Love on the Spectrum

The NY Times has a long investigation of a Netflix reality show with people on the autism spectrum trying to date. The 39-year-old single woman reporter draws two main conclusions.

First, the show is authentic. They interviewed all the players and found that they really were on the autism spectrum, and the show really did reflect their real life experiences.

Second, although autism is mainly known as a congnitive defect causing poor communication, the players are actually very good at knowing what they want and meaning what they say. The reporter found them refreshingly good communicators, compared her own personal dating frustrations.

I think she has hit upon something. Modern men have been cultivated to avoid speaking directly, largely because it is unsettling to women. Those who do are treated as if they have a mental disease.