Geekitude

starcatsfolly:

spicedpiano:

ununpentium:

I don’t think Sherlock (or if you want to be accurate, Benedict’s portrayal of Sherlock) is a “high functioning sociopath”. Technically that doesn’t even exist as an illness.

THANK you.  I have to wonder just what the hell kind of sites OP was reading if they managed to learn anything about “high-functioning sociopathy.”

1) Sociopathy doesn’t exist. It’s simply the outdated term for psychopathy.

2) I can’t fathom psychopathy being in any manner high- or low-functioning.

THIS.

Basically, I’m 99% sure Sherlock, after having enough people go “What is wrong with you?” growing up, went and obtained his first copy of the DSM and (in a fit of NO ONE LIKES ME I WILL NEVER FIT INTO SOCIETY flavored self-pity) promptly diagnosed himself as a sociopath. (Bonus: it’s an awesome excuse to not follow social rules, ie “I’m incapable of caring about your feelings, don’t make me try”)

No one’s called him on it, because A) why would you contest what Sherlock Holmes says, especially regarding himself? and B) it gives people a ‘legit’ reason to be wary of him.

Honestly? Sherlock has Aspergers. I’m not the best one to explain how/why this makes the most sense, and I’d be worried about saying the wrong thing and unintentionally insulting some of my friends, but it’s definitely been shown to us that Sherlock DOES have feelings, and DOES care about people/things (only very specific ones, mind), he just isn’t good at people, and isn’t interested in trying to learn (except maybe in John’s case).

YES, all of this. If Sherlock was really a sociopath (or psychopath or whatever we’re calling it) he wouldn’t care about John’s opinion. He wouldn’t have freaked out when John got kidnapped. He wouldn’t have cared when someone put a gun to John’s head. He wouldn’t have thrown that guy out the window for messing with Mrs Hudson. 

Sherlock pretends he doesn’t care about people because it’s easier. It’s easier, and less embarrassing, to say you’re a sociopath than to admit that you just plain old don’t understand things like social cues, and have trouble connecting with others and making friends. 

(Source: bakerstreetconfessions)