BabySmitty
Porous Freak
So something that's been tossed around on this site before is a quote from Tom Kenny saying that Spongebob is "a little bit autistic." He was saying that, apparently, in response to discovering that for whatever reason, something about his character is inherently appealing to those on the spectrum.
If you dig a little deeper than that, it's actually kind of interesting. Not in the "creepy conspiracy" sense, but because the idea of Spongebob being on the spectrum is surprisingly plausible, and seems to fit perfectly with everything that's been established about his character.
Spongebob is basically a walking DSMMV textbook list for all of the traits of high-functioning autism/Asperger's Syndrome.
1) Can't Read Social Cues
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=98MuUpA0Etz4913AzSxo87d5DnxViw0TS5urHe3ltz4%3D
This is probably the most obvious. Spongebob can't read social cues very well. It's hard for the guy to know when he's bothering someone, and he's not very good at reading the emotions of others. A lot of the comedy from the show derives from the fact that he doesn't know that he's annoying.
2) Meltdowns
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=3803Nd6ey7y%2FsD2z12iWNnqhvYX9aNHTwseSvilYRQI%3D
Not necessarily a requirement for a diagnosis but it's a very common trait with autistic people to have meltdowns over relatively minor things, and to not handle their own emotions well. We've seen Spongebob, countless times, freak out over fairly petty things. Most of the time it's played for comedy, but for certain people (autistic or not) it can be relatable at times.
3) Takes Things Very Literally
People with autism often have trouble understanding figurative/metaphorical language, including expressions/sarcasm. This is something we've seen with Spongebob before. Remember when he and Squidward went on strike, and Squidward told him that they would "dismantle the oppressive establishment?" Spongebob interpreted "dismantle the establishment" as "destroy the building." So he did.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=9Rhd36LvpCLk9zQDVbjr4uq7X%2BvC4IjsHrcCAPmXV60%3D
4) "Special Interest"
Most autistic people have one certain area of extreme knowledge/expertise that they refer to as a "special interest." Something that they feel extreme, almost obsessive, passion for. It's not hard to see that Spongebob's is his love of fry-cooking. Fortunately for him, that's also his job, and he's probably the happiest workaholic ever shown on television.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=6j5F8RpUlzDOZpurDZBs3EyHJQMmi2rLUMfM%2Fgk1piY%3D
5) Sarcasm-Blind
A lot of autistic people have trouble with understanding sarcasm. Ties into figurative/metaphorical language. One common running gag in the show is Squidward making a snide, sarcastic remark to Spongebob, who takes it at face-value. One instance of this is in "Employee of the Month," when Spongebob thinks that "Annoy Squidward Day" refers to a date on his calendar, rather than him annoying Squidward at that particular time.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=wMyRsytXkG3oEnRtpSDs48IjzXRS%2B8FfjZN1fiiIsvE%3D
There are other traits of autism, stereotypical or not, that Spongebob exhibits. Those include near-photographic memory (though his short-term memory is limited,) excellence in math, and artistic skills.
He's able to perform complicated math in his head, within seconds, was voted "most clumsy" in high school, and is something of an artistic protegee.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=EVsq%2ByvBNKys1Ht8amIn9QsqujCQCIOg6nLZhIUi7Jc%3D
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=TAAFaPbUCAd%2BCsJgh8G7rAAvNcIq8Wu5tUewJllGfmw%3D
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=B%2Fe6ao70ijfFpvdt6Bj3UmH3LCR0O%2BoWRtP%2B32W0WfY%3D
Just some food for thought. This is a fan theory that not only fits perfectly with previously established canon, but it's also somewhat supported by Spongebob's voice actor, Tom Kenny. Even if it's not 100% canon it's still pretty interesting.
Then again, this is a show in which fire can exist underwater unless its logic is immediately questioned at the time, so perhaps we'll never know for certain.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=vVSqy8eSj1blKzVveEEtFia4FckzDGeS1rwh2Fj%2FA0k%3D
I'm looking forward to seeing what DadMomAngryPants and PieGuyRulz say about this.
