She took (https://www.reddit.com/r/theGoldenGirls/comments/pbuv3x/is_rose_autistic/) everything literally and frequently missed (https://autisticaf.me/2020/03/08/betty-white-patron-saint-of-autism/) social cues when the others were making jokes or gossiping in code.

Rose was just incredibly dumb, not mentally ill.

Autism is NOT a "mental illness"! It is a neurological condition.

Autism is NOT a "mental illness"! It is a neurological condition.

Autism spectrum disorder is indeed categorized as a mental disorder—also called a mental illness—in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 also classifies autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder (a subcategory of mental disorders).

I doubt Rose had autism, she just acted like she did.

So thankful that Rose grew up and matured when quirks were accepted and embraced instead of being considered 'symptoms' so she got to live out her life to do as she wanted without everyone trying to foist a diagnosis (and no doubt zillions of pills) on her!

Not autistic, but definitely naive.

Not autistic nor dumb, no, but yes, extremely naive. It was her lifestyle in St. Olaf. (though they did eventually start writing her more "dumb" in the latter years, when they wrote Blanche more slutty and Sophia more acerbic)