Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory is an Aspie. Anyone want to argue with me on that?

And what a wonderful, uber-Aspie he is! Sure , his whole cadre of friends are nerds, geeks, and social misfits — including the customers at the comic store and the speech-impedimented bully at the cafeteria. But Sheldon is the creme-de-la-creme of misfits. The filet-mignon of nerds. The Cadillac of social outcasts.

And because of him, the show’s a hit.

Thank you, TV, for that. For now every household gets to spend time with an Aspie every week.

Maybe it was time.

For years now, our culture has been curious about the high-IQ geeks that have become the new power people. There’s a thirst to know more about them and their “beautiful minds.”

The show’s long streak as a hit shows that the world wants to know more about the world of Sheldon Cooper and his nerdy friends.

Here’s what’s to love about Sheldon Cooper:

1. He says the things everyone thinks but dares not say.

An Aspie doesn’t instinctively know all the social rules. So people like Sheldon just put their thoughts into words. Sometimes the outcome is hilariously inappropriate.

But let’s face it — some things need saying. Our culture has a lot of rigid ideas about what’s sayable. Once these ideas are out in the open, we can start examining them.

The audience is laughing as much at themselves as at Sheldon. Who’s sillier: us or him? That’s always the punchline.

2. He delights in small, simple things.

Little things like toy trains, baby birds, and koalas bring joy to Sheldon’s face. The viewer can’t help marveling at how small these pleasures are. The show counters the jokes and humour with these small, tender moments to show a full person with deep feelings.

3. He tries to help.

Sheldon always means well. He wants to do things for his friends. He’s dedicated to the truth. He is at all levels a good person. Despite the fact that his words are hurtful and stark.

And we all know that it’s the thought that counts.

4. Despite being a brilliant adult, he is lost in childhood.

So many Aspies miss part of their childhood because they’re so busy coping or academically excelling. Same with Sheldon. When he gets hurt, he wants someone to sing Soft Kitty to him. He needs the soothing care of his mother. This shows the double sword of giftedness.

5. He’s open-minded despite being rigid.

Sheldon’s relationship with his fundamentalist mother is one of the highlights of the show. Not only does Mom show remarkable patience and diligence with her Shelly, but Sheldon gives her respect in return. Even though he thinks her religion is illogical, he states his objections simply, not meanly, and never attacks.

He asks Leonard and Penny to explain when things don’t make sense to him. He gives serious consideration to new ideas — that is, about anything except his pet interests.

Good to know for dealing with Aspies.

6. His sense of humour is hilarious because it’s different.

Sheldon doesn’t understand sarcasm, but he sure can use it. It’s even funnier because he feels he has to tell everyone that it was sarcasm.

His deadpan practical jokes are also hilarious because they’re bizarre. With Sheldon, you’re never quite sure if he’s serious. There’s a lot to enjoy in that.

in fact, you could say that Sheldon Cooper makes Asperger Syndrome fun.

As a parent, here’s what I love about Sheldon Cooper:

1. He has friends.

Sheldon isn’t easy to live with, but his friends include him in everything they do. They accommodate his needs, rituals, and sensitivities. They put up with his inappropriateness. They buy him books and give him pointers. If they’re mean to him, they apologize. They even helped him find a girlfriend who could accept his limitations.

Which introduced us to a female Aspie in Amy Farrah Fowler. So if you missed learning everything about Aspies through Sheldon, you get to learn it all again through Amy.

In effect, the show models for the viewers how people should act with Aspies – with acceptance.

2. He shows NT people not to fear Aspies.

The character of popular, beautiful Penny is a demo for NT people who have to live with Aspies. Sure, she doesn’t know how to deal with Sheldon at first. But over time, she learns to accept him and enjoy him.

In fact, over the course of a few seasons, Penny learns that her nerdy, Aspie-ish friends are deeper and more sincere friends that the superficial people she’s been hanging around with before.

3. The show has tenderness.

The Big Bang Theory doesn’t mock Aspies and geeks. Is celebrates them. It shows their inner world, their dreams and failures, their pain.

Like so many parents who know the inner world of Aspie kids, we yearn for the world to understand how much they feel, despite their wooden mannerisms.

Sheldon does that job for us.