S8 Discussion Thread

[ATOB]

I'm afraid I have very little interest in Sheldon's 'deal'. Are we so proficient in what is and is not 'normal', now? Are we so happy to slap labels onto anyone who is different?

 

I'm only popping in because there seems to be an implicit notion that unless Sheldon is a certified _____________, he is culpable. Look, here's an example: I don't much like interacting with large groups of people for long periods of time. I can handle it, but I need to recharge and be by myself in order to recover. The people who love me get it, and mostly let me be, even though lots of them really, really like people and need to be around them. I don't think I have a disorder, and I certainly don't expect to be excused for being rude or whatever, but also I have no interest in being changed or fixed.

 

Similarly, some people are sarcastic and quippy, and others are more literal. Neither of them is pathological, and neither should be excused for cruelty, but also neither of them should be fixed.

 

In all of these cases, a person could be misunderstood, or not given enough credit for trying to adjust to a difficult situation- a situation others may find easy.

 

All of this is to say that yes, Sheldon can be exasperating. Yes, I think that he has issues with change, relinquishing control, understanding finesse, sarcasm, irony or metaphor, and physical contact. None of those things make him ill. None of them excuse him if he shows malice or cruelty (some of S6 comes to mind), or a tendency to exploit others' understanding (e.g. the 'Table' episode in S7). But for the most part, that's not true. He has shown himself to genuinely try to make accommodations for the people he cares about and who care about him (Amy is a fairly obvious example. Yes, it may look minuscule to us, but the guy's come a long way). 

 

I don't think he needs to be ill to deserve understanding, is all.

Even with "labels" people are culpable for their actions. For example Aspergers doesn't make you homophobic, but my daughter went to school with a lad who shunned another class mate when he came out. This lad does have a diagnosis but that does not excuse his intolerance does it?

Again with the 'labels' thing. "Why oh why must we label people, I abhor labels", I hear again and again. Well, big round of applause, you get the politically correct medal and anyone else who doesn't agree must be a Neanderthal to be so unenlightened.

What you fail to see is the strength in labels. The sense of identity, of realisation that you fit, that you're not alone. If more role models embraced labels then the stigma and shame would be depleted. Perhaps one day we will inhabit a utopia where labels are not necessary, but we ain't there yet.

[SRAM]

Does this disorder have a name?

Have a gander through this site, see if you can find it.

Out of the Fog, personality disorder support.http://outofthefog.net

LOL, I'm the wrong person to as to label psychological disorders, is you want me to tell you how to split or fuse atoms, I'm your man, but psychology is not my specialty. I just know the writers said Sheldon was not OCD, so if he needs to be labeled I offered this disorder I have seen referenced several times on TV. Edited May 13, 2015 by SRAM

[ATOB]

LOL, I'm the wrong person to as to label psychological disorders, is you want me to tell you how to split or fuse atoms, I'm your man, but psychology is not my specialty. I just know the writers said Sheldon was not OCD, so if he needs to be labeled I offered this disorder I have seen referenced several times on TV.

Probably best to steer clear of these kind of diagnostic sites unless you really need them. You end up thinking 'oh crap, I do that, what does it mean?' LOL!

Having read Russell Brand's Booky Wook (currently reading Revolution) I was really disturbed to actually recognise every thought pattern he described in it.....uh oh!

Edited May 13, 2015 by ATOB

[Mislav]

LOL, I'm the wrong person to as to label psychological disorders, is you want me to tell you how to split or fuse atoms, I'm your man, but psychology is not my specialty. I just know the writers said Sheldon was not OCD, so if he needs to be labeled I offered this disorder I have seen referenced several times on TV.

Where and when did they say that? Any links?

[wowbagger]

Even with "labels" people are culpable for their actions. For example Aspergers doesn't make you homophobic, but my daughter went to school with a lad who shunned another class mate when he came out. This lad does have a diagnosis but that does not excuse his intolerance does it?

