#opinionpost

Only my opinion, but I’m determining if each of the main character of Bob’s Burgers are autistic or not

Again, only my opinion and will give reasons why I believe they are.

Bob Belcher: Yes. From being antisocial to his special interests, I can absolutely confirm that he is potentially on the spectrum. The most specific episode I can think of is Season 1 Episode 11 where Bob is focused on building a replica of a bus from Speed. While Linda wants to have a second honeymoon, he wants to do something he is interested in. While nice to see Bob enjoy himself in simple activities, we see how his introvert side kicks in and special interests takes over being social and wanting to spend time with anyone, even the people he loves. Another example is when he is nervous, he has a vocal tic of making his voice go high. It’s normal when neurodivergent people are nervous, they will often make sounds that reflect there feelings and Bob doesn’t mask a lot of the time. Masking is when a neurodivergent individual hides there traits in order to seem “neurotypical”. It’s crap, yes, but Bob does do that from time to time in pushing through things that make him uncomfortable. (E.g. Season 5 episode 6 when Bob pushes through spending Christmas Eve at his father’s restaurant). Then again they had a tumultuous relationship so maybe there’s more to unpack with that, but still it was an environment that he was uncomfortable with and attempts to get out with no success (thanks to Linda). With this, I can conclude in my opinion that Bob Belcher is on the autism spectrum or have Asperger’s syndrome.

Linda Belcher: Debatable. While I don’t believe that Linda is on the spectrum, there are some traits that I can see with Linda being on the spectrum potentially. For instance, Linda has no filter. The most potential trait I could see is her singing songs to herself, to the chagrin of Bob (e.g. Season 3 episode 5 Thanksgiving special. The Turkey song). It’s a vocal stim to help Linda either express excitement or calm herself down. In this case, Linda uses her singing to express excitement. She also doesn’t have a filter and is impulsive at times when she makes decisions, specifically with button pushing (Bob’s Burgers movie). Something Gene gets from her and is often very honest with what is happening. (E.g. whenever she burps and toots/farts and poops). However, I do see her as an enthusiastic extroverted female who could have asperger’s syndrome but in my opinion I don’t think she is on the spectrum.

Tina Belcher: Yes, Tina is definitely on the spectrum. The most prominent trait is her vocal stims and special interests. Similar to Bob Belcher, Tina is often fascinated by horses and her favorite horse themed TV show Equesternauts (similar to My Little Pony tv show). She knows her facts and often daydreams about horses and the show. She also isn’t afraid to share her facts and special interests with her family and is met with support from them, especially Linda and Bob. (Though, Bob is reluctant, however gets into it due to acting as a spy to get Tina’s rare horse back in season 4 episode 17). She also is a fan of the Thundergirls and despite almost being in high school, she is still a Thundergirl and isn’t ashamed to be part of a community that embraces her. Tina, over the course of the show has really come into her own and stopped wanting to impress others. Tina also has her own vocal tic and often gets nervous. There’s no specific episode when she does this as it’s often throughout the series, but she is more likely to not mask compared to Bob. An episode where her traits potentially come out is season 3 episode 7 where Tina tries to lie after a parking lot accident and fails miserably. Whether it’s her guilt or something more can be determined by you all. However, in conclusion, I do believe that Tina Belcher is on the spectrum.

Gene Belcher: Yes. Unlike Bob or Tina, who are reserved, Gene is extremely extroverted. His special interests are music, specifically his keyboard. He also wants things done in a specific way (e.g. wants to improvise in the season 5 episode 17 where the band wants to practice compared to Gene). He often has his own beat and wants to do things in an unconventional way (season 10 episode 9 where his audition goes off-script from what the script said). Gene, similar to Tina beats to his own drum and is often not shy about his opinion and has some vocal tics thought not as consistent as Bob and Tina. He can also be very honest on his thoughts and inappropriate (e.g. that’s what I call my testicles gag and the “Gene” line said by Bob). He often doesn’t have a filter compared to Bob and similar to Tina as she often thinks about Jimmy Jr’s butt. In conclusion, I believe that Gene Belcher could be on the spectrum. Also, bonus tidbit, he does have an imaginary friend named Kevin and often talks to him, though he is not as mentioned as much compared to earlier seasons.

