Episodes 6.14 The Cooper/kripke Inversion (Jan. 31)

[4ofN]

I have no idea Ar Diem, this is the only board I've been on too and I've found that any kind of critique is unwelcome and there is strong bullying tone. I mean how ridiculous was it that I had to request a special thread for Shenny shippers? And they won't come back.

 

As for Spook, I've actually posted a number of times how I'd deal with Sheldon being a Homo Novus & attracted to a  female; pattern it on his hero Spock and it would be deeply funny to see Sheldon struggle with kohlinar and his burgeoning sexuality. Many have agreed with me, but the writers right now are utterly mediocre. What I find bizarre is that few want to discuss the sea change with Sheldon's character and rather dismiss it....

 

You should have seen it after the Raj / Penny sex debacle. There were a lot of people who came to this board to find and talk to other fans who didn't like the changes to the show. We got shut down and most of us got chased out of here. So this, unfortunately, isn't anything new.

 

[tmp]

Changing the subject (PLEASE, I beg us to change the subject), I noticed that all of Kripke's sex talk would make him a prime candidate to be hauled in to the HR lady's office from a couple of episodes ago.  It's always a fun episode when Kripke is on.  The trash talk was a little different this time.  Usually Sheldon can only get some hilariously lame trash talk (like "Who's unsatisfactory at P.E. now?!") but this time he got off a couple of good zingers.  It was nice to see that even though Kripke might have outdone Kripke on the proposal, Sheldon owned him otherwise.

[sarah7]

Yeah, yeah, you all downers (and I'm using the term as an endearing one, don't get mad, please ) suffer a lot, I can hear the Imperial March all over the place, do you want an special tea?

 

When I entered this forum, it was full of angry people (and with "full", I mean about of a dozen regular posters) they bitched and bitched about the show, nice people like Pomita were criticized and made fun of because they were "too goody, goody".

 

It was during summer hiatus, I think. Then the season started, some of those angry regulars dissapeared and a plethora of new posters appeared. Many of them are fans of certain ships or actually (the horror!) like the show as it's going on right now.

 

As an observer, I'd say our dear downers were not exactly kicked out or shut up, I'd say they were outnumbered.

 

And sorry, but if you are outnumbered, you are going to fight a difficult war, but you must be prepared for that.

 

Personally, I don't have a problem with you expressing your opinion, even if I don't agree at all, what really buggers me (and I think it's what awakes the main animosity) is your tendency to feel "above the mediocrity" of those who enjoy the show right now. It would help if you weren't saying in almost every post those who like the canon couples, the couples thing in general or the jokes are the "new dumb audience to whom the show is being directed".

 

I've been there, I've experienced what is like to don't like a show anymore, but you are not insulting the show, you are insulting the viewers, it's obvious you are going to get some agressive feedback.

 

Because not liking the show anymore doesn't make you better or more intelligent than those who like it, we are just different. Okay?

 

Which reminds me, Annielogy, why exactly do you say the writers are "mediocre", just because they are not doing the things  you want or as you would write them?

[annieogly]

Yeah, yeah, you all downers (and I'm using the term as an endearing one, don't get mad, please ) suffer a lot, I can hear the Imperial March all over the place, do you want an special tea?

 

When I entered this forum, it was full of angry people (and with "full", I mean about of a dozen regular posters) they bitched and bitched about the show, nice people like Pomita were criticized and made fun of because they were "too goody, goody".

 

It was during summer hiatus, I think. Then the season started, some of those angry regulars dissapeared and a plethora of new posters appeared. Many of them are fans of certain ships or actually (the horror!) like the show as it's going on right now.

 

As an observer, I'd say our dear downers were not exactly kicked out or shut up, I'd say they were outnumbered.

 

And sorry, but if you are outnumbered, you are going to fight a difficult war, but you must be prepared for that.

 

Personally, I don't have a problem with you expressing your opinion, even if I don't agree at all, what really buggers me (and I think it's what awakes the main animosity) is your tendency to feel "above the mediocrity" of those who enjoy the show right now. It would help if you weren't saying in almost every post those who like the canon couples, the couples thing in general or the jokes are the "new dumb audience to whom the show is being directed".

 

I've been there, I've experienced what is like to don't like a show anymore, but you are not insulting the show, you are insulting the viewers, it's obvious you are going to get some agressive feedback.