Again with the 'labels' thing. "Why oh why must we label people, I abhor labels", I hear again and again. Well, big round of applause, you get the politically correct medal and anyone else who doesn't agree must be a Neanderthal to be so unenlightened.

What you fail to see is the strength in labels. The sense of identity, of realisation that you fit, that you're not alone. If more role models embraced labels then the stigma and shame would be depleted. Perhaps one day we will inhabit a utopia where labels are not necessary, but we ain't there yet.

 

I.... did not suggest that anyone implied that Sheldon's putative condition gave him a blanket exemption for intolerance, cruelty or bad behaviour. I agree with you that were such a condition to be proven, it would not offer such blanket indemnity.

 

As to the power of labels: I don't have an issue with naming things or defining things. I agree with you that there are misunderstood/marginalised communities who might not remain so for so long if there were role models among us who could help everyone else to move on from misapprehensions and stereotypes. However, there's a catch there: at least some of the issues these communities face stem from the urge to label. So I agree with you about the power of labels, but I'm maybe more ambivalent about them.

Of course he doesn't, but I am saying that it is possible that he has a certain condition that can affect his behavior (not all the time). I didn't say that justifies it. Most of my recent comments regarding the matter are of discussion of why he could/couldn't have some condition (in this case OCD) and how much credibility is there to the other's arguments.

 

Sure. Sheldon's behaviour may be consistent with that diagnosis. My contention was just that we don't need the diagnosis to say 'Look, he's difficult a lot of the time, but also, mostly, he's trying.'

[tallin]

I think the main problem here is sometime we're trying to drag his character between two extremes - he is not diagnosed means there is no problem - no excuse for his behavior. Sheldon has symptoms of "whatsoever," - he needs to be excused completely. There is thousand shadows between those extremes. I  recommend read any psychopathology book and as ATOB said, trust me, you will find yourself there more than you might want. But that's just the beauty of human nature, our personality come in lots of shapes, we have some features represented more or less, and there is huge space between not having a feature at all and having it so strong it's bordering with abnormality. And for OCD it's common that almost everybody has it a little bit. In this one it's almost impossible to define the line where obsessive habit/thought is diagnose disease.  There is whole scientific field trying to determine those boundaries with various  methods, but we just can't imply it on a TV character.I think what I like the most about this show is their ability to create colorful characters, unlike most of television characters where majority is limited to be an example of saint or bad guy BBT excels in giving them brighter and darker sides, their personality having rougher and softer edges . And that's what I appreciate in Sheldon's character too. One time I  can find excuse for his behavior, knowing his more weaker sides, in other instance I find other particular action  not excusable. But I always like more to think about his actions in context of his personality, background and context of that very moment before simply create some pattern which I would use to color his every action though, whatever it would be "OCD victim" , or "he's just a jerk." At least that works for me. 

Edited May 13, 2015 by tallin

[phantagrae]

I think that the writers have astutely avoided labeling Sheldon with specific conditions like Aspergers, but that doesn't mean that the way he is written doesn't align with many of the traits of someone "on the spectrum".  When my sister, who used to work with special needs children, first saw the pilot, she immediately asked me if Sheldon was autistic or on the spectrum because his behaviors were so on point in some ways.

 

But if the writers are going to have him fixate on things or have rigid rules or behaviors and use those things as part of the humor of the show, then labeling him with a disorder would be like making fun of someone for their disability or whatever.  And he has shown some flexibilty at times, but there's more humor in juxtaposing his rigidity, or phobias or OCD traits or whatever, with whatever new situation may arise.  (They did this sort of thing on Monk all the time--what is Monk afraid of? Put him in there!)

 

I also think that his mother could have had him tested and have whatever test it was not reveal all that may have manifested itself later as he grew.  She also says that she regrets not taking him to the specialist in Houston, so...

