Rating Strangers' Cutlery On SpoonTok

The neurodivergent urge to find the perfect utensil, one spoon at a time.

For most people, choosing a spoon requires little to no thought. But for the neurodivergent community, particularly autistic individuals (like myself), a spoon can make or break your entire day. The possibilities are endless on the many ways a spoon can betray you and your well-deserved meal. Is the handle heavy or flimsy? Is the bowl of the spoon narrow or deep? Is the bowl oval, square or circular? Does the spoon have a round end or a flat end? Does it have a metallic taste to it? Is it a nice colour? Is the texture overpowering? You know, just a few things to consider here.

This fascination and determination in finding the Goldilocks of spoons has led to the rise of #SpoonTok, where users are submitting images and videos of their favourite spoons. While many are seeking approval and validation from the SpoonTok council, just as many are fighting it out to find the worst ever spoon. It honestly is one of the most wholesome corners of the internet.

This isn’t the first time ‘spoons’ have taken over the neurodivergent discourse. Spoon Theory is a commonly used metaphor within the disability community. It represents an individual’s finite energy and how different tasks use up a certain number of spoons/energy. The phrase was first coined by award-winning writer and lupus patient advocate, Christine Miserandino, in her 2003 essay ‘The Spoon Theory.’ Over the years its become a vital tool for those that need help explaining their limitations and self-managing their energy to avoid burnout.

It’s unknown whether it’s a mere coincidence that the rise of SpoonTok coincides with Spoon Theory, but nevertheless, it too is slowly becoming part of the neurodivergent everyday lexicon. While it might seem like a niche internet obsession, #SpoonTok highlights a beautiful side of the internet where people can come together and create joy out of the mundane. The community allows people to be their weird selves and critical of things that most would say shouldn’t matter. It celebrates the small things in life and brings joy to something as simple as one’s cutlery.

So for a bit of fun, heres some spoons I’d like to present to the council. Cast your judgement, reject the unworthy contenders and rate these nightmare fuel worthy spoons.