 

Because not liking the show anymore doesn't make you better or more intelligent than those who like it, we are just different. Okay?

 

Which reminds me, Annielogy, why exactly do you say the writers are "mediocre", just because they are not doing the things  you want or as you would write them?

 

No I think the writers are mediocre as they've taken the core concept: outsider science nerds with their geeky interests and are turning it inside out. Normalcy is now good & mainstream values: marriage, fitting it with the crowd are now valued. That's mediocrity.

 

Turning the core character from someone very different; a man-boy riddled with phobias & the desire to avoid emotional contact for the pursuit of intellectual excellence into a devoted boyfriend who makes sex jokes and isn't at the top of his game...mediocre.

 

having female leads as girlfriends who neither share nor have geeky cultural interests, but serve as authoritarian mainstream mother figures....mediocre

 

because Howard is no longer a sleeze who invites girls to the JPL to drive the Mars Rover; he goes fishin' with his father-in-law....mediocre

[Ar Diem]

I have no idea Ar Diem, this is the only board I've been on too and I've found that any kind of critique is unwelcome and there is strong bullying tone. I mean how ridiculous was it that I had to request a special thread for Shenny shippers? And they won't come back.

 

As for Spook, I've actually posted a number of times how I'd deal with Sheldon being a Homo Novus & attracted to a  female; pattern it on his hero Spock and it would be deeply funny to see Sheldon struggle with kohlinar and his burgeoning sexuality. Many have agreed with me, but the writers right now are utterly mediocre. What I find bizarre is that few want to discuss the sea change with Sheldon's character and rather dismiss it....

 

See and even though I dislike the Shenny idea I have no problem discussing it and even trying to ship it with you.   We can't do anything to change the course of the show so why not have some fun with it?  I have no idea why negative comments and alternate ideas threaten some people so much.

 

They don't see it though.  Every post I have made about it has been mostly ignored.  Because we are not the same kind of fans they are we have to be wrong. 

[MJistheBOMB]

Yeah, yeah, you all downers (and I'm using the term as an endearing one, don't get mad, please ) suffer a lot, I can hear the Imperial March all over the place, do you want an special tea?

 

When I entered this forum, it was full of angry people (and with "full", I mean about of a dozen regular posters) they bitched and bitched about the show, nice people like Pomita were criticized and made fun of because they were "too goody, goody".

 

It was during summer hiatus, I think. Then the season started, some of those angry regulars dissapeared and a plethora of new posters appeared. Many of them are fans of certain ships or actually (the horror!) like the show as it's going on right now.

 

As an observer, I'd say our dear downers were not exactly kicked out or shut up, I'd say they were outnumbered.

 

And sorry, but if you are outnumbered, you are going to fight a difficult war, but you must be prepared for that.

 

Personally, I don't have a problem with you expressing your opinion, even if I don't agree at all, what really buggers me (and I think it's what awakes the main animosity) is your tendency to feel "above the mediocrity" of those who enjoy the show right now. It would help if you weren't saying in almost every post those who like the canon couples, the couples thing in general or the jokes are the "new dumb audience to whom the show is being directed".

 

I've been there, I've experienced what is like to don't like a show anymore, but you are not insulting the show, you are insulting the viewers, it's obvious you are going to get some agressive feedback.

 

Because not liking the show anymore doesn't make you better or more intelligent than those who like it, we are just different. Okay?

 

Which reminds me, Annielogy, why exactly do you say the writers are "mediocre", just because they are not doing the things  you want or as you would write them?

 

 

OMG, that is everything I would want to say but wouldn't know how to say it. Thank you. 

 

I too, was immediately put down for simply saying that I love Sheldon & Amy together when I joined. The person new NOTHING about me and how I feel about the show from season 1 until now. 

 

" new emo loving audience" " the show is now catering to the lowest common denominator" I've seen it all from multiple people. They expect people to NOT be offended and respond accordingly? Yeah. Not gonna happen.

 

I too, don't care if people aren't happy with every little detail of the show any more. But instead of attacking ME for it? Why not start an actual discussion and explain why. Sadly, some people on here are very bad at that and I sure as fuck ain't gonna take them seriously EVER.

[sarah7]

No I think the writers are mediocre as they've taken the core concept: outsider science nerds with their geeky interests and are turning it inside out. Normalcy is now good & mainstream values: marriage, fitting it with the crowd are now valued. That's mediocrity.

