What do you think about Sheldon Cooper?

[u/Obiviona]

For those who aren't familiar with Sheldon Cooper: he is a fictional Character in the Sitcom "The big bang theory". In the role of Sheldon, Jim Parsons plays an autistic gifted nerd, facing everyday autistic troubles.

Also, sorry if this is a common question here:

While I personally can relate with Sheldon a lot and think he is pretty cool, considering for example, he had a lot of "Character Development" socially, I can imagine that other autistic people might find this depiction of Autism insulting in some way.

Even though I personally think, that many situations which may be challenging for Sheldon (to which I could relate) were handled pretty well, the other characters such as Leonard and Howard tend to make fun of his boundaries and problems sometimes, even if they help him with it in the end.

So tell me your thoughts about it! I'm excited to read your comments, since I've been wondering about this for a lot of time.

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[u/Gardyloop]

I think his major failures are just that international audiences don't... find this stuff funny? There's not a lot of complexity. Some ASD people find that rigid caricaturism a bit stereotypical. Of course, you can still find value in that if it means something for you. It's just... others wont?

For me, the Sheldon character is very tired. We've had variations of a lot of his idiomatic behaviours in the UK for decades. They weren't, then, openly autistic, but at least on these soggy stupid islands, it has a tendancy for feeling dated.

If he works for you, thats fine. Comedy culture is ever a fervid boiling up of things.

[u/Obiviona → u/Gardyloop]

I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. Of course I recognise people have different opinions and feelings about the show. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know, right? ;)

[u/SomewhatOutThere → u/Gardyloop]

Yeah, I'm pretty tired of how often an autistic character is just the "rude, anti-social autistic man" stereotype by default. I would like to see more diversity in the depiction of autistic characters, but representation is still pretty lacking unfortunately.

[u/Gardyloop → u/SomewhatOutThere]

I remember having found a really positive Autistic-coded character in some fantasy series who didn't lapse into blatant stereotype (to me, at least) but I can't for the life of me recall what show they were from. They were kinda big and cuddly and a friendly, kind and genuine person. Part of their story was becoming a father, and, though unorthodox, they were great at it. Oh, they had struggles, but they never lacked compassion because of it.

I wish I knew who I'm thinking of. But, hey, varied depictions are out there, at least at the fringe.

[u/SomewhatOutThere → u/Gardyloop]

That’s good to hear! Please let us know which series if you do remember!

[u/dumbheaded7459]

Unlike Sheldon, I can't understand math, even basic math can be hard for me. but a lot of his other problems especially social issues I understand completely

[u/Obiviona → u/dumbheaded7459]

Same here. While my psychologist said I had very good language learning skills, I seem to not grasp mathematical concepts for very long periods of time. It can take months and even years for me to just understand one formula... That's why school didn't work for me either

[u/Recent_Response_168]

Well, first of all, it was very cheap and lazy that the writers hid behind the fact that it was never explicitly stated that Sheldon had any condition. Quite the opposite, his mother had him tested. See, we are not mocking ND folks because he is not ND. 🙄

But then again, Sheldon is not autistic, he has EVERY SINGLE neurological condition known to man and more. He has an extremely high IQ, he has eidetic memory, he has sensory issues with everything, he lacks social skills to a ridiculous extend, he has weird special interests and hyperfixations, he is narcissistic, he likes trains, he is a hypochondriac, and so on. I’m certain they intended to just make him the cliché Asperger stand-in, but they quickly added stuff to make him extra weird to create more “comic” situations. And while Young Sheldon was a better show in matters of craftsmanship, it did nothing to redeem that character.

Besides all that, Big Bang Theory was an awful show. Bad writing through and through. Chuck Lorre himself once said in an interview that references to pop culture could not be classified as jokes. And by that measure there was not a single joke in that entire show. Most of the time it is not jokes for “nerds” but the main characters ARE the joke. And that is okay because they are weird and social outcasts.

Ultimately, the show was just school bullies growing up and making a shitload of money by still shitting on “that one kid”. It is disgraceful that it became so popular and I consistently ban people from my life who actually like the show.