If you dig a little deeper than that, it's actually kind of interesting. Not in the "creepy conspiracy" sense, but because the idea of Spongebob being on the spectrum is surprisingly plausible, and seems to fit perfectly with everything that's been established about his character.
Spongebob is basically a walking DSMMV textbook list for all of the traits of high-functioning autism/Asperger's Syndrome.
1) Can't Read Social Cues
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=98MuUpA0Etz4913AzSxo87d5DnxViw0TS5urHe3ltz4%3D
This is probably the most obvious. Spongebob can't read social cues very well. It's hard for the guy to know when he's bothering someone, and he's not very good at reading the emotions of others. A lot of the comedy from the show derives from the fact that he doesn't know that he's annoying.
2) Meltdowns
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=3803Nd6ey7y%2FsD2z12iWNnqhvYX9aNHTwseSvilYRQI%3D
Not necessarily a requirement for a diagnosis but it's a very common trait with autistic people to have meltdowns over relatively minor things, and to not handle their own emotions well. We've seen Spongebob, countless times, freak out over fairly petty things. Most of the time it's played for comedy, but for certain people (autistic or not) it can be relatable at times.
3) Takes Things Very Literally
People with autism often have trouble understanding figurative/metaphorical language, including expressions/sarcasm. This is something we've seen with Spongebob before. Remember when he and Squidward went on strike, and Squidward told him that they would "dismantle the oppressive establishment?" Spongebob interpreted "dismantle the establishment" as "destroy the building." So he did.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=9Rhd36LvpCLk9zQDVbjr4uq7X%2BvC4IjsHrcCAPmXV60%3D
4) "Special Interest"
Most autistic people have one certain area of extreme knowledge/expertise that they refer to as a "special interest." Something that they feel extreme, almost obsessive, passion for. It's not hard to see that Spongebob's is his love of fry-cooking. Fortunately for him, that's also his job, and he's probably the happiest workaholic ever shown on television.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=6j5F8RpUlzDOZpurDZBs3EyHJQMmi2rLUMfM%2Fgk1piY%3D
5) Sarcasm-Blind
A lot of autistic people have trouble with understanding sarcasm. Ties into figurative/metaphorical language. One common running gag in the show is Squidward making a snide, sarcastic remark to Spongebob, who takes it at face-value. One instance of this is in "Employee of the Month," when Spongebob thinks that "Annoy Squidward Day" refers to a date on his calendar, rather than him annoying Squidward at that particular time.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=wMyRsytXkG3oEnRtpSDs48IjzXRS%2B8FfjZN1fiiIsvE%3D
There are other traits of autism, stereotypical or not, that Spongebob exhibits. Those include near-photographic memory (though his short-term memory is limited,) excellence in math, and artistic skills.
He's able to perform complicated math in his head, within seconds, was voted "most clumsy" in high school, and is something of an artistic protegee.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=EVsq%2ByvBNKys1Ht8amIn9QsqujCQCIOg6nLZhIUi7Jc%3D
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=TAAFaPbUCAd%2BCsJgh8G7rAAvNcIq8Wu5tUewJllGfmw%3D
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=B%2Fe6ao70ijfFpvdt6Bj3UmH3LCR0O%2BoWRtP%2B32W0WfY%3D
Just some food for thought. This is a fan theory that not only fits perfectly with previously established canon, but it's also somewhat supported by Spongebob's voice actor, Tom Kenny. Even if it's not 100% canon it's still pretty interesting.
Then again, this is a show in which fire can exist underwater unless its logic is immediately questioned at the time, so perhaps we'll never know for certain.
http://www.sbmania.net/pictures.php?img=vVSqy8eSj1blKzVveEEtFia4FckzDGeS1rwh2Fj%2FA0k%3D
I'm looking forward to seeing what DadMomAngryPants and PieGuyRulz say about this.