Get a load of this video, from The Onion. I’ve never heard of Michael Falk before. I don’t even know if he is genuinely autistic or if he’s an actor. If the latter, then hes’s very good. He’s got all the ASD stuff down:
• No eye contact
• Quirky mannerisms
• Oddly inflected voice
• Literal interpretation of figurative language
• Irrational reliance on logic
Not only does the video show many aspects of the autism spectrum; it’s a hoot! Enjoy!
Well, folks. It turns out I was right about the acting. The guy’s real name is John Cariani (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0137121/).
Turns out also that some people in the ASD community take offense at his portrayal (http://thautcast.com/drupal5/content/ifc-and-onion-make-fun-people-autism). I guess I understand, but at the same time I like to think we’re coming closer to a tipping point, where autism is well-known enough to merit satire. That is, after all, one of the highest forms of affirmation!