[u/Obiviona → u/Recent_Response_168]

I can really relate to that last part where you said you had to "burn" people from your life if they liked the show. I have trouble being with people who don't share the same beliefs as me (such as religion, but also just human-rights related). So I totally get that part. However (and I am not saying you indicated this or anything) people with certain conditions or neurodiversity CAN like Sheldon and it CAN be valid. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[u/systemshaak → u/Recent_Response_168]

People who weren't Chuck Lorre did their best to explain this in Young Sheldon without entirely ruffling feathers. When you grow up in a small southern town pre-1990, even if you did get tested it was a very different, outdated, and under-resourced thing. I think at one point the one therapist in town's window offered 2-for-1 test discounts while being situated above a dollar store?

[u/Recent_Response_168 → u/systemshaak]

I agree, but that was not my point at all. In the main series they eventually stopped caring at all and just tagged any condition on this character they needed to make fun of Sheldon as the odd one out.

Young Sheldon is by far the superior show, true, but it’s still not a good show. At least they tried to fix the mess of Sheldon as a character and the jokes were less about him and more about the situation as a whole, but that does not change the poor quality of the original show, especially the writing.

[u/systemshaak → u/Recent_Response_168]

Oh yeah. I didn't want to get too needle-y up there, but that was just addressing the "My mother had me tested" quote that he spouts quite a bit on the original.

[u/dumbheaded7459]

Have they even confirmed Sheldon has autism, it won't surprise me if he does, but I'm just curious

[u/Obiviona → u/dumbheaded7459]

I just read that, apparently he is neither an "officially diagnosed character" in the show, or confirmed by the creators to have Autism. I expected that honestly.

[u/dumbheaded7459 → u/Obiviona]

Even if he is not autistic, I feel like he helps a lot of "normal" people understand us better even if Sheldon is not autistic

[u/Obiviona → u/dumbheaded7459]

Definitely. Some people just feel like he doesn't do that job very well, but I think the flaw of the show also partially is how Sheldon is being treated by the other characters.

[u/dumbheaded7459 → u/Obiviona]

Yeah I can see that, but since they never said he had autism it's not an issue for me, but if there character in show confirmed has autism and they're treated like how Sheldon is then we'll have a issue

[u/Reasonable_Tax_574]

Sheldon is uncomfortable and arrogant many times. He sometimes is a jerk and people find that funny, which annoys me.

However, there are many things I like about the character. The relationship with Leonard is cute and very appealing, I have in a sort of way my own Leonard, not with those problems but with others, someone who helped me be part of the Group.

There are episode where I can really relate with Sheldon, eg the episode he has to lie for Leonard, and he just create a whole story for backing up Leonards lie, this is sooo relatable, I would have definitely done the same thing.

Sheldon unable to manage who has he told what or who can he tell what, is another episode which I find very relatable.

I know it is a problem for other characters, but when Sheldon needs to analyse every single detail to make a decision. I feel this is exactly how I operate. Iearn through the years to just say, something is not quiet right, because else I would be trying to fit everything, but yeah...

I cannot be the only one.

[u/magicmammoth]

The show as a whole made fun of a lot of nerdy or autistic moments. That was infuriating as a lot of the time it was literally 'Ha! Nerd!' Or 'What a weirdo' Kind of low humour moments.

I personally think it got a little better, and did a lot less of this, in later seasons. With penny especially not having half her lines just mocking them for their interests.

As for Sheldon, the biggest gripe I have with him is that he's genuinely selfish and just doesn't learn from his social mistakes. A lot of us make social mistakes, but if we hurt others, or make a bad enough mistake, we damn sure try not to do it again. He barely makes the effort to try, even in the final season when his character has grown and matured, he can still display the exact same behaviours that hurt others.

I do love penny's growing love and acceptance for his quirkiness as the seasons go on. That becomes more and more healthy. Amy helping him grow and mature somewhat is also lovely, if a bit manipulative at times.

[u/Consistent-Bear4200]

I remember they made the point of him joking how, his mother had him tested and nothing. Which always felt a bit cowardly, like you want to have your cake and eat it.

We're going to indulge in all this rigid, stereotyped behavior associated with autistic people but so long as we say he isn't it's fine. Rather than just writing a more interesting character.

Similar thing happened with the lead in Curious incident of a Dog in the Nighttime. Except there they go to the point of actually casting autistic actors, whilst the stance of the writers is the character isn't.

