09-30-2014, 02:56 PM
Y'know, it just hit me, all of a sudden: one of the key problems with the way they're portraying the characters now, is this: we've gone from "the guys are awkward in certain specific social situations, like meeting girls", to "the guys are awkward/clumsy/useless at general life-skills."
Sheldon can't go anywhere without getting his pants stolen, Howard can't throw a baseball, or even get a machine to do it for him, properly.
As many of us have noted before, this show has now conflated "child-like" with "child-ish." It's funny and cute and endearing when the guys are child-like. It's cringey when they're child-ish. It's a subtle difference, but it's one of those "I know it when I see it" things. Child-like was when Sheldon tried to make friends with a kid at the bookstore over their mutual fondness for monkeys. That was cute. Child-ish Sheldon is....well, you name it, there are plenty of choices. Child-like Howard likes chocolate milk and juice boxes. That's cute. Child-ish Howard can't do anything without B's help and supervision.
I have no doubt that Howard's mother spoiled him a lot. But, if she suddenly refused to do his laundry, I don't think he'd start wandering around in sweats. He obviously takes great pride in his clothes and his appearance and self-presentation; this is a major part of his character. He'd probably just take a whole heap of stuff to the dry-cleaner, belt buckles and all. Also, someone who grew up in his circumstances is not going to be wasteful with money. It's never mentioned if his mother has a job; I wouldn't be surprised if she was collecting some kind of assistance, at some point.
Sheldon isn't supposed to be Rain Man. Too much idiot, not enough Savant.
Sheldon lived in that apartment alone, before Leonard. He even lived in Europe. He left home at a very young age, and presumably nothing terrible befell him. Howard went to M.I.T. without his mother or what's-her-face.
Sheldon has saved so much money that he's able to lend some to Penny without caring about when, if ever, he might get it back. Clearly, he is responsible. (This also shows a generous nature.)
Yes, Sheldon's idiosyncrasies can get him into trouble, but that's just comedy, when it's handled correctly.
Being an introvert or being hesitant in social situations is NOT the same thing as being unable to take care of yourself and function in everyday life as an adult. There are people with much worse issues/neuroses/disorders than the guys, who can function in everyday life and be self-sufficient.
(Also, Raj comes from a wealthy family with servants, so he's presumably been spoiled/sheltered to some degree, yet he does okay with having his own apartment. Not sure what's up with that.)
They're almost portraying Sheldon as someone who would have to be institutionalized if Leonard and others weren't around to keep an eye on him. I know they've never given a specific label to Sheldon's eccentricities, and I'm glad they haven't, but anyone who is similar to him should be pretty offended, at this point. The reciprocity of Sheldon and Leonard's friendship is supposed to be endearing: Leonard looks out for him and smooths the way for him, but that doesn't mean Sheldon would be utterly lost without him, right?
"The guys can't make small-talk at a party" has become "the guys can't feed and clothe themselves." I don't like large gatherings full of people I don't know, either. That's a pretty relatable thing. I wouldn't want to talk to those donors at some gala, either.
Even if your work is purely theoretical, obtaining an advanced degree involves practical skills. These characters have a level of educational achievement which puts them in the top one percent of the nation. You do not drift through college acting like a doofus and being oblivious, if you want to graduate. You have to meet deadlines, have time-management, start a task and complete it, make plans, keep track of many details, etc.
I am willing to believe that the guys freeze-up around a pretty girl or that Sheldon dislikes being made to schmooze with strangers. I am not willing to believe that they couldn't survive without their "handlers", or most of all, that their academic/scientific/intellectual skills don't transfer to other areas of life. In fact, I think they would come up with some pretty ingenious and creative solutions to everyday problems: solutions that might be overly-elaborate or a bit comical, but clever.
This is more than just the old "husbands are dumb, wives/girlfriends are wise" chestnut. It's making intellectuals look dumb, so as to massage the egos of the actual dumb people who resent intelligence and achievement. Crabs in a bucket mentality.
The guys' weaknesses in certain areas are supposed to be handled with a light touch and be a source of comedy. We've gone from that, to the idea that they can't do *anything* right.
It would be a lot funnier, and kinder, if they were shown coming up with kooky and overly-elaborate, yet clever, solutions to life's little challenges.
I get the whole "absent-minded professor" trope, but this is taking it too far.
ETA: like I said before, I'd imagine the guys would do just fine at some non-contact sports, like golf, where their knowledge of things like angles/speed/direction might even be helpful. I could see them doing okay at any number of semi-physical things. Not great, but okay-ish. IIRC, we know all of them except possibly Leonard can dance, for example.
