# The Big Bang Theory - Sheldon - how the ..... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 15, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981 "2012-05-15T12:46:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/101 "2012-05-18T17:02:49Z")
> [@](#): > > (especially compared with some other friends I could mention - Sheldon wouldn’t ask me to proofread his papers, etc.) Well, of course not! They’re already right. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/102 "2012-05-18T17:32:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, of course not! They’re already right. Although he could have used a proof-reader before he gave his paper to Hawking. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/103 "2012-05-18T20:15:24Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > It was Wyatt in the Keith Carradine episode, what was it in the earlier one? > [@garygnu](#): > > In “The Maternal Capacitance,” where we first meet Leonard’s mother, Penny says it’s Bob. And in the Carradine episode, Leonard calls him “sir” a couple of times before he responds “Oh, you can call me Wyatt.” The other Big Bang characters use their friends’ parents title and last name (i.e. Mrs. Wolowitz), so this was really annoying. When Penny had to call Sheldon’s mother, she stated “Mrs. Cooper? This is Penny.” Really, anyone would give their last name in that sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/104 "2012-05-18T22:17:08Z")
I think I read somewhere that Pennys last name will be told eventually and there will be some signifagance about it and the writers are purposefully keeping it secret. ---
**Author:** ![Stelios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Stelios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stelios)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/105 "2012-05-18T22:23:14Z")
I have a good friend who’s a _lot_ like Sheldon in many ways. He’s been diagnosed with low-level Aspergers and is very intense and direct with people, even strangers, right from the get go. He’s also the most brutally honest person I’ve ever met and never shies away from saying what’s on his mind, regardless of whether it could be construed as cruel or hurtful. We’ll call him “Phil” because, well, that’s his name. I’ll give you an example. Phil was down the pub with a mutual friend of ours by the name of Terry. Anyway, about 10 O’Clock, Terry’s fiancee comes and joins them. She and Phil had never met before and, being a garrulous type, she strikes up a conversation with him. Presently, the conversation turns to work, and what follows is as close to a word for word transcript as possible, as related to me later by both Phil and Terry: Sarah: What do you do, Phil? Phil: I’m a teacher. Sarah: Really? Me too. I teach at Doncaster house. Phil: Doncaster house? Isn’t that where they stick all the div kids? Sarah _(peeved, through gritted teeth)_: The students there do have learning difficulties, yes. Phil: What’s the point of that? Sarah: What? Phil: What’s the point of teaching them? You could spend your whole life showing them that 2+2 is 4, they’re still gonna be retards at the end of it, aren’t they? I mean, you’ve gotta have _somewhere_ to stick the old family secrets, but why pretend you’re teaching 'em anything? I mean, all you’re _really_ doing is making sure they don’t run into the road or eat too many crayons. It’s not really _teaching_, is it? Sarah: Excuse me _(exit, stage left)_. The unbelievable thing, is that I can look at that exchange, and, knowing Phil, can be supremely confident in saying that he genuinely wasn’t trying to be cruel. He was simply speaking his mind. He’s certainly said similarly belittling things to me over the years without meaning any offence. So why am I friends with him? Well, it’s because, his lack of social graces aside, he happens to be, without a doubt, the absolute filthiest, funniest motherfucker I’ve everhad the inestimable good fortune to meet. His sense of humour is legendary, and completely gives lie to the myth that people with Aspergers don’t understand comedy. Plus I know that, come what may, he’ll always have my back. And I’ll always have his. I guess what I’m saying is that while poor social skills may be an impediment to forming lasting social bonds, they’re certainly not an insurmountable barrier. Maybe Leonard is friends with Sheldon because he has hidden depths to which we are not privy, or because the benefits outweigh the cost. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/106 "2012-05-18T22:46:42Z")
Actually, I consider Sheldon’s blunt honesty to one of things that would make me want to be friends with Sheldon. If you want Sheldon’s opinion he will give it to you, unvarnished and you don’t have to spend time analyzing it for “what he really meant”. What he says is what he really means. I have even fantasized about being married to Sheldon. It would be so much easier than playing the emotional 20 questions with DH. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/107 "2012-05-19T01:52:52Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > Mayim Bialik does indeed have that PhD and I appreciate her ability to truly laugh at herself. Her blog is a joy. She is also an advocate of attachment parenting, but is not a fruitcake about it like that woman on the recent controversial cover of Time magazine. \ She may not be a fruitcake about attachment parenting, but she’s an anti-vax fruitcake, and her children apparently have some developmental delays that she’s not having investigated. \ It’s been interesting to see the character development in the course of the show, most especially with Sheldon. In the first season, he was much more socially functional than he has been in later seasons. That tends to be true, I think, of most sitcoms, as characters become less complex and nuances, and more parodies. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/108 "2012-05-21T12:55:11Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Actually, I consider Sheldon’s blunt honesty to one of things that would make me want to be friends with Sheldon. If you want Sheldon’s opinion he will give it to you, unvarnished and you don’t have to spend time analyzing it for “what he really meant”. What he says is what he really means. I have even fantasized about being married to Sheldon. It would be so much easier than playing the emotional 20 questions with DH. I’m very much like this. I despise people who pussy foot around and cannot give a direct answer. Ask me outright and take NO for an answer. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/109 "2012-05-21T14:28:50Z")
