I Grok Sheldon Cooper

[Revoltingest]

No, this isn't about our fellow poster...although he's grokworthy
too. BTW, I absolutely hate the laugh track on that show (Big
Bang Theory). Young Sheldon is a much better show...no laugh
track. (He'd be such an easy child to raise, eh. Alas, he's idealized.
No real kid would be that perfect.)

The writing for Sheldon speaks to me. His awkwardness with
social situations & conventions is so familiar. This came to me
when I recently offered a fellow poster some lilies because a
friend of his died.
What's that have to do with Sheldon? When someone is upset,
he offers a warm beverage. He doesn't know what else to do,
but he knows that his is an acceptable response. Like him, I'm
not comfortable saying anything what's normally appropriate,
eg, condolences. Any such thing seems perfunctory. But I'm
OK with offering flowers. Those seem to reliably go over well.

People & their emotions....those things have been difficult to
recognize & understand. And then dealing with them....ugh.
That's been a matter of not empathizing & understanding,
but instead figuring out ways to cope with their situations.

@Shadow Wolf & @RayofLight...any of this make sense to
yooz guyz?

 

[Brickjectivity]

...His awkwardness with
social situations & conventions is so familiar...

He is though a caricature -- like a cartoon. Nobody has all of the attributes of any of these people on this show. For example someone as dysfunctional as Sheldon would never make it in a university. Every show he makes such a mess that in a real life situation he'd be out on his ear and have no friends.

 

[Revoltingest]

He is though a caricature -- like a cartoon. Nobody has all of the attributes of any of these people on this show. For example someone as dysfunctional as Sheldon would never make it in a university. Every show he makes such a mess that in a real life situation he'd be out on his ear and have no friends.

Of course they're caricatures. But there's a
large grain of reality in Sheldon Cooper's
social awkwardness & limited focus.

 

[Audie]

No, this isn't about our fellow poster...although he's grokworthy
too. BTW, I absolutely hate the laugh track on that show (Big
Bang Theory). Young Sheldon is a much better show...no laugh
track. (He'd be such an easy child to raise, eh. Alas, he's idealized.
No real kid would be that perfect.)

The writing for Sheldon speaks to me. His awkwardness with
social situations & conventions is so familiar. This came to me
when I recently offered a fellow poster some lilies because a
friend of his died.
What's that have to do with Sheldon? When someone is upset,
he offers a warm beverage. He doesn't know what else to do,
but he knows that his is an acceptable response. Like him, I'm
not comfortable saying anything what's normally appropriate,
eg, condolences. Any such thing seems perfunctory. But I'm
OK with offering flowers. Those seem to reliably go over well.

People & their emotions....those things have been difficult to
recognize & understand. And then dealing with them....ugh.
That's been a matter of not empathizing & understanding,
but instead figuring out ways to cope with their situations.

@Shadow Wolf & @RayofLight...any of this make sense to
yooz guyz?

What is a iGrock

 

[Polymath257]

He is though a caricature -- like a cartoon. Nobody has all of the attributes of any of these people on this show. For example someone as dysfunctional as Sheldon would never make it in a university. Every show he makes such a mess that in a real life situation he'd be out on his ear and have no friends.

Yes, Sheldon is a caricature, but not nearly as much as many might think.

I have certainly known several people in the math and physics departments that have strong 'Sheldon' tendencies. So, maybe not a full-Sheldon, but at least a half-Sheldon.

 

[Kooky]

What is a iGrock

Grok - Wikipedia

Grok /ˈɡrɒk/ is a neologism coined by American writer Robert A. Heinlein for his 1961 science fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land. While the Oxford English Dictionary summarizes the meaning of grok as "to understand intuitively or by empathy, to establish rapport with" and "to empathize or communicate sympathetically (with); also, to experience enjoyment", Heinlein's concept is far more nuanced, with critic Istvan Csicsery-Ronay Jr. observing that "the book's major theme can be seen as an extended definition of the term."

