The Big Bang Theory is insulting to aspies

Post Reply New Topic

Mods forgive me if this isn't the right place for this topic, but it's more a rant than anything so I chose here...

The Big Bang Theory has become a pop culture phenomenon. For the few not aware, it revolves around a bunch of geeky physicists and a "normal" girl named Penny. The comedic centerpiece of the show is a character named Sheldon. Imagine every smart aspie you know and have their "different" characteristics amplified 100x and that's him. They never specifically say he has AS but it's obvious.

I hate whoever came up with the concept of Sheldon. Being an aspie and laughing at Sheldon is much like being black and laughing at minstrel shows. I don't see how you can do that and feel OK when it's such an insulting and demeaning caricature. All of the jokes revolve around him being awkward and a social reject when it's obviously something he can't change. What if there was a sitcom character that was clinically depressed to the point of being suicidal and they made jokes about that?

"Oh I feel so worthless"
*laugh track plays again*
"I'm gonna try and kill myself again"
*more laughs*
"Maybe with a knife this time."
*laughs and clapping*

No one would enjoy that and there'd be hundreds of lawsuits, because society as a whole doesn't think laughing at suicidal people is funny. But laugh at the autistic person all day! No one cares about them right, they're not real people with real feelings, just funny dorks that can be made into comedic relief! They're doomed to social failure precisely because of my attitude towards them and that's funny!

And then we wonder why the neurodiversity movement hasn't got that much traction, and why society's perceptions of AS are so skewed. I understand there is a point where political correctness gets ridiculous, and it's hard to separate my personal feelings as watching Sheldon is like reliving the social rejection I have constantly felt my entire f*****g life and I know millions are laughing at that. It's painful. But more people should be concerned about what kind of messages these characters are sending.

I am probably reading too much into this and taking it too seriously, but I have never understood why NTs love schadenfreude so much in the first place.

The creators of the show, for the very reasons you object to it, have deliberately made the character ambiguous in what disorder he has. They never state outright whether Sheldon has Autism or Asperger's Syndrome, though Jim Parsons did state that he did research on these areas. Quoting Wikipedia:

In addition, I would say that if you ran a poll on this BBS, a lot of people would say that they like Sheldon. Of course, liking him is different to him either being genuinely likeable as a character (he is admittedly not the best of role models for an Aspie), or people wanting to emulate Sheldon. But he is funny and you can sympathise with him at times. And keep in mind that Sheldon is rarely malicious, more like a idiot when it comes to social graces.

He never really was officially diagnosed with aspergers, although he shows symptoms. I'm an aspie and I watch BBT with my older brother all the time, and I personally find Sheldon funny and relatable.

I'm pretty sure the creators of that show said all that stuff and danced around the issue because if it was revealed that they made a 1-dimensional character defined by an exaggerated version of an uncurable condition, it'd be a PR disaster. They made that character anyway but saved face.

Sheldon isn't just a shallow AS caricature, and I'm the Queen of England. Looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

I see your claim and I raise you one depressed robot.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQqeidrlDyw[/youtube]

One of my physics profs who I highly suspect of being an aspie told us in class one day that physics profs that he had met at CalTech reminded him of characters on the Big Bang theory (and vice versa). He was like "they're really like that down there."

Personally, I think the Big Bang Theory show is both good and bad for people in physics and with aspie traits. On the plus side, it is a popular show even though it mostly about pretty nerdy things, so people in the mainstream can relate to people like those on the show better now. For example, when I was waiting in line at the university bookstore earlier in the term and mentioned I was in physics to the person I was talking to in line (because I was going to buy my textbook for a course in that topic), they asked me if I liked that show. The show can also be educational to people like Amy and Sheldon on what not to do in public or they will be poorly accepted by others (hey, I've learned some things from the show, I'm sure).

On the downside, it occurred to me that people were suspecting me of being a real life equivalent of Amy as I do kind of look a bit like her and am rather socially awkward and am in the hard sciences (physics), but I'm nowhere near that bad (am more like Sheldon, really, what with the OCD tendencies and all). Plus my friend was sort of like Sheldon (how about that). I wish they had kept around Leslie Winkle (*heats up can of soup with laser*), as I found her more relatable, really (except for all of her relationship stuff), but apparently they didn't "know how to write for her," which is pretty typical considering how under-represented women in physics have been and continue to be, both in the real world and on TV shows. I suppose this does support your main point, in that you are annoyed in being possibly compared to Sheldon where I am annoyed at being possibly compared to Amy (as I wish the more normal character of Leslie was still on the show).