 

I think you cannot count the early episodes where he didn't do the triple knock thing.  There are many inconsistencies in those early episodes that kind of "don't count" when it comes to the way the characters kind of settled in.  At the time the writers may not have had all the characters gelled in their minds and were going for whatever worked humor-wise.  After a time they came up with more of Sheldon's quirks as well as other details for the other characters.

 

There were some moments--maybe the 2nd episode?--where Sheldon apparently pours himself a cup of coffee.  But later on we get the version of Sheldon who doesn't drink coffee until the Penny Blossoms episode.

 

But I think they have made a point of Sheldon having OCD tendencies, and have even had Amy say it out loud.  And to me, there's a very telling moment in the episode where Penny invites Sheldon and Amy to her play.  When he first goes over to thank her for helping him with FWF, she opens the door just as he's about to knock.

She offers to close the door so he can do his "knocking thingy", but he says it's okay, since he hadn't started.

But as he's talking to her, he can't resist inserting those knocks, even as he kind of tries to hide his knocking hand behind his back at one point.  Then when he goes back the 2nd time, he gets to knock and it's a relief to him to get to do it.

 

So, yes, even though he doesn't have a "label" for whatever overarching issues he may have, the writers have pretty obviously given him a measure of OCD.  But many people may have some level of OCD without having to go to a doctor to be diagnosed.  If it doesn't interfere with your everyday life or your job, etc., then it's not at that level where you might need therapy, but that doesn't mean that you don't still have that issue.

I'm not a medical professional, but I've seen programs about OCD and read articles about it.

You have people who have tiny rituals that they feel compelled to do, but those rituals don't keep them from going to work or interacting with friends and family.  Then you have people who can't leave the house because of the intensity of their OCD.

There was one woman who had an issue with bowel movements.  I think there were other issues going on there as well, but she would avoid it as long as possible--because of the germs or "dirtiness"--and then when she finally had to go, she would get in the shower and scrub herself raw, until she bled.  She was unable to work, she had anemia from the bloodloss, and so forth.

Obsessive thinking can come at all levels, and those obsessions can compell you to follow some ritual, whether it's knocking three times, or washing your hands over and over (because you obsess about germs), or scrubbing your butt until you bleed.

 

Fortunately for Sheldon it seems to take a mild form, and who knows?  One could postulate that it had to do with his genius--because he can extrapolate the outcome of various situations, he comes up with rituals or rules to try to, as he put it, keep the chaos at bay.

He's convinced that if he abandons his rules and rituals, something horrible will happen.  And even if he seemed to have gotten past it in Werewolf Tranformation, he apparently fell back into it all afterwards.

 

I think that because Sheldon isn't locked into a diagnosis, he can make progress in certain ways, and can learn from his friends and his situations.  He's just starting from further back than the others, in some ways.

Edited May 13, 2015 by phantagrae

[ATOB]

quote name="wowbagger" post="373330" timestamp="1431531870"]

 

As to the power of labels: I don't have an issue with naming things

[SRAM]

I think we can safely label Sheldon eccentric, defined as "departing or deviating from the conventional or established norm.". Isn't that the accepted label for geniuses that act like him?

[tallin]

quote name="wowbagger" post="373330" timestamp="1431531870"]

 

As to the power of labels: I don't have an issue with naming things

What did you mean by....

 

 

I took from this that you feel labels are restrictive and unnecessary.

The point I have made is that it goes both ways. You posed that some feel that Sheldon's 'illness' exonerates him but he deserves absolution regardless without the need to label him, and fair enough. However, you can attribute certain difficulties to certain diagnosis but that does not give him carte blanche to trample other people underfoot to get his own way in matters unrelated to these areas.

Now, coming back to the power and unity of labels, I wonder if perhaps TPTB shouldn't just own up and admit to Aspergers/High Functioning Autism and OCD as the model for Sheldon's traits. They've certainly dropped enough breadcrumbs along the way, why not grasp the nettle?

