Sheldon In Real Life

Why do we like Sheldon so much?

I find this chart rather correct. We all like Sheldon, a lot. (Even though on a certain topic I agree more with the character of his mother more than him ;))

But WHY? WHY do people think Sheldon is so funny? I find him funny because often I have the same opinion on things as he does. However, I am typically ridiculed for those feelings or beliefs, while we laugh at Sheldon. Maybe people don't take him seriously? Maybe it is okay in "make believe" on a television show, but its not okay in real life to have those same beliefs? 

Sheldon is often more concerned with the facts or truth and not so much for people's feelings. He says what he feels is right or true regardless of whether or not its going to hurt someone if he says it. Then everyone laughs. But what happens in real life is that we are told that we are insensitive, rude, or people just get offended and argue with us. We are insulted and ridiculed. We are shunned and rejected. There's no laugh track. There's no smiles or understanding. There isn't even anyone who stops and asks us if we mean this or that, they just assume that we mean the worst, that we are purposely insulting them or something. 

Is it the medium with which it is written? Is it because it is written for a comedic sitcom that we laugh? Or could we start to see the same things as funny in real life, instead of taking it so seriously? Why is a character that is only pretend understood and enjoyed as much as Sheldon is? And then, why aren't people who are just like him in real life understood at all? Why don't people even try to understand us? Is it because it's more work than just being offended and angry?

I think in real life people are socially lazy. Sure, I might not be socially appropriate at all times, but I have to work HARD to even try in the first place. NT people apparently don't have to work hard at it normally, but more often than not when they do, they don't care about people enough to work harder at communicating more sensibly. 

I know it's just a TV show, but consider the implications in real life. In TV land, it would kill the show and the story if Sheldon were to move out, or Leonard to move out. It would no longer be funny or entertaining. But in real life, people do not live with people who act that way very long. Both roommates that I had in college were really quick to run out the door. The one roommate that never ran was just as introverted and unusual as I am (and I don't think she has any problem with that). I was better off rooming by myself, and I think I was lucky enough to be able to do that in my 2nd year of college. It took me years and the ability to look at the situations through the lens of Aspergers for me to realize just what went wrong with those girls, and that it wasn't all my fault. It was less that I had done something wrong, and more that I am quirky and a lot of people have a hard time dealing with that. (It should be said that, if I remember right, both those girls had never shared a room with anyone growing up either.)

That's just one example. It seems that for the most part, the storylines are believable and relateable. I do find the social situations a bit unbelievable at times because I know in real life most people are not that understanding. I only wish I had a close group of friends as he does, who accepted me as easily and completely despite all my inadequacies in social rules.  I do have friends, but I am typically misunderstood or have my words taken the wrong way. I feel as if I am playing catch up to explain myself, when Sheldon doesn't seem to have to do that. 

Anyway, if you know a Sheldon, please work a little harder at social interaction. You might have to swallow your words sometimes, and take a breath and not jump off the cliff thinking you know that they meant something insulting.

We Are Sheldon

Forgive me if this is a repeat.

But we are Sheldon.

I won't say that every Aspie is like Sheldon, or even knows who Sheldon is.

But when Sheldon goes off on a tangent about why his routine cannot be changed, I think of us. And when I am resistant to changes in my schedule, I think of Sheldon. And I'm starting to think my son has the same tendencies. He recently had HIS personal plans smashed, and changed, and he LOST IT, even though the replacement plans were awesome. He did enjoy himself and was fine, but the first initial moments, and several moments over a few hours he was still resistant to the awesome, fun change.

Anyway.

There Is Only One Right Way

This isn't because I'm mean, or because I want to win/be right.. But there is really only one right way. Even if its socially unacceptable to say so.

I Am Sheldon Cooper

Big Bang Theory just won People's Choice Award for favorite network comedy the other night.

I have seen several episodes of this show and it is rather funny. The basic story is a group of 4 total scientist geeks (thats an affectionate term) live across the hall from a really pretty blond waitress who wants to be an actress. That's really really basic.

One of the characters is especially odd. Sheldon Cooper. He has his own way of social interaction, that is for sure. I find that I can relate to him with a lot of things. He is very particular about his social interactions. He is always concerned with facts over feelings. There is a lot of talk out there that he resembles a person who has Aspergers, though the show has not (and it seems WILL not) identify him as such.

Honestly, though I am in full support of people knowing and learning about Aspergers, I do not think that it is necessary for Sheldon to be labeled as such. Go with me here for a moment.

People are watching this show. It is rather a popular show. Most people are finding Sheldon to be funny and interesting, not annoying and bothersome. 

Not labeling him gives us all one benefit: there are people like this. There are many people my age and older who are not and will not be diagnosed for various reasons. Some don't know anything about Aspergers and don't care. Some don't realize they might qualify. Some don't have the ability or resources to find out and get diagnosed. Some are too old to care. :P

Sheldon could be a part of normalizing people like us. People might be able to say "hey, that person reminds me of Sheldon..." and maybe they won't think that they are completely strange. Maybe Sheldon is opening doors for normalcy in Autistic behaviors. 

Basically, I am Sheldon Cooper. I do have a mental list of friendship "requirements" that I might actually write into a "contract", if I didn't have the impression that it isn't socially acceptable to do that.
But the next time you think of something strange I am doing, think of Sheldon Cooper. Remember, he's just a dude. He's cool. He's an icon. But he's also a me.