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I've always hated that show, especially Sheldon, because it was later decided to describe his awkwardness and weirdness as being Asperger's. He didn't have it from the start. He was just a weirdo. And then decided apparently Asperger's is a good way to explain it.

 

[Revoltingest]

What is a iGrock

Definition of grok | Dictionary.com
The word originates (I think) in the book,
Stranger in a Strange Land.

 

[Audie]

Definition of grok | Dictionary.com
The word originates (I think) in the book,
Stranger in a Strange Land.

Just kidding. I actually knew that word.
Coz of a nerd i knew at uni.

 

[Audie]

Yes, Sheldon is a caricature, but not nearly as much as many might think.

I have certainly known several people in the math and physics departments that have strong 'Sheldon' tendencies. So, maybe not a full-Sheldon, but at least a half-Sheldon.

Thats why i didnt think its funny.
More like a puh- lease, Ive already seen
this.

 

[Secret Chief]

I've always hated that show, especially Sheldon, because it was later decided to describe his awkwardness and weirdness as being Asperger's. He didn't have it from the start. He was just a weirdo. And then decided apparently Asperger's is a good way to explain it.

Yeah it is a **** show.

 

[Secret Chief]

Yes, Sheldon is a caricature, but not nearly as much as many might think.

I have certainly known several people in the math and physics departments that have strong 'Sheldon' tendencies. So, maybe not a full-Sheldon, but at least a half-Sheldon.

I must have been in a non-nerd department.
I thought @Revoltingest had just made it up ( mainly because there should be a c before the k ).

 

[VoidCat]

Ive never seen the show.
but what you wrote here makes sense from what I can gather.

 

[Polymath257]

I must have been in a non-nerd department.
I thought @Revoltingest had just made it up ( mainly because there should be a c before the k ).

In grok? Nope. it originally comes from A Heinlein book 'Stranger in a Strange Land', where a human child is raised by Martians and has rather unique abilities when returned to Earth. The word 'grok' means 'to drink', which is a big deal to Martians.

 

[Audie]

In grok? Nope. it originally comes from A Heinlein book 'Stranger in a Strange Land', where a human child is raised by Martians and has rather unique abilities when returned to Earth. The word 'grok' means 'to drink', which is a big deal to Martians.

Our haggis chomper turned to drink?
This may be a Sign.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

In grok? Nope. it originally comes from A Heinlein book 'Stranger in a Strange Land', where a human child is raised by Martians and has rather unique abilities when returned to Earth. The word 'grok' means 'to drink', which is a big deal to Martians.

Are we sure he didn't mean gahg?

 

[Revoltingest]

I've always hated that show, especially Sheldon, because it was later decided to describe his awkwardness and weirdness as being Asperger's. He didn't have it from the start. He was just a weirdo. And then decided apparently Asperger's is a good way to explain it.

You're saying his foibles aren't on the spectrum?

 

[Vinayaka]

You're saying his foibles aren't on the spectrum?

I thought Sheldon had Asperger's the first day I saw the show, but I know a couple Aspies in real life. It's the social awkwardness. Interesting people, and I think kindness comes far easier if you know something about the condition.

 

[pearl]

And then decided apparently Asperger's is a good way to explain it.

One of my favorite shows, never heard Sheldon associated with Asperger's, not all nerds have Asperger's.

I absolutely hate the laugh track on that show (Big
Bang Theory).

It is preformed to a live audience: the laughter is not canned.
The Story Behind Attending a Live Taping of "The Big Bang Theory" | Know It All Joe

 

[Revoltingest]

It is preformed to a live audience: the laughter is not canned.
The Story Behind Attending a Live Taping of "The Big Bang Theory" | Know It All Joe

Other sources disagree...
Laughter Tracks Can Trick You Into Thinking 'The Big Bang Theory' Is Funny
But I'll tell ya....if that's a real audience that finds
the most lame jokes guffaw-worthy, they seem
very consistently over-eager to please. No joke,
no matter how unfunny ever falls flat.