Why do autistic people seem to connect with nerdy characters

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I notice that a lot of autistic-coded characters tend to be nerdy characters. Why do these seem to work best?

I notice that a lot of autistic-coded people tend to be nerdy people.

The common themes of introversion and/or social anxiety and loneliness, special interests and/or differences in one's own developmental trajectory and profile compared to the overall allistic norms -- mixed in with being a target of bullying, clumsiness, being the odd one out, and even sometimes implied certain sensitivities whether biological like allergies or sensory...


The deeper ones are how one reacts to relatedness; the longing to be more (like typical) human, to be with more humans (regardless of what it is)...
Whether it's an expression of finding their own tribe or their so called place... The things they're vulnerable to (exploitative relationships), the things they will be grateful for (small circle of tightly knitted friends or something)...

Or detest it the premise entirely because they deny to have those things, like a very disappointed optimist or a deprived elitist.

And some are fully neutral/apathetic. Usually are alien/foreign/artificial/whatever.

Either found love or family or whatever "redemption themes" of a reward they got and toned down, or double it down into their downfall...
Or just, well, do not change for better or worse whether because comedy and/or status quo or just is...



Well, even I cannot relate to it.

It's a mix of cultural, circumstances and a very different personal approach to just being different in my own case.

Like, yeah, I have similar starting points; initial similar traits, potentials and even some conditions, but it just ends there.

The rest of the story is mostly about the human or the person, the reactions, desires, priorities and endings... Things I cannot relate.



To me, coded characterization is just a sign of predictability to me.

Some things I just fancy being like them or just liking them characters.
Yet none relatable. None made me feel seen.

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I just saw that The Accountant 2 movie is released in April. Christian Wollf is not nerdy. That is nice for a change.

I think that autistic people don't enjoy socialising / manipulating other peoples emotions for good/bad/fun
as much as they enjoy gathering information and developing their special interest.

That means they are closer to nerds than others.

I don't connect with nerdy people because nerds are supposed to be really smart.
As in they're like, "Omg I got a 99 out of a hundred on my algebra test, I'm a failure!!"

Needs to be socially awkward, and not into a lot of superfical stuff. They also tend to be uncoordinated and non athletic. Not all nerds are like this but many are. Nerds who are in the neurodivergent community are prime targets for bullying and being outcasted in high school settings.

My friend on Tiktok has a nerdy look but don't identify with nerd/geek culture due to him not being as academically gifted and have no interest in comics. He does watch pbs, but he's also into a lot of kid/preschool shows despite being 38. He's diagnosed as an aspie, but have a lot of support needs.

I've grown out of some of the stereotypes, but I definitely have some still. My own theory is, people on the spectrum tend me awkward by design. In terms of bad social skills and typically being introverted, I always say I was sick from school the day the manual for how to make friends was passed out.

One thing and I know this is true for me, some on the spectrum are more drawn to more intellectual interests and things one can do by themselves VS a team effort. I could go on but sports have never appealed to me, which has made me a black sheep in my family, I find it pointless and boring. Also, I struggle working for corporate America, the whole were a family and a team thing is just lame to me as it's so superficial. Hence, fakery is something many don't get or tolerate, which includes me.

I admit, the stereotypes do annoy me a little and I've worked at trying to lose some of them, as being awkward and weird has gotten me in so much trouble in life and bullied. Not to mention when I have seen others exhibit similar behavior it makes me cringe. The character in Mozart and The Whale for example, was pure cringe to me. Even at 45, I still beat myself up over some of my behavior from the past.

Still when I am alone, I let it all hang out.

Most people still don't think a female person can be nerdy, and if she is, they think she's just pretending to make herself look "cute" and "quirky" or whatever. Yeah, those words were pretty non-existent around me as a teenager.

As some other people have alluded to, autistic people often have the characteristics of 'nerd' by default, including attributes such as introversion, a hyper focus on certain interests such as video games (which could be considered nerdy) and so on.

It isn't surprising then that autistic people will connect with nerdy, fictional characters, since they will see themselves in those characters and feel as though they have something in common with them.

I think part of it is to promote that autistic people have desired strengths, such as intelligence, being studious, etc. It's to include us in society that measures the value of a person by what they contribute to society via work. So by saying we're nerdy, they're saying we're valuable too.

Btw, Forrest Gump didn't seem nerdy to me.