Society has become aware aspie people don't fit in. I think Columbo is definitely one example. The lieutenant is socially very awkward and very scruffy. He needs to dress scruffy to feel himself and be able to think. When there's a murder, he doesn't focus on the same focal view-points as the junior detectives but will instead obsess over one seemingly insignificant detail. Such as in one episode, the fact a homicide victim had sneakers on with the laces tied but not in the usual way (which mean he hadn't tied his own laces but someone else had!)
I confess I am just like Columbo is represented to be in the series. Yes, I go straight into some minor minor detail, Yes I always forget and lose something I need and, yes, I just can't seem to help being so scruffy it's become a family joke. And, yes, I do follow people around, pacing about and going on and on and it drove my girlfriend crazy at the time.
Columbo also lacks social skills which is why you see him sneezing in someone's house, interrupting a dinner or knocking things over (and let's not forget that French car).
Actually it doesn't offend me. It's not specifically Columbo is an aspie but they clearly based his character on an aspie mix. The idea being you can under-estimate an aspie when all the time the aspie is very much on the ball.
Of course, it does ignore the suffering, the loneliness, the despair, the alienation and so on. Sometimes that lack of tact people display can cause offence to aspies.
However, maybe characters such as Columbo help me more than offend. It portrays aspies can be offbeat but still successful and that they can be accepted the way they are, even if as oddballs.
Not sure what the direct answer is, though. I do tell some people I'm aspie but find they don't understand. One friend said, "Oh, my brother has that!" and my uncle simply had no idea at all what aspergers was.
The fictional Aspie certainly is a collection of exaggerations. Like every other 'type' or character (the dumb blonde, the anal boss, the idiotic cop, the pedantic teacher, the sexless female librarian) depicted on tv, it seems they don't think people will understand or watch the character unless s/he is 'in your face' extreme.
Their depictions make the Aspie highly intelligent but make light of his obvious social awkwardness. HAHAHA. Let's all laugh at this guy's odd clothing, bad haircut, incomprehensible jokes & bad luck with women. this Aspie seems crafted to serve several purposes:
1. Make Autism less scary.
2. Make Asperger's into something that can be fixed with cosmetic changes (a decent hairstyle, fashionable clothing, a few lessons in social graces)
3. Make it seem like Asperger's isn't so bad: we're all brilliant 'savants' after all.
4. These shows serve as a levelling mechanism: many NTs resent our intelligence & showcasing our awkwardness makes them not feel so comparatively slow witted after all.
5. To make NTs feel less guilty: if we Aspies won't make a few simple changes so we can adapt to their society, it's our own damned fault if we ger mocked or excluded.
Movies & tv did the same to blacks, Latinos & many other unpopular groups. Like Homophobia, fear & distrust of the 'mentally ill' or mentally different is eased by laughter.
Come hang out with us here the waters nice and warm for you.