 

Turning the core character from someone very different; a man-boy riddled with phobias & the desire to avoid emotional contact for the pursuit of intellectual excellence into a devoted boyfriend who makes sex jokes and isn't at the top of his game...mediocre.

 

having female leads as girlfriends who neither share nor have geeky cultural interests, but serve as authoritarian mainstream mother figures....mediocre

 

because Howard is no longer a sleeze who invites girls to the JPL to drive the Mars Rover; he goes fishin' with his father-in-law....mediocre

 

What I'm reading here is, yeah, you call them "mediocre" because they don't do what you think they should be doing.

 

Anyway, you are free to think and say what you want, but (as Mrs Cooper says), that's just your opinion.

 

I don't think the reasons you mentioned make them mediocre, I think they are doing an intriguing work with the new insight in Sheldon's personality, I don't need the girls to be hardcore fans of something to find them interesting or worthy and I found Howard's interaction with his scary father in law quite funny. That's my opinion. Which one is more valid?, yours or mine?.

 

I'd say none and both, but I find your name-calling a bit unnecessary, because sounds as if you were trying to impose your opinions and preferences as an standard of quality, and, sorry, but it's not.

[tmp]

No I think the writers are mediocre as they've taken the core concept: outsider science nerds with their geeky interests and are turning it inside out. Normalcy is now good & mainstream values: marriage, fitting it with the crowd are now valued. That's mediocrity.

 

Turning the core character from someone very different; a man-boy riddled with phobias & the desire to avoid emotional contact for the pursuit of intellectual excellence into a devoted boyfriend who makes sex jokes and isn't at the top of his game...mediocre.

 

having female leads as girlfriends who neither share nor have geeky cultural interests, but serve as authoritarian mainstream mother figures....mediocre

 

because Howard is no longer a sleeze who invites girls to the JPL to drive the Mars Rover; he goes fishin' with his father-in-law....mediocre

 

Still trying to keep it about the show, I disagree that the gals are just authoritarian mother figures to the guys.  That's a fair assessment for Howard and Bernadette, though there have been a couple of times when she has gone out of her way to take an interest in what matters to him.  However, Leonard is actually the more mature one in the L/P relationship.  He is needy which gives her more power, but I don't think Penny is authoritarian at all.  I've never seen anything between Sheldon and Amy to make me think they're anything other than equals.  If it seems that way, it's only that we're seeing more of his side of the story when they have a fight and he is tortured until they make up.  Actually, Amy is the only one who treats Sheldon as an equal; everyone else treats him like the child he often adorably is.  As to whether it's mediocre or otherwise, I'm staying the hell out of that.

Edited February 4, 2013 by tmp

[eirwinrommel]

I don't think they're saying that Sheldon isn't all that smart.  In this one instance, Kripke is ahead of him and it really got to him.  As Leonard said, he just got stuck on a wrong path.  Everybody has an off day or an off project, even those beautiful minds.

Has anyone considered that this might be a good thing. Consider, that one of Sheldon's reasons for being such a pain is that he considers himself smarter than everyone else (except Stephen Hawking).  Finding out that someone is smarter then him (Kripke of all people) might just cause him to tone it down a notch or two.

[Nogravitasatall]

May I ask what model rocket? Howard had an Space X Falcon 9. Is it a Saturn V? I've never noticed one in Sheldon's room. I hope its not the Millennium Falcon.

[Ar Diem]

OMG, that is everything I would want to say but wouldn't know how to say it. Thank you. 

 

I too, was immediately put down for simply saying that I love Sheldon & Amy together when I joined. The person new NOTHING about me and how I feel about the show from season 1 until now. 

 

" new emo loving audience" " the show is now catering to the lowest common denominator" I've seen it all from multiple people. They expect people to NOT be offended and respond accordingly? Yeah. Not gonna happen.

 

I too, don't care if people aren't happy with every little detail of the show any more. But instead of attacking ME for it? Why not start an actual discussion and explain why. Sadly, some people on here are very bad at that and I sure as fuck ain't gonna take them seriously EVER.

 

 

But you and some others took me to great task over characterizing Shamy as more of a close friendship than a true romantic relationship, as of then.  Was that really necessary or was it at least in the realm of a fair opinion?  I know you agree with me that if he complimented her more it would ring truer.

 

When I tried to explain why I felt that way I was swarmed.  So are you guys paying it forward?

