Published on 12, July, 2020
I found this debate on a subreddit for The Big Bang Theory (link here: https://www.reddit.com/r/bigbangtheory/comments/tgj452/sheldon_is_on_the_autism_spectrum_why_does/) and it seems to be a bit of a stand off about whether Sheldon Cooper is or isn’t Autistic because of how the show’s creators have said that he isn’t and because he’s a fictional character that people are projecting Autism onto Sheldon and we shouldn’t because we’re not psychiatrist and so on. I personally think Sheldon was unintentionally portrayed as Autistic and having stereotypical traits for laughs. I have always felt Sheldon is a very bad representation of Autism because of the stereotyping and due to the fact it is a comedy show that it hurts Autistic people and makes people even more unlikely to take how serious the disorder actually is. So what does everyone here think?
The writers declined to give it a label. If they'd officially called it autism, it would have been a lot more difficult to use it as a comedic device. Best case scenario, they catch flack for not portraying it accurately. Worst case, it'd have been considered wildly offensive by many and probably got the series axed of the get go.
I would say he's definitely got OCD and highly likely on the spectrum. I saw a lot of myself in his ways and actions, the things that excited him and the things that bothered him.
I do as well. I see a lot of similarities with me and Sheldon. In some ways it's cool in other ways it makes me worried in case I come across in a negative way.
Agreed.
I identify a lot with the character of Sheldon Cooper. Similarities are a strong interest in Physics. The main difference is that my social skills are a hundred times worse.
I think this is one of the many things which happen when an entire country is left mostly uneducated and misinformed about Autism.
The writers have said he isn't, but the actor has said he "couldn't display more traits".
The character gets away with a lot more because there's no "label".
i think its mainly hes a stereotype nerd, but isnt made to be autistic... but ofcourse most nerds usually are infact autistic and the nerdyness is autistic trait. (for the mods im not using nerd as a bad word i consider myself to be a nerd lol and its better than any alternative persona)i think alot of autism falls apart with sheldons character as he does develop a very vivid social life and seems happy and content with it. no loneliness and isolation.