Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spectrum?

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Gokuman1993
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Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spectrum?

Post by Gokuman1993 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:03 am

I am a Dragon Ball fan, and I am in the Autism spectrum (shocker, huh?!) As you all have known me (or at least, some of you), my favorite Dragon Ball character is Son Goku. Why do I like him? Well, there are many reasons, but let pull out one reason: we are a lot more alike than maybe even I think. As I kept on reading the manga, I've noticed some stuff about Goku and applied to it some of my knowledge about Autism.

Son Goku is a man who has exceptional skill in one area (ex. martial arts) and "not-so-good" skill in others (ex. counting, differences between males and females, social skills/guidelines, etc.). He shows little to no interest in anything else but the thing he is very good at, and gets pure pleasure and excitement at doing that one skill. He is naive, socially out-of-place, pefers being solitary and, while he is generally selfless and cares about the well-being of others, he is a little selfish and will do actions that (while eventually positively benfical for everyone later) that only serve himself and his love of that skill. Hmm, does Goku represent people with Autism? Well, I'd like you to answer that.

Personally, I think he kinda does. He and I may have a few things in common. We both have a love and great and developing skill in one area (for me, it's art) and we're both kinda socially akward and solitary people. I honestly hope no one blows this out of proportion and makes this "newsworthy" I just hope some of you give out your opinions. And other thing, please make sure they are not harsh. I do not want any character bashing or want to read offensive stuff about people with developmental disabilites.

For now, bye! :)
Last edited by Gokuman1993 on Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:19 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Perfect » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:05 am

Goku doesn't have autism, he's just innocent and stupid.
Fox666 wrote:It seems you have pissed a lot of people on this forum, and I am quite sure they would like to call you stupid and say that's the designated adjectives for you. But they don't do that because of there are rules in this community.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Gokuman1993 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:07 am

Perfect wrote:Goku doesn't have autism, he's just innocent and stupid.
How is Goku stupid? Innocent, yes, but stupid? How?

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Perfect » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:09 am

To be stupid is to be characterized by a mental dullness. Goku shows this at various times in the series, which goes hand in hand with being innocent, or rather, naive.
Fox666 wrote:It seems you have pissed a lot of people on this forum, and I am quite sure they would like to call you stupid and say that's the designated adjectives for you. But they don't do that because of there are rules in this community.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Gokuman1993 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:14 am

Perfect wrote:To be stupid is to be characterized by a mental dullness. Goku shows this at various times in the series, which goes hand in hand with being innocent, or rather, naive.
Stupid and Innocent, in my opinion, are two completely different things. Goku grew up (basically) alone in the forest and is unaware of the outside world and he had no real education. While Goku is innocent is certain areas, he is far from stupid in my opinion.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Rocketman » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:17 am

Goku is mentally retarded, not autistic.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Gokuman1993 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:20 am

Rocketman wrote:Goku is mentally retarded, not autistic.
Rocketman, while you're quote is quite funny, it is also rude, crude and totally bashes the character of Goku. Look people, this is not a place where you can just bash a character you dont like!

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by TheDevilsCorpse » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:23 am

Gokuman1993 wrote:
Rocketman wrote:Goku is mentally retarded, not autistic.
Rocketman, while you're quote is quite funny, it is also rude, crude and totally bashes the character of Goku. Look people, this is not a place where you can just bash a character you dont like!
Goku is my favorite character, and I pretty much agree with Rocketman... Goku, well, he's not bright.
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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Gokuman1993 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:25 am

TheDevilsCorpse wrote:
Gokuman1993 wrote:
Rocketman wrote:Goku is mentally retarded, not autistic.
Rocketman, while you're quote is quite funny, it is also rude, crude and totally bashes the character of Goku. Look people, this is not a place where you can just bash a character you dont like!
Goku is my favorite character, and I pretty much agree with Rocketman... Goku, well, he's not bright.
I know that, but I don't think Goku's mentally impaired. I just think he may fit somewhere in the spectrum. You think so, right?