 

Making the show more mainstream should not be an insult to anyone who likes it better now.  You can be extremely smart and like mainstream things.  You can be extremely smart and like things really stupid people like too.  I like foreign films with subtitles and I also like Meteor Man which is pretty stupid.  There is no explanation for what we like.

[Nogravitasatall]

See and even though I dislike the Shenny idea I have no problem discussing it and even trying to ship it with you.   We can't do anything to change the course of the show so why not have some fun with it?  I have no idea why negative comments and alternate ideas threaten some people so much.

 

They don't see it though.  Every post I have made about it has been mostly ignored.  Because we are not the same kind of fans they are we have to be wrong. 

 

But what can you do with a post you don't agree with? You argue it or ignore it. I really don't know what you can do otherwise. You could say "yes but..." which is still argument. Or is that when the mud flies?

 

Happy to be advised otherwise.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Nogravitasatall

[MJistheBOMB]

But you and some others took me to great task over characterizing Shamy as more of a close friendship than a true romantic relationship, as of then.  Was that really necessary or was it at least in the realm of a fair opinion?  I know you agree with me that if he complimented her more it would ring truer.

 

When I tried to explain why I felt that way I was swarmed.  So are you guys paying it forward?

 

Making the show more mainstream should not be an insult to anyone who likes it better now.  You can be extremely smart and like mainstream things.  You can be extremely smart and like things really stupid people like too.  I like foreign films with subtitles and I also like Meteor Man which is pretty stupid.  There is no explanation for what we like.

 

 

Swarming you? Please. It's called discussion/disagreement. I can't speak for others but I don't recall calling you out of your name or anything that would make you feel like you were being attacked? When we were in the chat room, you explained yourself again and I DID agree with something you said. 

 

I recall one or two of your threads where you're practically taunting people in your opening statements. That's exactly what I'm talking about. How are people NOT going to come back at you in an offensive manner? I open up the thread and sure enough, people were arguing with you over you telling them to stay OUT of the thread instead of discussing a real topic. 

[MJistheBOMB]

Anyway, I'm now participating in changing the real topic of this thread so I'll stop here.

Edited February 4, 2013 by MJistheBOMB

[tmp]

Has anyone considered that this might be a good thing. Consider, that one of Sheldon's reasons for being such a pain is that he considers himself smarter than everyone else (except Stephen Hawking).  Finding out that someone is smarter then him (Kripke of all people) might just cause him to tone it down a notch or two.

 

It seems that was the catalyst for growth in this episode.  They'll have to be careful with that (and I'm sure they will) because one of the things that makes Sheldon Sheldon is that he's always certain he's right.  It's always hilarious when he's wrong, though, isn't it?  My favorite ones were in the flashback episode when he thought iPods would quickly be replaced when Microsoft released an equivalent and Firefly would run for a long time.

 

BTW, I don't agree with the people who say that growth or maturation equates to normalization.  These guys and gals will be quirky and special even if they grow up.

Edited February 4, 2013 by tmp

[eirwinrommel]

May I ask what model rocket? Howard had an Space X Falcon 9. Is it a Saturn V? I've never noticed one in Sheldon's room. I hope its not the Millennium Falcon.

The most recent scene in his bedroom I can find is in 5-06 when his mother is putting vapo-rub on his chest. No rocket. However that was over a year ago, so who knows what he may have added since then.

Edited February 4, 2013 by eirwinrommel

[wayelrob]

Did anyone notice the motherboard that Howard was working on? Some geek had a great laugh providing that. It was a classic 8x16 bit 8088 XT clone motherboard. For those of you who didn't have a computer in the 80's, the IBM XT was the successor to the original IBM PC. The XT was the first computer platform to be cloned by companies like Dell, then called PC's Limited. In short, this piece of equipment that Howard was working on was a real dinosaur..

Edited February 4, 2013 by wayelrob

[wayelrob]

We never said we weren't interested in the ships, but we just don't agree with the fact that she pretty much assumed that was the only thing we are interested in. Yes the ships have become an important part of the show for us but that doesn't make us the so-called "dumb" audience that the show is apparently catering for now. If that were the case then we'd be killing ourselves over every ship that the thousands of sitcoms out there have to offer. Some of these romances are unlike any I've ever seen, which I find very intruiging and that implies to me that they are well thought-out, not just thrown in there for the sake of mindless fangirls.

