fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2321 ]

[ SECRET POST #2321 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2321 ⌋

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What does everyone think of what they're doing with Sheldon right now? I haven't watched the past several episodes yet but from what I've read, Sheldon is starting to show an interest in sex and the show is portraying it as "growth" and some people are pissed that they're handling his presumed asexuality as a problem that needs to be fixed rather than an actual orientation, and are afraid that people watching the show will get the wrong idea about what asexuality actually is. I've seen various comments along the lines of "he was only asexual until he met the right woman and now he can be normal!" so I guess they have somewhat of a point, but a Chuck Lorre show is pretty much the last place I expected to see a nuanced exploration of sexuality so I can't say I'm really surprised.

Is anyone else keeping up with the show right now? What do you think?

Was it ever stated that he was asexual or is that just fandom interpretation? I read him as asexual, for the record. Just...if the show has been going on the whole time as though he's just heterosexual who's never yet been interested...idk it just makes a difference I think.

I gave up on this show a bit ago so haven't watched, but it is sad that they've apparently run out of story ideas and are just going back on the old stand by of "must hook every single character up".

He stated in one early episode that he had chosen to eschew sex in favor of science. That combined with his general ineptitude wrt understanding how others deal with sexuality has somehow been interpreted by some fans as he's innately asexual just like them. These fans can sometimes be really loud and angry when someone tells them they're wrong. I haven't seen the latest episodes, but Sheldon has gradually gotten physically closer with Amy (they occasionally cuddle or hug, and although he doesn't initiate this his reaction seems to be more "this isn't so bad, I guess" than "I suppose I can tolerate it if I MUST", as it was at the beginning. He said in one episode (not sure when it aired) that his and Amy's relationship becoming more physical was "a possibility," so we'll see what happens, I guess.

...no. He's still tolerating it. He never initiates it. Amy has to coax it out of him.

as for possibility, yeah...I don't see it. He's still "ewwww" to all of that, even now.

Though that isn't as bad as what she tried to do a few episodes ago, Apparently she sees his OCD as a hindrance that needs to be fixed, so she tried to "train" him out of it by making him start things, but not allow him to finish them.

I have NEVER see him so angry. He wished she were dead!! That's inspiring for a growing relationship. *rolls eyes*

...OCD is a hindrance that needs to be fixed when it's the actual condition and not people saying they're OCD as code for perfectionist. It's actually really debilitating to be a counter or something.

(I don't watch BBT, so I have no idea what Sheldon has. But fixing OCD is a good thing, even if it looks like the show handled it poorly.)

Ssssh. Crippling mental conditions that make people unhappy are part of what makes someone special and should be treasured.

Except, in Sheldon's case, it's not. All he does? He does a special knock on doors "Knock x3 [name], knock x3 [name], knock x3 [name.]" If he hears a song or a quote or whatever and it doesn't get finished, he finishes it. If he's talking to someone and they cut off what they're saying, deliberately or because they get distracted, he waits until they finish it or get frustrated when they don't.

It doesn't hinder him. And he never asked for ANY kind of help in fixing that. Amy took it upon herself to fix him, against his permission and wishes, because SHE, as a neurobiologist, knows better than he does. He who has been living like that all his life and is comfortable with that.

THAT'S what I had an issue with and why I agreed and cheered when he got angry and said he'd "wished she were dead." She was trying to change a part fo him that just is, something that, at this point, does NOT need to be fixed. But it makes him imperfect and she can't have that. B/

and In general, I disagree about OCD needing to be fixed. For certain OCD traits, possibly, but something like what Sheldon has? No. I do not agree. It's case by case and some people may benefit while others may not.

He faked other people's identities in order to harass writers of a cancelled show to keep it on air, for christ's sake!

No one cares if Sheldon is comfortable with that. His obsessive need for closure makes everyone else uncomfortable. That's the reason why it needs to be fixed. The world doesn't revolve around people with mental issues and other people aren't there to care for their comfort at the cost of their own.

I don't give a shit if it makes other people angry. If HE'S fine with how he is, then no one needs to butt into his business. Is he HARMING them? No? then fuck off. And Amy needs to fuck off.

The anon above said "...OCD is a hindrance that needs to be fixed when it's the actual condition and not people saying they're OCD as code for perfectionist." Clearly, Sheldon isn't suffering from OCD, and Amy is just a jerk.

You essentially agreed with me, except that he does have OCD. He's just comfortable with it, where she is not and needs to STFU about it and take him for what he is.

Has Sheldon himself ever stated in the show that he's asexual? I've not seen every ep--I only catch eps here and there.

