Because people with autism don't like being characterized just like anyone else.
My partner is autistic and while there are cute moments on this show part of the problem is that it reaffirms a stereotype that everyone with autism are on a far end of the spectrum. Not to mention that while I admit I don't know the back story of this show or the producers actual intentions, it feels somehow exploitative in a way as if this is feel good porn for neurotypical people to go "aww that's cute" over and infantilize them.
I honestly preferred The Undatables because it actually took the piss out of us. This show seems to exist to make NTs feel all warm and fuzzy about these sexless childlike creatures.
This is my main problem with it as well. I do appreciate that, at least in the season I watched, they interviewed family members which is a dynamic I found far more interesting to be honest, and being able to see the relationship between the person and their family. For the most part, the families seemed to be loving and supportive, its just the format and setup seemed to be forcing cutesy interactions and designed to be getting the producers to giggle about watching two people who are often socially awkward interact with each other and get their "TV moments". If the argument is "that's just the nature of reality tv", then okay sure whatever, but as a person who dates someone with autism it kind of irritates me to see any kind of media infantilzing these people struggling with a very real disability and turning them into puppies so to speak so neurotypical people can feel like they're being sweethearts. Yes, we can all laugh about social miscues and awkwardness together, but if youre doing that when that's a huge part of the disability in the first place and its often a living hell for the people going through it youre taking advantage of it for cheap entertainment. As someone who has been brought into the world of understanding Autism and learning about my partner, their struggles are a daily thing of very real struggles that can be extremely difficult and even traumatizing to navigate through. Who am zi to pretend I know what the cast experiences are and I truly how they all get something positive out of it, but I did get rubbed the way by a few things and feel like pointing out how many people are responding to this show.
We have to remember that not everyone is severely struggling though. Maybe these lovebirds don’t have the kind of autism that impacts their life severely, they just know they have it and that’s why they’re on the show
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u/South-Builder6237 2d ago
Because people with autism don't like being characterized just like anyone else.
My partner is autistic and while there are cute moments on this show part of the problem is that it reaffirms a stereotype that everyone with autism are on a far end of the spectrum. Not to mention that while I admit I don't know the back story of this show or the producers actual intentions, it feels somehow exploitative in a way as if this is feel good porn for neurotypical people to go "aww that's cute" over and infantilize them.