So, um, there is something wrong if the media portrays someone with an IQ off the charts as socially awkward?

Don't over think it mon frere, it is simply a work of fiction.

I think Sheldon has the potential to make NT's more comfortable and accepting of ND's (neuro diverse). Yeah it's cast as funny and often awkward, but it gets people thinking in that direction; that we don't all see things from the same angle, and it's more interesting that way. I'm happy Sheldon is out there. He's getting people familiarized with the symptoms of us, but doing so without pointing a finger at us, as he is not officially Dx'd.

as an aspie, I love the idea of sheldon cooper. Seeing him on tv makes me grateful that I didn't turn out that crazy lol. And I know it is possible that I could have become like sheldon (just dumber lol) I think he serves as a great point of reference for aspies of what not to do lol. I also say that it is fantastic if his character happens to raise awareness along the way.

I don't think he's a 1-dimensional character. Given his affinity for imaginary visits to Edwin Abbott's Flatland, he's at least 2-dimensional.

Anyway, jokes aside, I seriously don't see him as being "1-dimensional". I'll agree to your premise that the writers' denials are moot-- whether they admit to it or not, he has so many characteristics of AS that he is the functional equivalent of an Aspie regardless. And yes, he is arrogant, and stubborn, and awkward, and most of the time socially oblivious to the point of insensitivity. Perhaps he could be characterized as having an incredibly exaggerated case of AS (and by that, I literally mean exaggerated beyond the point of credibility as a true depiction). But I actually love the show, and one of the reasons I do is because I relate so well to Sheldon. I believe many other Aspies will tell you the same thing.

First of all, it has to be noted that the show has a bunch of other characters with their own idiosyncrasies, and the majority of their social interactions does consist of lighthearted teasing. They poke fun at Raj's selective mutism all the time, and Howard's dependence on his mother, and Leonard's maladroitness with relationships. Even Penny, who is supposed to be the only consistent "non-nerd" main character on the show, has to endure hearing about her own flaws, primarily her poor judgment where romantic or sexual relationships are concerned. From the perspective of someone who has endured real teasing for an extended period of time, I can see where this might be uncomfortable; I can say that, being an Aspie myself, and having been subjected to harsh treatment throughout my childhood as well. But I think there must be some discernment made between teasing with malicious intent, and teasing as a sign of affection and trust. It's really obvious to me, even when Sheldon's behaviour confounds or frustrates his friends, they don't bear him genuine malice; if they did, there wouldn't be any reason for them to continue being friends.

Moreover, over the years, Sheldon has also displayed many redeemable qualities as well. He has often shown himself-- when he has an adequate understanding of the social context-- to be a very loyal and devoted friend, particularly to Leonard and Penny. Occasionally he displays far more insight than his friends usually give him credit for. A few times, his friend group has, for whatever reason, attempted to resume with business as usual without him-- and they pretty much always come to the same conclusion, which is that he is integral to the dynamic of the group.

When I watch Sheldon, I see many of my own stumbling blocks reflected back to me in exaggerated fashion. I see how he has his own internal logic which is frequently interpreted as irrational by the world around him, and yet makes so much sense to him-- his spot on the couch, his insistance on hearing Soft Kitty everytime he gets sick, his rigid expectations of Leonard as a co-habitor vis-à-vis the Roommate Agreement. When he explains his reasons, it all totally makes sense to me too-- and yet, I can start to conceptualize why it would also seem completely absurd to people who aren't wired as he is, and who don't understand that the compulsion to order is generally driven by inner chaos and confusion.

I've heard the assertion that "all comedy is based on suffering", and I think there's a lot of truth to that; after all, what would be the point of comedy in the first place, if we had no trials in our lives which required alleviation? With Sheldon, I laugh, because I've got a morose self-awareness of my own social disconnects; what he's going through feels so much like an in-joke to me.

Well, greetings, Your Majesty. I didn't know you were an Aspie.

It's always nice if you have the capacity to laugh at yourself and that includes the ability to laugh when you see yourself in others.

If you can't laugh at yourself, then you probably take yourself to seriously.

QFT.

And now folks, the most jolly thing you'll ever see, the wonderful Black and White Minstrel Show:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zj6o_DZfSw[/youtube]

Well personally, as an aspie, I love Sheldon. It's relatable and it has been a big help explaining to others what it means to be an aspie. Of course I do tell them the character has been blown out of proportion, but it's easier to explain if you can just point at Sheldon and go 'well, it's like that' as a starting point.

The actor who plays Sheldon draws on his personal life as a homosexual to provide the inspiration for his character.

It is members of the "Gay Community" who should feel insulted.