I can't remember if it's an interview w/Sheldon's actor or something mentioned in the show as a one-off/implied over several eps (or both), but I do remember that Sheldon isn't actually asexual; he just doesn't want to be invest his time/emotions/whatever in a relationship b/c it would distract from/interfere w/his brain, life, and work--esp. his work. If he invested him in a relationship, why, he might not win a Nobel (I could swear he says something like this in the series).

So, no, it's not a surprise that they're finally going there. Also, I don't want people thinking he's an asexual--he's a horrible representation of asexual people if he had been.

if he invested himself in a Not he invested him. Sorry

He did say once that he had chosen to avoid sex so as to focus on science. He also lacks understanding of social things, so that he doesn't get other peoples' feelings about sexual stuff. He said in a more recent ep that his and Amy's relationship becoming more physical was "a possibility," so idk what'll happen in future.

TBH I never thought the show established him as asexual, so much as a stereotypically repressed nerd. I don't read anything in his character as really even indicating that the people writing it are even all that aware that asexuality even exists as a personal identity.

So in that regard I think people are projecting, and rather than a problem of erasure, I think the real issue when it comes to asexuality is just that there literally is nothing there to erase: Sheldon was "desexed", he was not "asexual", and the social attitudes and norms that equate sexual desire and the capacity for sex with "completeness" and "growth" and all that shit are more the problem than something as active as intentional erasure.

Wow that's a mess. I'm sorry it's so incoherent, it's been a really long day.

I've seen the most recent episode, and honestly, he still seemed asexual to me. It seemed like he was still very uncomfortable with the idea of doing sexual things, but was willing to roleplay sex with Amy because that's what she wants. It didn't seem like he was really getting anything from it himself... it's just that he's more willing to make compromises for someone he cares about.

I do feel like the show is treating Sheldon's (apparent, though not stated) asexuality not as a legitimate orientation, but rather as a ridiculous flaw of his that would be best if it was fixed - but I'm not totally sure it's presenting it as fixable, if that makes sense.

And it's complicated by the fact that there are some episodes where he seems asexual and others where he just seems extremely repressed, so maybe it... depends on the writer? idk how that works. And I can easily see them making him suddenly turn sexual. But we'll see. Somehow I have a feeling I'm not going to be happy with wherever they take this.

People on tumblr appear to be offended by the very idea of personal growth so this is unsurprising.

I don't think an asexual becoming non-asexual is growth though. I'm not asexual myself but I can see why they would be offended since I'd be pretty mad if a show made a lesbian character suddenly be into men and then called it growth.

But he's not asexual. That was never a part of the plot. There's some fanon claiming he is, but it bears no more weight than yuri shippers being angry the female lead ends up with a guy. She wasn't gay to begin with! They just wanted her to be.

I mean, if "choosing not to have sex" makes you asexual, then are all celibate nuns asexual? Does that make asexuality a choice?

There's a huge difference between having hangups about sexual intimacy and being asexual. Acting like they're the same thing sounds really, really disrespectful of asexuality.

Edited 2013-05-12 04:30 (UTC)

Oh I thought it was canon that he was asexual...I didn't realize it was just something fandom made up. If that's the case forget what I said before, I definitely don't think being celibate is the same thing as being asexual.

You have a point, but regardless of canon facts, I do see where people are having an issue with this. Asexuality is not a commonly-known thing outside of the internet, and a lot of people who watch the show may have identified with Sheldon via his lack of interest in physical intimacy, and instead of a message of "this is an okay way to be," they're basically basing a plot on the idea that lack of interest in sex is immature. Which is basically the same thing every other sitcom ends up saying at some point or another, sure, but it would have been nice if they'd canonically made him asexual rather than...saying he's just an immature, repressed nerd.

Then again, this is TBBT we're talking about, which is a show about nerds with the hight of its humor amounting to "lol stupid nerds." So what are we even expecting, really.

To be fair, non-dudebro yuri shippers usually end up pissed off precisely because of the way female sexuality ends up being co-opted to provide fanservice for straight guys, and often does undo important female relationships so the guy can get the girl.

And that's the whole difference here, since queerbaiting and everything else tends to actually be present in most media. There is something there leading people on, and sometimes it very much does verge on erasure.

People are just acting like this is what's happening with Sheldon when it's not.

Despite me being a Sheldon/Penny shipper, I HATE what they're doing with him and Amy. Though it's mostly due to how they've ruin Amy. Trying to change him? When he's been adamant against physical intimacy? Just...no. But he's also been degrading as well and has turned into on hell of a thoughtless jerk, which is why Amy is now so desperate.

It's just fucking sad and I hate it. I thought I hated Leonard/Penny (i do) but this pair is just awful.

but yeah, him being asexual (he pretty much is) but it's now some kind of burden? some kind of mental illness to be fixed? (the guys have always thought that) Just....ugh.

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[ SECRET POST #2321 ]

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