We have here a character central and beloved in his social group, surely it's true equality to recognise, and yes, take the p!ss out of his idiosyncrasies in just the same way the others are mocked for theirs?

We are starting to see neurodevelopmental disorders embraced, owned and normalised by successful people in the media, I'm thinking Daniel Radcliffe's Dyspraxia, Daryl Hannah's Autism, Richard Branson's ADHD and many others.

Instead of just dropping hints, BBT could make a huge difference, look what this programme did for 'Nerd Culture' after all. Wonder if they'll ever....I was going to say 'grow some balls' but then I remembered this quote (misattributed to Betty White but actually from Sheng Wang) "Why do people say grow some balls? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding."

Also, we saw a touch of OCD in Raj when he was worrying about his space probe round Howard and Bernie's. He threw his can into the trash to determine whether or not the mission would be a success (and turned to religion too, but this is waaaaay too contentious an issue for here ) "Everyone knows it's best out of three"!

 

[ATOB]

Let's say it as it is. Writers are saving their ass.  As much as they contributed to showing nerd culture in brighter light they are still receiving angry messages of showing the nerds wrong, they also are blamed for being sexist, stereotypical or using  scientific terminology wrong and so on, and so on. No doubt they would get their fair share of anger on Sheldon's portray as Aspergers/Autistic/OCD as well. A lot of people love Sheldon but a lot doesn't as well, as a role model I just don't think it would ended up well, I rather think there would be more people pissed off than pleased, and It seems writers knows why they don't want to take this responsibility. No wonder, "without diagnosis" is opening them doors to do whatever they want with this character, without having to keep attention to terminology, his actions being truth to his diagnose  or somebody's hurt feelings. 

My stand on labels is simple. If one wants to be labeled than he/she should. If not, than there is no need (well, If you're not forced to). Sheldon labeled himself as being genius, and H-O trainiac, if he doesn't want any other, there is nothing wrong with that either.

[/quoted

Oh, it'd be a gamble alright. They do push the bar though. I mean that whole discussion between Sheldon and Penny in Intimacy Acceleration, that fell only just short of admittance. What the hell was that!?!

[Nogravitasatall]

My two cents... It's ok to dislike someone if you know them, regardless of the label. It's what's in the can that counts.

We think we know Sheldon because of the (0.33 x 21 min x 23 eps x 8 season) hours we have seen him. It's hard to like Sheldon much of the time. Hanging out with him is always shown as tough, because that's what is funny. Sometimes they push too hard and go from funny to diabolical (Amy's words). Still, I've known people who are far more dangerous to know than Sheldon. He's just mostly annoying. Probably Leonard has a great time with him when they get into the zone about their interests.

But packing people with labels in the same box is the challenging thing about labels for me. Because who has time to open up the can if you can just read the label.

...ok, maybe just one cents worth. I'm sure there is a equally valuable bumper sticker somewhere.

And yes, ATOB, I thought it was tantamount to admitting something. Though amongst some peoples where I live, looking someone in the eye is disrespectful and they won't do it, or are uncomfortable if they are forced to do it. Is he Murri or Koori perhaps? <insert icon: foolish notion>. His mob travelled a long way, in that case.

Edit: Btw, not looking Anglo law enforcement officials in the eye can get a person into trouble, when all they are doing is being mannerly. Sigh.

Edited May 13, 2015 by Nogravitasatall

[Guest]

I was wondering will we ever hear the term Dr wakadoole again since Sheldon is now the wise man

[Tensor]

I hope that this is a sarcasm of some sort because I find your statement to be surprisingly narrow minded and almost grasping-at-straws-kind of argument. We don't know what was he tested for, or at what age, was it just for any disorder or for one particular one (such as autism). And even if we decide to ignore that, you don't even have to show any clear signs of OCD early in the childhood in order to develop it later in life (I have one too although relatively minor one and as far as I am remember I didn't start showing any signs of it until about the age of six and I've heard of several people who didn't start showing signs of it until they were in their early teens, which is when Sheldon was already at college). Do you think that he has to knock three times on the person's door and say the person's name each time while doing so, and complete that action even after the person opens the door, just for the heck of it (and that is just one among the many evidence to support the OCD possibility)? And that something like that can't ever affect the other forms of his behavior? Making a conclusion like the one you did based solely on a running punch line used as much as a joke than anything else and questionable at least if considered seriously and ignoring and overwhelming evidence refuting the said conclusion sounds illogical to me.

