Muttley:

As I read your discription of what it's like looking at life through the lens of Asperger's, I was reminded of all the stories I've read learned about the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes the Cynic.

He was infamous for ignoring social mores. In his society, it was as unthinkable to eat in public as it would be for us to have sex on the street. And yet, once he was seen chowing down while wandering through the market. When someone asked him "Why?" he said: "Because I was hungry in the market." I now wonder if Diogenes was an Aspie, too. ... he seemed to do well by it -- he lived to be 90.

As for Reeve: I used to be offended by his "advocacy," but I softened over the years. After all, he was just this guy who had the misfortune of being an icon for invulnerability. He had no chance to educate himself, or to redefine his identity before he was pounced upon to be the frontman for "The Cure Cause."

Of course, just when I was in the middle of forgiving him, his widow starts doing the media circuit, promoting this book: Dewey Doo-it Helps Owlie Fly Again (CapriUni rolls her eyes. By the forge of Hephestus! Will it never end?!). That, of course, touches on another pet peeve of mine: pedantic, "uplifting" children's books where all the characters are infantile and have names that end in ie, because that's the only way kids will identify with them...