One criticism I have heard about autistic people’s intelligence is that they watch “baby” shows and movies. There are a few reasons for this. I do still enjoy watching some cartoons and kids movies even though I’m 20. They provide a sort of mindless comfort. They are predictable and require little to no thought, unlike most things in my life. After spending the whole day processing information, it is relaxing and regulating to sit back and enjoy something mindless.
Many neurotypical people have guilty pleasure shows and movies from childhood. Autistic people just have more of a tendency to loop on preferred stimuli. Once an autistic person finds something they like it sticks, no matter how young they were when they first saw it. These interests aren’t less mature than those of neurotypicals, they are just desired more intensely. It should have no bearings on our perceived intelligence.
Mitchell's Life with Autism 
These interests aren’t less mature than those of neurotypicals, they are just desired more intensely. A perfect line!
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I happen to know from experience that NTs also go through periods where they appreciate things like cartoons and such that are deemed “too young” for them. Both in late adolescence and in adulthood. You’re right, we all need mindless activities to let our brains rest and recharge, no matter the neurotype. Sometimes autistic choices are different than NTS, and sometimes, as you’ve said, it’s only a matter of intensity that’s different. Hmmm… and now that I think about it, nostalgia wouldn’t be such a big thing (maybe not even a word) if people of all kinds didn’t have fond memories and interests in things (including “childish” ones) that were important to us at earlier points in our lives.
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Autistic adult here. I like modern kid media sometimes, and I’m not big on nostalgia. To me, it’s not about unwinding on something mindless, but instead, about genuinely enjoying the improved storytelling quality of modern kid media compared to what existed in the past. I actually find the cartoons from my childhood to be unwatchable!
I think this is different from allistics who prefer nostalgia. Though some do enjoy movies such as Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, again, because of the more mature storytelling.
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This is a cool topic. I am learning about my neurotype because my family and I didn’t know about it before. I still often watch the show that I watched everyday when I was a little kid, Curious George. I know generally how each episode goes and it is comforting and pleasing for me. It doesn’t bore me. I sometimes feel ashamed for wanting to watch it a lot but I know that I don’t need to be. There is too much variability in watching new shows that I’ve never seen before, so I don’t want to as often. Thank you for sharing, Mitchell.
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Older autistic adult here, I believe I enjoy watching movies geared toward younger people because they are far more optimistic and fun than movies for mature folks. I enjoy slapstick humor like the old Marx bros. Abbott and Costello, Little Rascals. I believe we have lost much of our innocence and ability to imagine and play as we age. I find that fact very sad sometimes.
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