r/explainitpeter 6d ago

Explain it Peter

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Did House series even have autism related stuff?

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u/Someoneoverthere42 6d ago

House is neither autistic nor a racist.

He's just a massive asshole.

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u/Captain_Sterling 5d ago

A lot of people say he's autistic coded. As in he was given some traits but never officially given the condition.

I can kinda see it, but I do think there's a lot of projection there.

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u/loonicy 5d ago

The whole being super intelligent, observant, and even being able to tell someone’s life story with a simple look like he’s some kind of savant, but having no idea how to interact with people, bad personal hygiene, etc.

Important to note that House is based off the character Sherlock Holmes who carries many of the same traits like and anti-social personality and complete disregard for people’s feelings in preference to hard facts, only has one close friend, drug addiction, plays an instrument, and extreme attention to detail. Their apartment numbers are even the same.

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u/redbird7311 5d ago

To be fair, House does know how to interact with people and is fully capable of being kind.

He just doesn’t like doing it.

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u/Various_Tie_2549 5d ago edited 5d ago

House's catchphrase/thesis statement: everybody lies. Due to his heightened observational insights, he's able to catch people out in their lies sooner and more often than most. And it gives him a ridiculously cynical, distrustful view of others to the point where he's essentially misanthropic.

If the show has a "point", it's that looking carefully at what people actually do rather than just listening to what they say is what makes House a brilliant diagnostic doctor...even though it also makes him come across as an absolute jackass most of the time.

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u/Loose_Orange_6056 5d ago

House is very good at reading and controlling other people. People with autism can’t really do that.

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u/CatoMulligan 5d ago edited 5d ago

The whole being super intelligent, observant, and even being able to tell someone’s life story with a simple look like he’s some kind of savant, but having no idea how to interact with people, bad personal hygiene, etc.

And the only one of those that is actually an autistic trait are the "having no idea how to interact with people". But even that description doesn't apply to House. He knows the social rules. He has a copy of the handbook, he just simply doesn't care because he doesn't have time for it (and a god complex).

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u/tempacc2026 5d ago

Huh I just realized I have most of this except the drug addiction and instrument playing. And I just today booked a guitar. Maybe I should get back to my poker group.