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by TheDevilsCorpse » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:29 am

Gokuman1993 wrote:I know that, but I don't think Goku's mentally impaired. I just think he may fit somewhere in the spectrum. You think so, right?
No, I'm still pretty much with Rocketman here. I don't think he was born mentally retarded, but I do believe he's brain damaged from when he hit is head as a kid and had the personality shift.
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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Perfect » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:31 am

Aside from the initial brain damage, Goku reminds me of Rocky. Both of them end up getting brain damage later on from fighting.
Fox666 wrote:It seems you have pissed a lot of people on this forum, and I am quite sure they would like to call you stupid and say that's the designated adjectives for you. But they don't do that because of there are rules in this community.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Rocketman » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:31 am

Gokuman1993 wrote:Rocketman, while you're quote is quite funny, it is also rude, crude and totally bashes the character of Goku. Look people, this is not a place where you can just bash a character you dont like!
I'm not joking, or bashing. Even Goku's fanboys will say that he's a child in a grown body, which is basically the definition of mental retardation.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Gokuman1993 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:35 am

Rocketman wrote:
Gokuman1993 wrote:Rocketman, while you're quote is quite funny, it is also rude, crude and totally bashes the character of Goku. Look people, this is not a place where you can just bash a character you dont like!
I'm not joking, or bashing. Even Goku's fanboys will say that he's a child in a grown body, which is basically the definition of mental retardation.
Oh, well. Okay. I'm sorry for misjudging you. But, some people with Autism can be children in a grown body, too.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Gokuman1993 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:36 am

TheDevilsCorpse wrote:
Gokuman1993 wrote:I know that, but I don't think Goku's mentally impaired. I just think he may fit somewhere in the spectrum. You think so, right?
No, I'm still pretty much with Rocketman here. I don't think he was born mentally retarded, but I do believe he's brain damaged from when he hit is head as a kid and had the personality shift.
Well, either way. Saiyans are pretty much born to be good at fighting and, as shown with Goku or even Vegeta, show some little or absolutely no interest in other things or show a lack of skill in things outside of fighting.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Kingdom Heartless » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:52 am

Naive does not equal retarded. He's a kid who grew up isolated from society and raised himself for years.

The fact that he actually talks rather than just barks at things proves some intelligence. It's more that he was underdeveloped, not retarded.
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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Perfect » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:55 am

Gokuman1993 wrote:
TheDevilsCorpse wrote:
Gokuman1993 wrote:I know that, but I don't think Goku's mentally impaired. I just think he may fit somewhere in the spectrum. You think so, right?
No, I'm still pretty much with Rocketman here. I don't think he was born mentally retarded, but I do believe he's brain damaged from when he hit is head as a kid and had the personality shift.
Well, either way. Saiyans are pretty much born to be good at fighting and, as shown with Goku or even Vegeta, show some little or absolutely no interest in other things or show a lack of skill in things outside of fighting.
The difference is, Vegeta has a higher intellect than Goku.
Fox666 wrote:It seems you have pissed a lot of people on this forum, and I am quite sure they would like to call you stupid and say that's the designated adjectives for you. But they don't do that because of there are rules in this community.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Fox666 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:19 am

As a child (begginin of the series) Goku had no education, but he was not stupid. As an adult (23rd Budokai) he is quite smart. As an old man (Majin Boo saga) he is senile.

Perhaps in the anime Goku as an adult is portrayed as a retarded that stand naked in front of a crowd.
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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Rocketman » Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:24 am

Kingdom Heartless wrote:The fact that he actually talks rather than just barks at things proves some intelligence. It's more that he was underdeveloped, not retarded.
Jesus Christ, look at you being an insensitive fuck.

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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by BlazingFiddlesticks » Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:03 am

Goku has some traits that could be interpreted as lighter autism, namely his single-minded devotion to fighting and his resulting brilliance at it, and verbal bluntness.

The problem is that all of these traits have clear explanations; Goku is blunt and doesn't speak well because he spent his childhood uncultured and as such didn't become "socialized", he's obsessed with fighting because of his upbringing under a martial arts master and his genetic biases. There's no need for altered brain chemistry to come into play.
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Re: Son Goku: A represenative for people in the Autism spect

Post by Gokuman1993 » Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:24 am

BlazingFiddlesticks wrote:Goku has some traits that could be interpreted as lighter autism, namely his single-minded devotion to fighting and his resulting brilliance at it, and verbal bluntness.

The problem is that all of these traits have clear explanations; Goku is blunt and doesn't speak well because he spent his childhood uncultured and as such didn't become "socialized", he's obsessed with fighting because of his upbringing under a martial arts master and his genetic biases. There's no need for altered brain chemistry to come into play.
Y'know, after reading that, maybe I should re-word this topic?

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