Louise: Yes. While she is also a social bug, she also has her special interests (e.g. Kuchi Kopi and Voodoo) and often wants to share her interests with her family and her friends, Rudy and Darryl. Louise is seen in her design to have a security item with her pink bunny ears and is very intense about her ears on her at all times (e.g. Season 2 episode 3 when the gym teacher attempts take her ears, resulting in which Louise comes up with an excuse to keep her ears on her). It’s a security item that makes her feel safe and doesn’t want to take them off for any reason, though does grow to have her ear hat fall off (Bob’s Burgers movie). When her ears are off, no one sees her hair and is determined to get them back (season 3 episode 1). Similar to Linda, Tina, and Gene, Louise has no filter and is very blunt in how she feels or wants (though they toned down her chaotic nature in later seasons). Her special interest, Kuchi Kopi is special to her and when it gets destroyed by the Belcher family, she gets so angry that she can’t enjoy her slapping as she is deeply hurt. (Season 7 episode 1). I can conclude that Louise, in my opinion is autistic.

If you would prefer to see this as a document, click here.

Why I Say I’m ADtistic Instead of an AuDHDer

First of all, I was diagnosed as ADHD first; why does Autism get to go in the front? Jokes aside, sort of, the other reasons are the multiple spellings and pronunciations:

Spelling

AuDHD(er)

AUDHD(er)

AUdhd(er)

Pronunciation

A-U-DHD(er)

AW-D-HD(er)

If I missed any, it proves my point. With ADtistic (A-D-tistic)… that’s it, unless someone wants to be a smartass. ADtistic is easier to remember. In addition, AuDHD(er) / AUDHD(er) / AUdhd(er), while creative, is too much of a mouthful and takes too long to say, anyway you wanna say it. And typing/writing it is annoying. ADtistic, however, has the same “ring” Autistic does. “I don’t ‘have’ Autism; I’m Autistic.” “I don’t ‘have’ ADHD and Autism; I’m ADtistic.” Inversely: “I don’t ‘have’ ADHD and Autism; I’m an A-U-DHDer/AW-D-HDer/Any I missed.” Also, saying “I’m ADtistic” will, probably, prompt the question, “Don’t you mean autistic?” which creates a teachable moment. Or the opportunity to be a smartass, if that’s your thing. Lastly, more of a sidenote, since every language is made up, and new words are being made up for them on a regular basis and/or being redefined, when only talking about ADHD, I say, “I’m ADHD” instead of “I’m an ADHDer.”

I am ADHD. I am Autistic. I am ADtistic.

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Well, this is all for today! Thank you for reading! May every decision you make be in the spirit of fairness and may the rest of your day NOT go to $#!7!

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Let me start by saying I don’t make a ton of original posts because I usually don’t have much to say and I don’t like creating controversy. However, this is something that’s been on my mind recently and it’s not like there are a ton of ppl on tumblr anymore, so who gives a shit....

I listen to a lot of metal music. Pulsing drum beats, screeching guitar solos, and raw vocals. I got into metal in my early teen years, much to my country-listening parents’ dismay. I found an outlet for my rage in the music, which I wasn’t really allowed to express because I was supposed to be this demure, people-pleasing girl. (This ties into my transition, but that’s not what this post is about) As I began to express my interest in this type of music, I realized that how I was being perceived began to change. Many people I talk/talked to about music have a misconception that we (metal-listeners) are all assholes and potentially dangerous people. I’ve noticed this stereotype continue into my adulthood.