Sheldon can't go anywhere without getting his pants stolen, Howard can't throw a baseball, or even get a machine to do it for him, properly.
As many of us have noted before, this show has now conflated "child-like" with "child-ish." It's funny and cute and endearing when the guys are child-like. It's cringey when they're child-ish. It's a subtle difference, but it's one of those "I know it when I see it" things. Child-like was when Sheldon tried to make friends with a kid at the bookstore over their mutual fondness for monkeys. That was cute. Child-ish Sheldon is....well, you name it, there are plenty of choices. Child-like Howard likes chocolate milk and juice boxes. That's cute. Child-ish Howard can't do anything without B's help and supervision.
I have no doubt that Howard's mother spoiled him a lot. But, if she suddenly refused to do his laundry, I don't think he'd start wandering around in sweats. He obviously takes great pride in his clothes and his appearance and self-presentation; this is a major part of his character. He'd probably just take a whole heap of stuff to the dry-cleaner, belt buckles and all. Also, someone who grew up in his circumstances is not going to be wasteful with money. It's never mentioned if his mother has a job; I wouldn't be surprised if she was collecting some kind of assistance, at some point.
Sheldon isn't supposed to be Rain Man. Too much idiot, not enough Savant.
Sheldon lived in that apartment alone, before Leonard. He even lived in Europe. He left home at a very young age, and presumably nothing terrible befell him. Howard went to M.I.T. without his mother or what's-her-face.
Sheldon has saved so much money that he's able to lend some to Penny without caring about when, if ever, he might get it back. Clearly, he is responsible. (This also shows a generous nature.)
Yes, Sheldon's idiosyncrasies can get him into trouble, but that's just comedy, when it's handled correctly.
Being an introvert or being hesitant in social situations is NOT the same thing as being unable to take care of yourself and function in everyday life as an adult. There are people with much worse issues/neuroses/disorders than the guys, who can function in everyday life and be self-sufficient.
(Also, Raj comes from a wealthy family with servants, so he's presumably been spoiled/sheltered to some degree, yet he does okay with having his own apartment. Not sure what's up with that.)
They're almost portraying Sheldon as someone who would have to be institutionalized if Leonard and others weren't around to keep an eye on him. I know they've never given a specific label to Sheldon's eccentricities, and I'm glad they haven't, but anyone who is similar to him should be pretty offended, at this point. The reciprocity of Sheldon and Leonard's friendship is supposed to be endearing: Leonard looks out for him and smooths the way for him, but that doesn't mean Sheldon would be utterly lost without him, right?
"The guys can't make small-talk at a party" has become "the guys can't feed and clothe themselves." I don't like large gatherings full of people I don't know, either. That's a pretty relatable thing. I wouldn't want to talk to those donors at some gala, either.
Even if your work is purely theoretical, obtaining an advanced degree involves practical skills. These characters have a level of educational achievement which puts them in the top one percent of the nation. You do not drift through college acting like a doofus and being oblivious, if you want to graduate. You have to meet deadlines, have time-management, start a task and complete it, make plans, keep track of many details, etc.
I am willing to believe that the guys freeze-up around a pretty girl or that Sheldon dislikes being made to schmooze with strangers. I am not willing to believe that they couldn't survive without their "handlers", or most of all, that their academic/scientific/intellectual skills don't transfer to other areas of life. In fact, I think they would come up with some pretty ingenious and creative solutions to everyday problems: solutions that might be overly-elaborate or a bit comical, but clever.
This is more than just the old "husbands are dumb, wives/girlfriends are wise" chestnut. It's making intellectuals look dumb, so as to massage the egos of the actual dumb people who resent intelligence and achievement. Crabs in a bucket mentality.
The guys' weaknesses in certain areas are supposed to be handled with a light touch and be a source of comedy. We've gone from that, to the idea that they can't do *anything* right.
It would be a lot funnier, and kinder, if they were shown coming up with kooky and overly-elaborate, yet clever, solutions to life's little challenges.
I get the whole "absent-minded professor" trope, but this is taking it too far.
ETA: like I said before, I'd imagine the guys would do just fine at some non-contact sports, like golf, where their knowledge of things like angles/speed/direction might even be helpful. I could see them doing okay at any number of semi-physical things. Not great, but okay-ish. IIRC, we know all of them except possibly Leonard can dance, for example.