 

Your comment is about as equal at grasping at straws as you claim mine is.  Just because someone has some knowledge of a situation doesn't make them an expert, especially when it come to treating and diagnosing possible mental health issues.  I know of only one person on this board (and they have been inactive for quite a while) who is a qualified mental health care provider.  So, there is no one who can make the claim of knowing what is or isn't wrong with Sheldon.  All we have is that he's been tested and there's nothing wrong. So the quoted mental experts, could be considered quite accurate, as is your contention that he has a condition has the same accuracy.  Of course, we may not see it the same, but it's all good.   I'll get you that interview in a couple of days, as I simply don't have time at this point to search for it.  The gist of is was they specifically didn't want to label him, so they gave him quirks, but no diagnoses.  

[phantagrae]

I was wondering will we ever hear the term Dr wakadoole again since Sheldon is now the wise man

 

She gave him credit for helping her out in one moment, appreciating his input, which was indeed wise.  But that does not preclude him acting like Dr. Wackadoodle in the future, or her calling him that.

 

Of course, she only used it twice, as I recall.  It's not like it's her favorite name for him or anything.

Your comment is about as equal at grasping at straws as you claim mine is.  Just because someone has some knowledge of a situation doesn't make them an expert, especially when it come to treating and diagnosing possible mental health issues.  I know of only one person on this board (and they have been inactive for quite a while) who is a qualified mental health care provider.  So, there is no one who can make the claim of knowing what is or isn't wrong with Sheldon.  All we have is that he's been tested and there's nothing wrong. So the quoted mental experts, could be considered quite accurate, as is your contention that he has a condition has the same accuracy.  Of course, we may not see it the same, but it's all good.   I'll get you that interview in a couple of days, as I simply don't have time at this point to search for it.  The gist of is was they specifically didn't want to label him, so they gave him quirks, but no diagnoses.  

 

But the fact that they've underscored his quirks and oddities over and over, and even had Amy point out his OCD tendencies, seems to me to be the writers' way of acknowledging that there's something going on there, even if they dare not label it, for fear of backlash or straightjacketing or whatever.

They've given him phobias, rituals, facial tics, social "blindness", and so forth.  While these things may not add up to an official diagnosis, they've made it clear again and again that much of his response to others is not malice, but simply a product of his way of seeing the world and reacting to it.

 

I don't think he has to have a label or an official diagnosis to be understood as a person with weaknesses or flaws or whatever you want to call them that often keep him from thinking or behaving in what many would consider sociall acceptable.

All the guys have issues, but each stemming from slightly different issues in their backgrounds.  But while the others have relatively mild issues (perhaps apart from Raj's earlier crippling social anxiety), Sheldon's seem to run a little deeper and are harder for him to overcome.

 

Again, I think it's a little bit like picking at nits to try to say that just because he doesn't have a medical label he is therefore "normal".  I think it's been made clear that he is anything but normal, diagnosis/label or not.

[Shellsyke]

The shenny fan club must think season 8 is the best one yet

Shows how little you know Shennies. Shennies tend to think Season 8 was one of the worst seasons and tend to like Seasons 1 - 3 best.