 

So yes, we do spend time in the ship boards because we like to discuss and speculate with people who share similar interests. I still enjoy the throwbacks to the old seasons, in fact, 43 Peculiarity was my favourite episode so far this season and that was pretty much ship-free. It's not like we moan and complain every time a non-romantic episode airs, which, oddly, is what many 'critics' on here seem to be doing every time a romantic episode airs.

 

Interesting. You didn't notice, in 43 Peculiarity, when Penny told Leonard she loved him, for the first time? How does that not fit into the realm of of relationships?

[Pomita]

I am really sorry I brought this science error up and I want to apologize to anyone who got affended by resulting emails resulting from it. It is just that when they said that they were working on a proposal for a fusion reactor it got my attention because I am a Nuclear Engineer. The college would not want a fusion reactor unless they had a nuclear engineering and physics department and those departments would do the proposal, not a person(s) who's speciality is particle physics. The article referenced is meaningless, I'm sorry. I got a little excited when they talked about something in my field, so I just thought I'd make the comment, but it has seemed to have caused some hard feelings, so I am truly sorry. BTW I watch the show for the humor and the character development, not the science.

 

I should clarify that the article I posted points out a possible way in which particle physics research could be linked to fusion research, by thinking in directions other than the procedures being applied for a fusion reactor at present (i.e. magnetic fields or lasers to generate the kind of temperatures required). It doesn't describe a standard method. As you say, having a theoretical particle physicist write a fusion project certainly wouldn't be the norm, but the university could be thinking out of the box for an alternative proposal.

 

Also, as I said, they've always been pretty flexible on what Sheldon works on.

 

 

As for the rest.. hmm.. same old same old. Thanks for the nod Sarah. I remember that this forum was much more negative and critical towards late season 4/early season 5 (partly because of the season 4 finale). 'Outnumbered' is the correct word to use, I think - at that time those of us who still liked the show were in a hopeless minority on this forum, and therefore we were hounded and put down rather badly (it was around then that I joined FF). No-one likes to feel unwelcome and belittled. Right now, as it happens, those who dislike the present direction of the show are in a minority here, and while they continue to be as contemptuous as they were, just the numbers make it a more comfortable place for us. I can see how it could feel just as unwelcoming for the haters at this time, but that's part of the game, I guess. It must be feeling like a rather lonely battle to put down the show now, just as it was a lonely battle at that time for us to say that we love it.

 

Again, I don't agree with someone being personally attacked at any sign of criticism (even of a specific episode). But I don't know how this can be made a more 'safe' place for you. Perhaps having the exclusive 'hate the direction of the show club' thread is a good idea, with a clear specification that we're not allowed in. 

 

A lot of us do operate on the principle that a fan forum for a show is primarily a place for discussing how much we enjoy the show, and speculating on possible arcs and directions. The implication (thrown around here a lot) that anyone who dares to admit to loving the show is uncool and unintelligent seems rather odd to me.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Pomita

[koops]

I haven't read the last few pages of this thread because I'm done, but I just wanted to say to SRAM that it is in no way his/her comment that caused any turmoil or offended anyone. I found the whole discussion about fusion very interesting and I hope my posts didn't give the impression that I was saying your science post harmed the discussion, quite the opposite!! I think it's nice to have so many scientists on these boards who get excited when something in their field gets mentioned.  

[Retroluv]

Just want to say that, contrary to what others have said in previous posts, the writers were not using this episode to reveal that Kripke is the "smarter" physicist. Sheldon experienced a brief lapse in his usual brilliance and Kripke happened to be on top of his game in that same window of time. I think TPTB wanted to show us that Sheldon can be vulnerable, and what better way to do that then to threaten his greatest strength. For me, at least, the character of Sheldon is as unique and intellectually in a league of his own as he ever was. He is slowly adding new facets of the human experience to his everyday life, and that - IMO - makes him MORE complex, not less. I like him better with a little of that soft underbelly exposed. TPTB are showing us that he is human, after all.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Retroluv

[Pomita]

Just want to say that, contrary to what others have said in previous posts, the writers were not using this episode to reveal that Kripke is the "smarter" physicist. Sheldon experienced a brief lapse in his usual brilliance and Kripke happened to be on top of his game in that same window of time. I think TPTB wanted to show us that Sheldon can be vulnerable, and what better way to do that then to threaten his greatest strength. For me, at least, the character of Sheldon is as unique and intellectually in a league of his own as he ever was. He is slowly adding new facets of the human experience to his everyday life, and that - IMO - makes him MORE complex, not less. I like him better with a little of that soft underbelly exposed. TPTB are showing us that he is human, after all.

