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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be so angry after watching "Love on the Spectrum"

402 replies

Jobs4kids · 22/04/2026 07:58

As the parent of two high functioning young adults. Admittedly I only watched one episode (no wish to watch anymore) but was dismayed to see that all the autistic people featured were infantised and presumably picked for their entertainment value (awwww bless them). I actually watched it after overhearing a colleague say how funny it was.

I feel it's representative of just one type of autistic person - those that come across as frankly odd (for want of a better word), obviously autistic with terrible social skills, and who in many cases can't live independently/attend mainstream education. It's an extremely wide spectrum and many people with ASD, such as my kids, don't come across like that all! My son, while quite quiet, has an excellent job and interacts in public very normally (can be a bit quirky behind closed doors though!) My daughter is away at uni and comes across as very outgoing and socially able with a large circle of friends, including a few who are also high functioning ASD. Many of her newer friends don't know she's autistic (only brings it up if relevant to the conversation) and she says most she's told seem surprised, although one remarked "ah that's why you're so good at chess!". That's not to say being autistic doesn't cause her a lot of difficulty - she's an expert masker, which is why she wasn't diagnosed until nearly 18, and there are times she needs to go into hibernation as her social battery gets depleted as all the acting "normal" is incredibly exhausting. She also constantly worries about how she comes across, replaying interactions in her head and is prone to depression, anxiety and self harming (has started counselling to help manage all this). She can also meltdown in private. While she's not had a serious relationship as yet, she's had a lot of interest (no surprise, she's extremely attractive) and I worry some may be put off upon finding out she's autistic, especially after watching programmes like this!

I think it's a shame they don't also include people like my kids and some of their friends in the programme to demonstrate the vastness of the spectrum or it because they would make very boring TV as you couldn't laugh at them?!

Sorry for the rant but both my husband and myself were so cross after watching this and pray my kids don't see it!

OP posts:
AliceNotInChains · 26/04/2026 09:02

Jobs4kids · 22/04/2026 08:34

I would be equally angry if my kids were lower functioning as I feel the programme is taking the piss out of the participants and it's done for entertainment value. I don't understand why they can't include some higher functioning people who while may initially be able to get dates but struggle further down the line when the differences & struggles become more evident as they progress into a relationship.

They do!!!! You watched one episode!!!

Forthesteps · 27/04/2026 23:11

DotAndCarryOne2 · 24/04/2026 17:25

Can I ask a question ? And this is genuine and in no way designed to be goady or inflammatory. Do you think it’s possible to be black and have some privilege?

Of course. DH went to public school with black classmates whose families were multimillionaires

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