Sherlock Holmes: not autistic actually
Feb. 28th, 2010 07:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethI been poking around about Sherlock Holmes and the theory he was high functioning autistic.
Aside from the usual problems involved in diagnosing a fictional character who did not exist and therefor did not have any sort of mental, let alone mental disabilities, I still don't buy it.
It usually depends on a bullshit definition of autism.
Sherlock Holmes had intense interests, a focus on detailed observations, and as far as we know, one friend in the whole world. Okay, so far so good, sounds likely.
He also demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the occupations and social habits of homo sapiens, all sorts of them, all social strata. Not necessarily disproof of anything, since he could have studied them as an alien, oops wrong planet style.
Where I don't buy it is his skill with disguise and blending in. When someone has to go undercover and investigate around any level of London society, poorest to highest, Holmes can go there and get the information he wants. And that suggests he can fit in. He isn't just a passive observer, he talks to people. And when he assumes a character he does so well enough to take in people who are both actors themselves and a bit paranoid at the time. He can pass, not just for normal, but for a wide and specific variety of normal, to investigative ends.
So he both understands people, in all their confusing variety, and can act like one, if he feels the need. The unwritten social laws of not just his own class but a variety of other useful persons are available to him.
He's not autistic.
So why only the one friend, if he's so good at getting in with people?
... maybe he only wants the one.
*shrugs*
Different does not always need a diagnosis.
Aside from the usual problems involved in diagnosing a fictional character who did not exist and therefor did not have any sort of mental, let alone mental disabilities, I still don't buy it.
It usually depends on a bullshit definition of autism.
Sherlock Holmes had intense interests, a focus on detailed observations, and as far as we know, one friend in the whole world. Okay, so far so good, sounds likely.
He also demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the occupations and social habits of homo sapiens, all sorts of them, all social strata. Not necessarily disproof of anything, since he could have studied them as an alien, oops wrong planet style.
Where I don't buy it is his skill with disguise and blending in. When someone has to go undercover and investigate around any level of London society, poorest to highest, Holmes can go there and get the information he wants. And that suggests he can fit in. He isn't just a passive observer, he talks to people. And when he assumes a character he does so well enough to take in people who are both actors themselves and a bit paranoid at the time. He can pass, not just for normal, but for a wide and specific variety of normal, to investigative ends.
So he both understands people, in all their confusing variety, and can act like one, if he feels the need. The unwritten social laws of not just his own class but a variety of other useful persons are available to him.
He's not autistic.
So why only the one friend, if he's so good at getting in with people?
... maybe he only wants the one.
*shrugs*
Different does not always need a diagnosis.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-28 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-06 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-28 08:11 pm (UTC)As I've told my daughters, repeatedly, better one good friend than a lot of hangers-on and toadies. I have one real for sure friend, and I've known her since high school (This does not count the internet friends, of course). Younger Daughter has a best friend and a couple others she hangs out with at lunch. Elder Daughter has a best friend who lives in England whom she met on a book forum. They commmunicate entirely via email (several times a day), have never met in the real world, and she's cool with that. So am I; he seems like a nice kid.
I fail to see a problem here. I agree, maybe Holmes only wanted the one, or maybe Watson filled the "best buddy" slot and the others just didn't get written about as much.
And why am I worrying about Sherlock Holmes' social life anyway? *eyerolls at self* Darn you, becca, making me think! Here, have a cookie.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-15 03:26 pm (UTC):-)
still good!
best thing about internet cookies, if you drop them down the back of the metaphorical sofa, nothing awkwardly organic happens to them.