Big Bang Theory’s Autism Simulation

[jimhines]

I just posted this over on Tumblr, but wanted to share it here as well.

I’ve criticized The Big Bang Theory for things like its ongoing obsession with fat jokes, its casual sexism (OMG, girls don’t read comics/play D&D/etc), the handling of Sheldon’s autistic/OCD issues, and an ongoing sense of laughing at geeks instead of with us.

But I want to

Comments

[deborahblakehps]

I thought this was great too. I loved the way Sheldon described how certain things made his brain feel.

[irishkate]

I seem to be the only person I know who doesn't love to watch this show - the generalised "casual sexism [...] an ongoing sense of laughing at geeks instead of with us" just irritate me.
I have seen it, it has been funny but I can't get past the attitude usually.

[jimhines]

You're not alone.

I tried livetweeting an episode a week or so back. After a half hour (probably 20 minutes w/o commercials), we had gone through nine fat jokes, some very uncomfortable racial "humor," and more. It was painful.

[irishkate]

I am so glad to know that. It's reassuring! I had begun to wonder if my geek hunour was out of whack.

[blpurdom]

I know a number of people who can't stand the show, for many of the reasons Jim mentions it is problematic. I don't find it remotely funny, as a math geek and borderline Aspie and parent of two borderline Aspies, and the spouse of a computer programmer. Every time I'm exposed to it I just find it irritating as hell.

I always found the treatment of Abed's character on Community to be fantastic (he also seems to be Aspie) and that show is just, in general, many times funnier, IMNSHO.

[snapes_angel]

It was a fluke. A good fluke. ;) Because since when have producers and writers for Wholly-Odd...yea. ;) But when they have a winner, it is good.

[nelc]

if Sheldon wore an itchy sweater

I think you mean Leonard? It's been long enough since I last watched the show that I have to remind myself who's who, but Leonard's jumper has his name stitched into it.

[jimhines]

Yes, thank you. Fixed now.

[shanrina]

I kind of gave up on this show because I got so tired of the humor (although I still really like a few of the early episodes), but I think I'm going to have to find this episode when it's out on DVD to see how closely it matches up with my own experiences (OCD, not autistic). I always thought Parsons did a good job of showing Sheldon's OCD, even though the other characters (and the vast majority of the audience as well as probably some of the writers) didn't really get it and just saw it, like you said, as joke fodder/Sheldon being unreasonable.