Intelligence Doesn't Equate Value - Tumblr Posts

I'd like to approach this topic as, not only an autistic person, but also as a self advocate who sees a lot of what goes on in the autistic community.

Lower intelligence often goes hand in hand with being seen as lesser. You're less of a person, less worthy of things like bodily autonomy, rights and respect. I think the push to prove that Wrecker is intelligent is the fanbase going "Wrecker has value! Wrecker deserves love and respect!"

Well yeah, but even if he wasn't intelligent he'd still have value and would be deserving of love and respect. Sadly we as humans still haven't moved past the idea that being stupid is some sort of green light to dehumanize someone. "Oh, you're not smart? Well then, you aren't deserving of being treated like a human being."

Even if Wrecker was just all brawn with no brains I think he'd still have value as a character. He'd still be the same caring and supportive person we all know and love. He'd still be him.

While I see what people are doing with posts about how Wrecker is intelligent (I've shared plenty of them myself) we need to stop equating intelligence with value. Of course a lot of those posts are responses to reading some post or fanfic where Wrecker was written as a complete buffoon whose only reason for existence is to be laughed at. Again, seeing a lack of intelligence as a green light to dehumanize. Dance monkey, dance. I'd get upset too. So people try to counteract those views of Wrecker with the view that he's actually very intelligent and doesn't deserve to be laughed at.

Except a person doesn't need to be intelligent to not be laughed at.

Is Wrecker intelligent? I believe he is in his own way. A way that isn't as valued as it should be. But even if he wasn't he still deserves to be valued as a beloved character.

Sorry if this got way more serious than expected. It just set something off in my brain.

This Wrecker Wednesday I’d like to address the question: “would it be so bad if Wrecker wasn’t intelligent/was stupid?”

The thing is CANONICALLY he isn’t. He rewires a canon from a tank to make it a “gun” that he is able to carry and shoot. He works (successfully) with explosives on screen.

He may not be the most observant or focused. But he makes connections quickly once his attention is drawn.

Making Wrecker not intelligent is mischaracterization.