[Carlos]

Trying to address the inconsistencies in Mislav's mind: You are wrong. Sheldon doesn't have any medical conditions, not because it is reasonable to assume so, or because he hasn't shown any of the manifestations generally associated with some mental disorders. Whether we like it or not, the reason that Sheldon ( a fictional character) doesn't have any mental conditions is because the  writers have said on numerous occasions that he doesn't. Period. It doesn't matter what you think or I think, only what the creators of said character think.

 

Of course Chrismo's  "medical experts" comment was sarcastic. That's what made it so funny. And who are you to tell me that the fact that I found that comment funny is sad? No one. What I find sad is you trying to defend your point of view when the only thing that really matters, canon, refutes it completely.

[Tensor]

But the fact that they've underscored his quirks and oddities over and over, and even had Amy point out his OCD tendencies, seems to me to be the writers' way of acknowledging that there's something going on there, even if they dare not label it, for fear of backlash or straightjacketing or whatever.

Which doesn't change the fact that he's not diagnosed, and anyone is free to just accept the fact that he behaves that way because he's a asshole (e.g., see The Itchy Brain Simulation among others).

 

They've given him phobias,

snip...

diagnosis/label or not.

I wish to hell all of you would get together and let me know how exactly you want me to watch the show. Some give examples where I'm supposed to read between the lines, others tell me I'm supposed to take things at face value, others go back and forth depending on the situation. How about you all just let me watch it the way I want to, without the implication that how I'm watching it is wrong.

[rachelshamyfan]

Rick.....watch the show how you want to and don't let other opinions get to you!

[ATOB]

My two cents... It's ok to dislike someone if you know them, regardless of the label. It's what's in the can that counts.

Snip

But packing people with labels in the same box is the challenging thing about labels for me. Because who has time to open up the can if you can just read the label.

Agreed. The most despicable, controlling and all round awful person I know happens to be disabled.

Depends what's on the can. As I mentioned, ADHD just like Richard Branson, is no bad thing.

Which doesn't change the fact that he's not diagnosed, and anyone is free to just accept the fact that he behaves that way because he's a asshole (e.g., see The Itchy Brain Simulation among others). I wish to hell all of you would get together and let me know how exactly you want me to watch the show. Some give examples where I'm supposed to read between the lines, others tell me I'm supposed to take things at face value, others go back and forth depending on the situation. How about you all just let me watch it the way I want to, without the implication that how I'm watching it is wrong.

He can be an asshole with a 'label' as well as without one. As per my example above, my friend's husband's degenerative illness don't make him an asshole, he does that all on his own.

Yes, I'm not quite sure why we all need to conform to a common mind-set Rick, are we now a cult or perhaps there was truth in 3kull's declaration that "this is not a democracy" after all?

[SRAM]

I was just thinking that Leonard and Penny could come back from Las Vegas unmarried because they find out the annulment didn't go through, so Penny is still married to Zack. That would sure generate some conflict, the kind the writers seem to like for Lenny. It would also make the kiss on the boat less important.

[Nogravitasatall]

I can see the kiss on the boat as less important... but I have to really squint. Not saying I can't. I'm a complete pushover for a sob story, so if they can soft soap me I may be fine with it. It had better be a glorious soaping though, or else I'll feel used. They did have me at "hi".

[Mislav]

Your comment is about as equal at grasping at straws as you claim mine is. Just because someone has some knowledge of a situation doesn't make them an expert, especially when it come to treating and diagnosing possible mental health issues. I know of only one person on this board (and they have been inactive for quite a while) who is a qualified mental health care provider. So, there is no one who can make the claim of knowing what is or isn't wrong with Sheldon. All we have is that he's been tested and there's nothing wrong. So the quoted mental experts, could be considered quite accurate, as is your contention that he has a condition has the same accuracy. Of course, we may not see it the same, but it's all good. I'll get you that interview in a couple of days, as I simply don't have time at this point to search for it. The gist of is was they specifically didn't want to label him, so they gave him quirks, but no diagnoses.