I’ve lived in different apartment for the past few years, and I play metal in my apartment from time to time. It seems that, no matter when I play it or at what volume, I always get into some kind of passive-aggressive battle with a neighbor who decides to play their type of music super loud. If you know me, you know that I HATE passive-aggressiveness. If someone has a problem (myself included), I prefer they bring it up to the other party promptly and in-person. I think this is just part of being mature. Whenever this type of “battle” occurs, I’ll usually confront the person (and almost always receive no response when knocking on the door) and turn my music down, assuming that they are annoyed with the volume. 

This brings me to my actual point: do people just find the type of music I play annoying? Is it really that loud? (even though I can barely hear it when standing outside my own apartment door) OR is it because they have this misconception about metal and the people who listen to it? In any case, I just wish I could show others the beauty I see in the music.

 My advice to those who hear it and hate it would to be, listen through a certain song you could possibly like. Listen to the whole song, then just focus on the drums, then guitar, bass, and vocals, all within different times of listening through the song. This is what pulled me into metal. All the different elements of the song coming together to form something unique and meaningful, instead of the same beat and chorus over and over again, with the same message of sex, girls, and money. 

In any case, it’s just an opinion and something I decided to get off my chest.

Contains Spoilers for Final Fantasy XIV Shadowbringers

Emet-Selch should have been treated with more respect and civility. An opportunity was missed to explore more of his intentions. Below are more respectful, or logical, dialogue options and discussions I wish could have been had with or about Emet-Selch.

To be clear, I am NOT expecting the developers to go back and add all this in with a giant patch; to demand such is unrealistic, to put it mildly.

But, after meeting Emet-Selch, it got me wondering why death had to be the only outcome, and I needed to put these thoughts into writing.

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What I wish I could have decided to say / have caused to have been discussed when Emet-Selch first extended the olive branch. Why, Urianger, are you going at him for using the illusion when you would have done the same thing in his shoes?

In fact, I’m disappointed in all of you. Your painting all Ascians with the same brush is causing your moral outrage to kick in; when will we have another opportunity to attempt to understand them and their goals?

Oh, wait, we had an opportunity, but Urianger pulled an Ascian, ruining it for everyone. And yet here Emet-Selch is proposing a truce.

If we treat him like the monster we expect him to be, we have no reason, nor right, to demand and expect him to behave any other way.

Now cool it.

Emet-Selch, you have my sincerest apologies for their behavior.

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What I wish I could have said when Emet-Selch explained how he felt he, technically, wasn’t committing murder with the calamities. I appreciate your candor.

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What I wish I could have been said when Emet-Selch offered to save Y’shtola after she used the Flow. Thank you for the help. What do you need? - [glares at anyone who complains]

After he saved Y’shtola. You went out of your way to help us even though we’ve been less than cordial. Thank you. - [glares at anyone who doesn’t thank him]

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What I wish I could have said when Emet-Selch inquired about my health.

(For fun, based on your Job) Fit as a fiddle and ready to go!

Tired and ready to be free of this place.

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What I wish could have been discussed with Ardbert after Y’shtola mistook me/us for a sin-eater. I knew Emet-Selch wouldn’t have been so calm about us ruining his plans by hunting the Lightwardens without having a backup plan; why else would he offer us a truce if our actions weren’t part of it?

He wants me to become a Lightwarden. And I can’t tell everyone else cause there’s no point. What are we gonna do? Have Minfilia, a child, handle the last of the Lightwardens to save me? Of course not! But the job needs to get done, which Selch knows.

I fail to kill the last of Lightwardens, he wins because, I guess, the light I have been absorbing goes into the Lightwarden that kills me, making them more powerful. And if I become a Lightwarden, he wins.

Get angry.

Be impressed.

(If impressed) Also, I am a means to two ends.

