this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2023
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Autism

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[–] [email protected] 69 points 2 years ago (8 children)

Stop saying allistic, it's really silly.

[–] [email protected] 48 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Neurotypical is honestly a better word

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Neurotypical means they have 0 mental conditions/disorders, allistic just means not autistic

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago

Typical allist.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago

Also who the fuck is calling autistic people too sensitive? This image is like victim fetishizing.

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[–] [email protected] 50 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 years ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 years ago (6 children)

The term you're looking for is "Neurotypical"

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

But where does it come from? Regardless, sounds funny so I'm all for it.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Auto/allo come from the ancient Greek words for self/other. It's one of those pairs like cis/trans, hypo/hyper, in/ex, etc.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I wonder if it's alright to call myself or others "hella allistic".

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago

Some dumbass

[–] [email protected] 36 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (7 children)

This kind of talk is counterproductive.

Humans are social creatures. There has almost always been some sort of social norm across all of history. Likewise, there has almost been judgement of people who break social norms.

People with Autism have, among other things, trouble following those social norms. Ultimately a lot of the things we do could be considered offensive. The important part is to increase awareness that Autism is a disability and to ask for tolerance.

Meanwhile a lot of ways that autistic people are sensitive in are pretty alien and jarring. There's a lack of emotional regulation that often leads to disproportionate outbursts. There are sensory issues that can lead to relatively benign things causing said outbursts. There are a ton of things that are simply more disruptive than a neurotypical person getting miffed that someone doesn't make eye contact.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

The important part is to increase awareness that Autism is a disability and to ask for tolerance.

Or, you know, I can demand the reasonable accommodations that are my human right.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The important part is to increase awareness that Autism is a disability and to ask for ~~tolerance~~ understanding and accommodation.

I try to help.

If we're using the language of disability, 'understanding and accommodation' seems to afford its subjects a degree of dignity. We tend not to ask for 'tolerance' on behalf of the disabled, after all.

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Image Transcription: Tumblr


lifeinautismworld

"Autistic people are too sensitive."

Meanwhile, here's a list of things that offend allistic people.

  • not making eye contact

  • wanting to be left alone

  • not wanting to take part in a conversation

  • using the wrong tone

  • showing the wrong amount of excitement

  • pointing instead of using words

  • not wanting to be touched

  • not wanting to eat certain foods

  • wearing earplugs around other people

  • stimming in a way that does not affect anyone else

  • not following traditions

  • questioning their authority

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 years ago (31 children)

I can’t be the only one tired of the whole, “neurodivergent” crap.

I have ADHD, it’s a disability. I’m not **special**, I’m just fucking broken. Sure, it’s a more depressing take, but it’s more realistic.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

Personally I find this form of thinking far more dangerous: I come from a country in which being "mentally disabled" would literally mean me being unable to function in polite society, and being a "retard" is something pretty common, even with adults. The fact I was undiagnosed autistic until I left saved me. Sure you don't function like everyone else, and yeah, it's hard - trust me -, but to say you're broken is basically undermining everyone else that has the same condition as you.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 years ago

Neurodivergent is a middle ground. Our wiring is abnormal in some (or many) ways.

We are broken in the same way a tank is a really shitty car. If all you do is drive the roads, it will seem that way. However, it can go places that a car simply can't. Critically, this doesn't make it any less shitty on the roads. Nore let you suddenly become a car. You're a tank, and stuck as one.

This is different to being broken however. We are forced to adapt to our unusual brain wiring. Some people unfortunately can't. Others can mask, but find it exhausting.

I'm personally reasonably lucky. I have ADHD and autism. My life was pretty shitty till I learnt not to follow the expectations of others. I now have a family, an interesting job, and hobbies I enjoy. My life is still far from perfect, but it's not broken, it just felt that way.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (4 children)
  1. Just because something is a disability doesn't mean you can't call it neurodivergent. It's just a broader term that means that you're different.

  2. ADHD isn't a disability for everyone. Plenty of people function fine with it.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago

Just to be clear, something is called a disorder when it affects your ability to do everyday things.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago (13 children)

Hey. Pretty sure I have undiagnosed ADHD (literally sitting in waiting room to talk to a therapist as I write this), and I feel like there's a bit more than just being broken. We're only "broken" because we don't conform to the currently agreed upon norms. The world isn't designed for us. And the quicker we can realize that and make personal and societal adaptations to make these "breaks" more standard, well, we'll all be better off.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I don't think they are all the same, and not all of them cause "offence".

"using the wrong tone" is by definition wrong, so of course it will cause confusion and irritation.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Evidently, this is a divisive and emotional topic. Still, we’re happy that we are talking about it because it’s certainly important to us in the community. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be so heated about it. At the same time, we’d like to keep the discussion respectful. It’s completely fine to express your opinions as long as they aren’t explicitly violating any of the rules, especially promoting hate. It’s respectful and effective to disagree with someone over a passionate topic without calling them offensive names. There is no need to personally attack anyone or a group, and we do not want to maintain a space that is used for creating hateful division.

Remember, we’re here to discuss all matters related to autism, have a place where we can freely be autistic without having to mask, and ultimately create a community. It’s understandable to get heated over topics, but try to remember that you’re responding to another person that may feel emotional about the matter as well.

In other words, please practice human decency.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I check too many boxes here

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Kinda burying the lede here. They are all different forms of “questioning their authority”

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (8 children)

I dont agree it's about authority at all. This entire list is about showing disrespect for someone and expecting them to be OK with it.

To allistic people, everything on this list is insulting behavior that will offend them (except not wanting to eat certain foods).

This behavior will work fine with autistic people though. But you can't expect it to work with allistic people.

Different brains equals different expectations of what is acceptable social behavior. That's it.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 years ago (10 children)

not everyone is offended by these behaviors. what's more insulting is lumping all autistic people together, and lumping all non-autistic people together assuming that they all feel the same way. it's THAT sort of behavior that makes people turn on the other.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm offended that you think I don't question authority.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (2 children)

ah yes because my teenage neighbor is going to be very angry at me if I don't follow traditions

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago (9 children)

If the term "allistic" offends you: grow up, it's a new word. Is learning a new word scary? Cis isn't offensive. Allistic isn't offensive. If you become insecure because a previously unnamed characteristic or condition or yours suddenly receives a name that doesn't have implicit negative connotations, you should go work on whatever problem you have.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago

Exactly like the word 'cis' and transphobes, people that think 'allistic' is offensive probably use autistic as a slur.

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