The ones being mocked and ridiculed are those who exhibit some of the very worst traits of Asperger's and have no legitimate excuse for doing so"

Show we still have a long way to go.

Taking a cynical view, I can see one downside to broader public awareness of the condition. If people can more easily recognise those of us on the spectrum, it may lead the unscrupulous individuals in society to think they can take advantage of this fact.

I have Aspergers and I love Sheldon Cooper, pardon me, I mean Dr. Sheldon Cooper. I get the joke. TBBT laughs with Sheldon and at Sheldon simultaneously. The laughing at him is like the ribbing you get from your best friend or brother. They're laughing at you because they know your proclivities so intimately the predictability seems cartoonish.(this goes for Aspie's or NT). At the same time they still love you. There's not a good English word for that kind of semi-antagonistic caring relationship.

Sheldon can make it really easy for me to introduce people to my diagnosis. I make sure to tell them that he is a caricature, which people understand. But I have to be honest, how "hollywood" portrays just about everything is way off base. From people with Southern accents to surfer dudes.

I like BBT - it is funny - but also, because I really wish that I had friends like Sheldon's - that know he is an absolute mess, but still choose to spend time with him.

If only I had a laugh track for every time I gave out 'incredibly interesting' information to my co-workers and family members. Who isn't absolutely blown away by the fact that Grandaddy Long Legs (Harvestmen) are more closely related to scorpions than spiders? And that Fireflies are actually beetles.

TBBT is a comedy, and sheldon does well in it.

What annoys me more is the lead not being an aspie when he'd also fit under the umbrella. I think if people understood the contrast in the two characters they'd have more realistic version of what we are.

The one thing I really like about sheldon is that he distances us from the idea that we are always victims. Sheldon shows a rather socially independent personally contrasted to other interpretations that have us at the mercy of NTs.

Sheldon Cooper is my absolute f***ing hero.

I connected with Sheldon before I connected Sheldon with Asperger's or got diagnosed myself.

And, just to be an anal retentive here, TBBT doesn't utilize a laugh track. They film in front of a live studio audience with microphones planted to record the laughs.

Anyway, back on topic, I don't recall the episode where Sheldon got diagnosed with or even tested for Asperger's. If exhibiting the symptoms of Asperger's is enough for a diagnosis, then why did I have to suffer through about 4 hours of testing?

I'm always amazed when people come out and diagnosis television characters with this disorder or that one based on the very limited behavior depicted (we're not talking about something in real time, like "24"--we're talking about shows that often condense 2-3 days into one under 30 minute episode), when, in real life, even seeing how that character behaves second by second over the course of a few years isn't even actually good enough for a diagnosis.

Hollywood isn't making a joke out of Asperger's until they actually give a character Asperger's and make a joke out of them, which I'm yet to see.