Sherlock Holmes discussion

News flash coming SOON! ;)

NEWS FLASH:
Sherlock Holmes is autistic. Though in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's day there was no word for autism, it is now known that the famous sleuth was autistic. As you read about his actions, as you watch him as Benedict Cumberbatch or Robert Downey Jr., the traits of an autistic person are clear there.
Think about it: He has no respect for other's feelings, he notices things no other person does, and he has a difficult time expressing or understanding emotion.
Interesting, right?

I don't know if that would be considered autism. I mean, I suppose it kinda looks like it, but I think it's just Sherlock Holmes being Sherlock Holmes. He is very set on not biasing his judgement because of worrying about other people and caring about other people. He has a difficult time expressing and understanding emotion because he does not feel he should waste his time trying. He refers to his mind like it is an attic, and you have to fill it with what you want and keep everything else out. So, he does. And because of this, he notices things most people don't and his mind works differently.
But that is an interesting thought.

Actually, I have made that corellation before. I was kind of thinking that Holmes would be considered as having Asperger's Syndrome.

@Robin, I agree that Holmes would more likely have Asperger's Syndrome then Autism

"Asperger's, is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported."
It kinda fits.

*shrugs*

My brother was told that Sherlock was autistic and had Aspergers by one of his teachers.

They definitely hinted at it in BBC Sherlock- John mentioned Aspergers at some point. I'm not too sure about the book Holmes though. His personality seems a bit friendlier/more understanding of people than he was portrayed in the TV series. It seemed more of a 'personal choice' to remain cold and calculated...

I always felt he just let his genius get in the way of being socially adept. There are plenty of brilliant people that have no clue how to interact with others because they're busy being brilliant, so to speak.

According to the definition above, and considering that he is a person that sneaks successfully around in disguise, speaks coherently and precisely, and is aware of social conventions (even if he's not interested in following them), I would not characterize Holmes as having Asperger's.

Just my thoughts, though :)

That's the scientific definition, however, Asperger's, by conventional definition, is what you just described.

Mary wrote: "They definitely hinted at it in BBC Sherlock- John mentioned Aspergers at some point. I'm not too sure about the book Holmes though. His personality seems a bit friendlier/more understanding of peo..."

I agree.

I have read a few Sherlock tales and he didn't come across as being unfriendly as Mary pointed out. It has been a few months since I picked up a Sherlock tale, been on a slight Periot kick, BUT He was always the gentleman.

In the books yes he is, we are more or less talking about BBC Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

Gabrielle wrote: "NEWS FLASH:
Sherlock Holmes is autistic. Though in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's day there was no word for autism, it is now known that the famous sleuth was autistic. As you read about his actions, as ..."

I resent that! I am not scared to say that some of these characteristics can describe not only me, but other people i know. none of us are autistic. but then again, there is a chance. but, also, for people that know alot, it's hard connecting with other people because you're too busy over thinking their emotions to fully understand them, or you're disregarding them completley. so that explains the antisocial behavior. as for noticing small things, it's not that difficult. if you have a good memory and a keen eye for details, anyone can be as good a detective as sherlock holmes.

*Shrugs* I could probably fit under those characteristics, too. And I might, by the judgement of some, be considered slightly higher functioning. I dunno. It's really a matter of opinion.

everyone has some characteristics of autism.

Yes, exactly.

Daulton wrote: "Gabrielle wrote: "NEWS FLASH:
Sherlock Holmes is autistic. Though in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's day there was no word for autism, it is now known that the famous sleuth was autistic. As you read abou..."

XD

Daulton wrote: "People now a days are too quick to label someone with some disease just because they are different than others."

finally, someone else sees it. I mean, when I was little, and today as well, I'll admitt it, I was 'different' and people thought I was crazy. people are too judgemental these days. pretty soon, the word mentally stable would be a story parents use to get their kids to bed.

Daulton wrote: "People think I have ADD or ADHD but when you look at the stuff they teach you in school and then you look at my thoughts....I KNOW ALL OF IT! So it's obvious why I get distracted. They teach you th..."
Very nicely said.

Gabrielle wrote: "NEWS FLASH:
Sherlock Holmes is autistic. Though in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's day there was no word for autism, it is now known that the famous sleuth was autistic. As you read about his actions, as ..."

This might sound dumb, but could you explain what autism is? I've heard so many different versions of it.

It's a hard thing to explain as it's a spectrum disorder so one person with autism can be very different from another.

Here is a link that is pretty good at explaining autism:

http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism...

People. I am not being mean!! I even have been taking tests and things because we think that I might be autistic!!
And you know what? I've been called different. I've been pegged as stupid, retarded, weirdo, idiot, crazy, you name it.
I just think its cool that someone like that could become someone as great as Sherlock! Gosh!

It is cool. I just just BBC Sherlock it nit quite right.

Just know that us what that should say.

Krystal wrote: "It is cool. I just just BBC Sherlock it nit quite right."

Yeah. And we like him that way. He can't be Sherlock if he's just some everyday average civilian. ;)

On BBC's Sherlock,
Holmes says that he is 'a highly functioning
sociopath.' I think he is less so in the books though.

Yeah, in the books he's a little more... gentlemanly, ya know?

I think that, because it was written a very long time ago, what we consider reasonably gentlemanly could've been considered rude back then? I'm probably wrong, but just an idea.

Well yes, they were definitely more stiff and polite back then.

I can't imagine Benedict Cumberbatch playing an autistic role in the Sherlock BBC series.

BTW Emily, that was me writing that comment. My sister never signs out of her account.

Well, he is in a way autistic. It could be much milder than the people you've seen at school, and remember they're a lot younger than him.

yeah, but how old is sherlock actually?

Well, in A Study In Scarlet, he's said to be 60, but in the BBC series he's in about his 30s I think.

Yarp.

60???!!! Gross.

In the books he's 27 when he moves into 221B with Watson.

It depends on which dating system you use, since ACD was notoriously bad at keeping his timeline together. Stretching it, Holmes might have been as young as 21 in STUD (which is what makes Laurie King's pastiche not-creepy).

That would make sense, because yeah, he so was bad at timelines, wasn't he? XD Google won't give me anything but old ages.

He does seem to get mixed up a lot. When I was reading The Final Problem, Professor James Moriarty apparently had a cousin named Colonel James Moriarty.

So they were both called James Moriaty, except had different jobs.

Well that isn't very practical, huh? XD

It really confused me at first.

In the BBC show, they called called Sherlock a sociopath (one who exhibits "antisocial behavior, diminished empathy and remorse, and disinhibited or bold behavior"). I've read that people have theorized that he had Asperger's sydrome or autism. I tried to go into the books with that mindset, but I just couldn't see it. It explains the Holmes in Elementary, but not the Holmes in the books.

I've come to the following conclusions:

Sociopathic works best for Sherlock.

Asperger's works best for Elementary.

As for the books, I just see Holmes as a quirky genius.

Perhaps Sherlock's character came from the author's observations, medical knowledge and imagination. Just a thought.

Oh man, a glimpse into Holmes's childhood would have been the coolest thing. I wish we could go back in time and badger grumpy old Arthur Conan Doyle for some answers.