 

I completely agree. There are more and less productive phases in every scientist's career, and Sheldon might be going through one of his passive phases; or else he had a temporary mental block regarding that particular problem, as Leonard said. It's just his ego which makes it hard for him to accept that - he's always been prone to over-reacting to any real or perceived intellectual lapse on his own part, because he believes he should be invariably better than everyone else in everything science-related. 

 

Let me not go into the inappropriate thoughts conjured up by the term 'soft underbelly'..

[vasu]

The problem regarding Sheldon's career or intelligence is other than Amy constantly throwing praises at Sheldon or Sheldon praising himself...we have had very little hints of whether he is actually achieving something or actually doing something valuable....

 

They recently have taken too many cheap shots at his career or intelligence..

 

-- The biggest one being Sheldon showing in front of Stephen Hawking with a simple math error ( just to accommodate  a rather cheap joke of Sheldon fainting ) ...but it just makes one question if he really is achieving something significant...

-- Bernadette revealing in one of this seasons episode that none of Sheldon''s theories have actually been proven...

-- And then in this episode .. we had Kripke bettering Sheldon

-- If I remember correctly the arctic trip according to the guys also was a failure...

And I believe there were few more references in earlier seasons also....

Edited February 4, 2013 by vasu

[Moonbase]

The problem regarding Sheldon's career or intelligence is other than Amy constantly throwing praises at Sheldon or Sheldon praising himself...we have had very little hints of whether he is actually achieving something or actually doing something valuable....

 

They recently have taken too many cheap shots at his career or intelligence..

 

-- The biggest one being Sheldon showing in front of Stephen Hawking with a simple math error ( just to accommodate  a rather cheap joke of Sheldon fainting ) ...but it just makes one question if he really is achieving something significant...

-- Bernadette revealing in one of this seasons episode that none of Sheldon''s theories have actually been proven...

-- And then in this episode .. we had Kripke bettering Sheldon

-- If I remember correctly the arctic trip according to the guys also was a failure...

And I believe there were few more references in earlier seasons also....

 

 

I agree. What was the intention of this episode? In my opinion, it was to further lower Sheldon's standing amongst his peers and in the eyes of the audience, so they could introduce the sex question. They managed to do it, so that's job done to them.

[Pomita]

The problem regarding Sheldon's career or intelligence is other than Amy constantly throwing praises at Sheldon or Sheldon praising himself...we have had very little hints of whether he is actually achieving something or actually doing something valuable....

 

They recently have taken too many cheap shots at his career or intelligence..

 

-- The biggest one being Sheldon showing in front of Stephen Hawking with a simple math error ( just to accommodate  a rather cheap joke of Sheldon fainting ) ...but it just makes one question if he really is achieving something significant...

-- Bernadette revealing in one of this seasons episode that none of Sheldon''s theories have actually been proven...

-- And then in this episode .. we had Kripke bettering Sheldon

-- If I remember correctly the arctic trip according to the guys also was a failure...

And I believe there were few more references in earlier seasons also....

 

They have always taken shots at Sheldon's career and intelligence. Right from when Leslie Winkle pointed out a mistake on his whiteboard, or Dennis Kim turned out to be a better physicist than him (devastating him much like in this episode), or he lost the physics bowl, or he turned out to be wrong in the argument between him and Raj on their project. But side by side, they also keep hinting that he's a brilliant mind and the university values him for what he is (even though he's a nutcase).

 

I think it's just that it's funny to see him brought down a few notches because he thinks too highly of himself. The implication is that he's great at his job in general, but we get to see the occasional times when he isn't - when he fails, or loses to someone - because those are the moments with comedic potential.

 

Note that Bernadette's comment on Sheldon working on unproved theories is a critique of the field of string theory (and a valid one), not of Sheldon's own contribution to it. It will be decades before string theory can be proved or experimentally tested, because of the energy scales involved. But right now some of the best minds of the world work on it since it's such an intellectually challenging field and would be a striking advance in understanding fundamental forces, if and when proven. (Also, some of those 'unproved theoreticians' are rolling in money now, thanks to the Milner award).