Since we never asked, we don’t know what Selch meant for the alliance, but it still means he goes against Elidibus in some form; to onlyassume he would no longer want to cause calamities would be folly. It’s more than likely he would protect us from them. However, if I become a Lightwarden and the calamity goes on as planned, Elidibus never knows Emet-Selch offered us an alliance. Life goes on.

But he offered the alliance, which means there’s hope...

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What I wish I could have said when Emet-Selch was talking about Amaurot. Please, tell me more of the city.

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What I wish I could have said when Emet-Selch claimed he couldn’t believe he put his faith in me/us. But you did, which means you wanted me to succeed. Why?

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What I wish I could have decided to say / have caused to have been discussed in place of Alphinaud when Emet-Selch was walking away (before the final judgement). Why would we entrust the fate of the star to the individuals who caused it to be sundered in the first place, for one? Secondly, one could make the argument you are planning to sacrifice the planned to be unsundered great grandchildren of those who sacrificed themselves to Zodiark to save the star.

How would your people feel knowing you sacrificed the very lives they sacrificed themselves to save to bring them back? Wouldn’t it defy the very purpose of their sacrifice?

They sacrificed themselves for all of us, for you, so you could not survive, but live.

And in regards to my having failed to contain the light, technically, I’m failing. How often do people succeed at something they have never done before on their first attempt, grandsire?

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What I wish I could have decided to say after containing the light.

You said we could be allies provided I could contain the light. I have done so. What now?

Ha! HA! I contained the light! Now... TURN ON THE GODS DAMN LIGHTS!

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What I wish I could have decided to say / have caused to have been discussed after Emet-Selch / Hades was defeated, before he started his monologue. I came here to rescue the Exarch, but I did not want to take your life in the process. You offered the alliance! I have done my part!

Choose! Do you you take your last stand and I send you to death’s sweet embrace? Or do you wish to use the gift of life your people provided with their sacrifice?

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Hades being “only” the God of Death is a common misconception; he is the God of the Underworld, where souls go to either rest or be punished for their deeds in life. He watches over them. Which Emet-Selch has done for a thousand thousand of our lives.

Emet-Selch reached out to us. We were a means to two ends; destruction or alliance, but we never asked him what he meant by “alliance” or “being allies,” which is something I wish we had had the option of getting our heads out of our asses long enough to be able to discover.

Meeting Emet-Selch made me wish we had the option to be more compassionate with our enemies as a whole, similar to our dealings with Ysayle, or Iceheart. But, with Emet-Selch, the only options we really had were mostly antagonistic. Yes, we had a couple of probing questions, but nothing with true compassion and an attempt to understand.

If we treat people like the monsters we expect them to be, we have no reason, nor right, to demand and expect them to behave any other way. We must treat people the way we want to be treated.

Would treating Emet-Selch with more compassion have made a difference? I would like to think so, but we’ll never know.

Excellent job on the animations of the facial expressions and body language; well done Rene Zagger with the voice acting. You made a spectacular “villain.”

Thank you for reading. May every decision you make in the future be in the spirit of fairness and may the rest of your day not go to $#!7.

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Rewatching High School Musical and while rewatching, I honestly think Chad should’ve been captain over Troy.

Okay yes, Chad (in the first movie) didn’t go about the commitment towards the Wildcats basketball team/Troy auditioning for the musical in the right way (basically pressuring him to quit the musical). However, despite that he was committed to the basketball team from start to finish. Never once did he abandon the team and was always able to balance his priorities (relationships, academics, and athletics). He was a loyal and great teammate and was realistic in his high school goals and knew what he wanted from the get go.

Now, to be fair, bombarding Troy with him admitting that Gabriella meant nothing to him was a low blow, considering up till that point had never met her. However, he does end up accepting that Troy could be both a performer and an athlete, so that counts for something. Putting that aside, he knew his priorities and wish the High School Musical series gave him a chance to show off his skills/leadership as the trilogy progressed because personally as an adult Chad is a way more interesting character than Troy and there was a chance to expand on his character instead of putting them in a box.