One doesn't necessarily exclude the other, no diagnosis doesn't mean no possibility of having a certain disorder-heck, you can only get diagnosed with a certain disorder after developing it. For example, can you provide any convincing explanation, other than OCD, for Sheldon feeling a need to knock three times on the person's door and saying the person's name each time while doing so, and complete that action even after the person opens the door? Only because there is no diagnosis doesn't mean that you can't reach a logical conclusion-if the character is repeatedly, throughout the show, displaying traits that are consistent with OCD, do you really think that a logical thing would be to believe what writers (didn't) say? Of course that it is logical to believe that he doesn't have a diagnosis-which is true-but saying that he doesn't have any disorders at all seems questionable to me.

Which doesn't change the fact that he's not diagnosed, and anyone is free to just accept the fact that he behaves that way because he's a asshole (e.g., see The Itchy Brain Simulation among others).

I wish to hell all of you would get together and let me know how exactly you want me to watch the show. Some give examples where I'm supposed to read between the lines, others tell me I'm supposed to take things at face value, others go back and forth depending on the situation. How about you all just let me watch it the way I want to, without the implication that how I'm watching it is wrong.

Don't you think that sometimes it is good to offer someone a new perspective on a certain aspect of the show-character? Nobody actually told you that you HAVE to watch the show that way. And as much as you have a right to express your opinion as to why you think that Sheldon has no other disorders at all others have the right to write their opinion also, even if it contradicts yours, or if their views on the argument that you had made are different. And if they think that is what writers are trying to tell us, they have a right to write that also.

[jenafan]

How about you all just let me watch it the way I want to, without the implication that how I'm watching it is wrong.

Finally, a voice of reason. I have been reading everyone's commentary, and it is okay to disagree. A good debate is stimulating.

However, is it really fair to try to ruin the show for those who don't feel or see what another does by badgering them to come to a specific POV?

I for one don't feel Sheldon has a medical condition, is a model for any syndrome, nor is he asexual, etc. He is just a very unique and obnoxious individual whose attitudes and behavior are a product of his upbringing and his being a genius prodigy.

I feel Jim's acting has more influence on how Sheldon's character comes across to viewers than what the writers did or did not purpose for him.

Edited May 14, 2015 by jenafan

[wowbagger]

quote name="wowbagger" post="373330" timestamp="1431531870"]

 

As to the power of labels: I don't have an issue with naming things

What did you mean by....

 

 

I took from this that you feel labels are restrictive and unnecessary.

The point I have made is that it goes both ways. You posed that some feel that Sheldon's 'illness' exonerates him but he deserves absolution regardless without the need to label him, and fair enough. However, you can attribute certain difficulties to certain diagnosis but that does not give him carte blanche to trample other people underfoot to get his own way in matters unrelated to these areas.

Now, coming back to the power and unity of labels, I wonder if perhaps TPTB shouldn't just own up and admit to Aspergers/High Functioning Autism and OCD as the model for Sheldon's traits. They've certainly dropped enough breadcrumbs along the way, why not grasp the nettle?

We have here a character central and beloved in his social group, surely it's true equality to recognise, and yes, take the p!ss out of his idiosyncrasies in just the same way the others are mocked for theirs?

We are starting to see neurodevelopmental disorders embraced, owned and normalised by successful people in the media, I'm thinking Daniel Radcliffe's Dyspraxia, Daryl Hannah's Autism, Richard Branson's ADHD and many others.

Instead of just dropping hints, BBT could make a huge difference, look what this programme did for 'Nerd Culture' after all. Wonder if they'll ever....I was going to say 'grow some balls' but then I remembered this quote (misattributed to Betty White but actually from Sheng Wang) "Why do people say grow some balls? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding."

Also, we saw a touch of OCD in Raj when he was worrying about his space probe round Howard and Bernie's. He threw his can into the trash to determine whether or not the mission would be a success (and turned to religion too, but this is waaaaay too contentious an issue for here ) "Everyone knows it's best out of three"!