Kolga - if that anti-vac stuff is true about Mayim Bialik I am so disappointed. Opinion of her goes way down. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/110 "2012-05-21T17:31:49Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > It’s been interesting to see the character development in the course of the show, most especially with Sheldon. In the first season, he was much more socially functional than he has been in later seasons. That tends to be true, I think, of most sitcoms, as characters become less complex and nuances, and more parodies. I disagree. Early on Sheldon was very picky, he freaked out when anyone sat in his place on the couch and he had no tolerance of Penny. Now he drinks occasionally and has a girlfriend. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/111 "2012-05-21T17:48:00Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I disagree. Early on Sheldon was very picky, he freaked out when anyone sat in his place on the couch and he had no tolerance of Penny. Now he drinks occasionally and has a girlfriend. Well, he _tries_ to drink. Has he ever actually succeeded? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/112 "2012-05-21T17:49:48Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Well, he _tries_ to drink. Has he ever actually succeeded? Yes. The episode in which he had to give an acceptance speech at the dinner that awarded him something, and his fear of public speaking almost prevented him from doing that until he drank a glass of wine and then made a fool of himself (I believe eventually mooning the listeners). ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/113 "2012-05-21T18:09:03Z")
Bialik on vaccines: [http://www.npr.org/2012/05/04/152026801/actress-mayim-bialik-on-tv-science-and-the-combo](http://www.npr.org/2012/05/04/152026801/actress-mayim-bialik-on-tv-science-and-the-combo) > [@](#): > > And what I do mention in the book is I give some resources for kind of pros and cons kinds of books. Dr. Lawrence Fader(ph) wrote a fantastic small book. What I do say is that we researched every single vaccine, and we spoke about each individual vaccine with our pediatrician. We went to the CDC sources. > > The number of vaccines that you and I received when we were kids is a third or a fourth less than what kids get now. So my feeling is you can really do whatever you want, just like I get to do whatever I want, but I don’t inherently think that no one should get the flu, for example. And that’s my personal opinion. So, not hysterical or evangelical at least, but I’d like to understand how she really made the decision. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/114 "2012-05-21T18:26:06Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > So, not hysterical or evangelical at least, but I’d like to understand how she really made the decision. When she says “third or a fourth less” she actually means “half as many”. Mayim Bialik, born in 1975, got 7 vaccinatins (if she got all the recommended ones). Today the recommendation is 14. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/115 "2012-05-21T18:52:36Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes. The episode in which he had to give an acceptance speech at the dinner that awarded him something, and his fear of public speaking almost prevented him from doing that until he drank a glass of wine and then made a fool of himself (I believe eventually mooning the listeners). :smack: Of course. I think I blocked that one out. LOL! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/116 "2012-05-21T19:48:35Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes. The episode in which he had to give an acceptance speech at the dinner that awarded him something, and his fear of public speaking almost prevented him from doing that until he drank a glass of wine and then made a fool of himself (I believe eventually mooning the listeners). And there was an episode where he was drinking and playing the piano in a restaurant or bar, although I don’t think he knew he was drinking alcohol. And recently he tried drinking whiskey during Wolowitzs bachelor party. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/117 "2012-05-21T22:29:25Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > And there was an episode where he was drinking and playing the piano in a restaurant or bar, although I don’t think he knew he was drinking alcohol. the grasshopper experiment. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/118 "2012-05-21T23:35:40Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > the grasshopper experiment. Which was just on! ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/119 "2012-05-22T20:58:33Z")
Being friends with a Sheldon means that you’re not the Sheldon of your group. No one wants to be the Sheldon. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981/120 "2012-05-23T02:33:21Z")
> [@](#): > > No one wants to be the Sheldon. Except, of course, for Sheldon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-sheldon-how-the/621981.md?page=7)