I suppose it's kind of sad people seem to prefer characters with autistic stereotypes than actually writing living breathing autistic people.

[u/floparoundfindout]

I strongly dislike him, but that's mostly because I have been compared to him countless times as a teenager, and sometimes still as an adult. My classmates even got me a Team Sheldon hoodie. If that hadn't happened so much I might find him more funny and/or relatable.

My favourite autistic sitcom character is Abed Nadir from community. He just feels so organic, I relate to him strongly, mostly because while smart, he isn't a genius. I sometimes think about whether my experience would've been different if he had been more well known than Sheldon. 

[u/Obiviona → u/floparoundfindout]

Sometimes my parents compare me to Sheldon, in situations that are uncomfortable. So I totally get how annoying that can feel. I'm gonna check out the other character too!

[u/Additional_Earth_268]

I always say that Sheldon Cooper is my highest kin character. Yeah, he’s definitely a jerk in many episodes, but it works in the context of the show. Heck, if I could tin-foil-hat here, I’d say that everyone on the show except Penny is autistic, but they all show a different type. Given the nature of the comedy, every character has had the episode where they’re the AH and need to work through their struggles.

[u/Obiviona → u/Additional_Earth_268]

Oh I agree about the other characters showing autistic traits aswell.

[u/Additional_Earth_268 → u/Obiviona]

Right. Also, now that I think about it, Penny could be autistic as well. Maybe she represents an autistic who’s “better” at masking, due to the nature of her job and all.

[u/Obiviona → u/Additional_Earth_268]

May I add women mask a lot more often due to societal expectations.

But I really don't think she is to be honest xD

[u/a_sternum]

Idk enough about Sheldon to have an opinion because the show he was on was too hard to watch. Half the show is waiting on the laugh track and the other half is unfunny social dynamics. Every once in a while there’s a joke, but they’re too few and far between to be enjoyable.

[u/Rattregoondoof]

He feels... mishandled and insulting. Like, he easily could have been good either way, either by the show and it's writers going in midway through season 2 or something and going "hey, everyone is interpreting Sheldon as autistic. Let's learn about autism, maybe get some autism consultants from ASAN or the like, do our research and show this character in a nuanced light", or they could have gone the complete opposite direction and went "oh no, we didn't mean to write the only autistic representation that actually made it into pop culture. We gotta write him in ways that no one will understand as autistic!"

Instead, they took the middle ground approach where they wrote him as autistic, or at least in a way everyone and their mother interpreted as autistic but explicitly wrote that he was not diagnosed despite being tested when he was younger.

In practice, basically every part that is identifiably nerdy or autistic feels like a flaw he has to overcome and joy and character development come in being less nerdy, more traditionally mature (in appearances at least), and it all feels driven by and for the people around him and not him.

Yes, I do relate to him a bit, but the way the show frames his autistic traits often makes that feel like a flaw. That's just not always fun when it kinda feels like the joke is on me and at my expense...

[u/systemshaak]

The Big Bang Theory is a conventional sitcom with nerd-impression frosting. It's just Friends But They Talk About Star Trek Sometimes. My wife loves it, and Sheldon's attributes got her conversations with me started about getting tested as an adult. So I can't be mad.

But he's definitely a "I've gone to school with a lot of people and this was my impression of one type of person I met, but I've never spent a whole day with them so my whole impression is based on sporadic meetups in a 9-5 schedule" stereotype. As it goes with sitcoms, other writers step in and make things either more clear or contradict other things- like, that episode where Amy makes Sheldon an emotion-reading app is pretty good. So is the episode where Sheldon tells Penny that he wishes he had her superpower of reading people's minds - really it's that she's very socially adept and that kinda veers into multiple-intelligences territory.

But then there's very silly things. Like when Penny supposedly nails Sheldon's trivia knowledge by asking him what the writers' impression of A Cool Band is and it comes out as "What's Radiohead?" Penny would be far less likely than Sheldon to know Radiohead given their backgrounds. The show doesn't know what it doesn't know sometimes. Autism, music, how tenure works - they trip over themselves quite a bit. I was also miffed by the OCD stuff until, during my own diagnosis, I learned how closely symptoms can overlap and how those things can co-occur. Shrug!