this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2023
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Autism

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[–] [email protected] 59 points 1 year ago (9 children)

Stop saying allistic, it's really silly.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 year ago (14 children)

Neurotypical is honestly a better word

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

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

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

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

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't know about all autistic people, but over 75% of the people I've had a considerable relationship with have called me too sensitive at some point. It's one of the hallmarks of being me: waiting for the moment someone calls me too sensitive. The other is being called an asshole because I apparently made some implication I was completely unaware of.

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (8 children)
[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago (6 children)

The term you're looking for is "Neurotypical"

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year 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] 21 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If I'm making eye contact with you, I have no idea what you're saying.

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

..... Um.

Well. This post has been eye opening and maybe a little disturbing.

Anyway I work in sales and eye contact is a must. I find it really hard to pay any attention to what people are saying when I'm looking at them but I've practiced enough that there's, like, a subroutine in my brain that that picks out the relevant information in a conversation while I consciously am not really engaged in a meaningful way. I'll ask the right questions and it seems like I'm paying attention but I'm really just running on auto pilot.

I'll finish a video conference or in person meeting thanking God for transcription software because I can't recall a fucking thing they talked about.

I've realized in life that nobody cares about what's actuallly happening. They are about what looks like it's happening. I don't understand it and I never will but everyone wants you to lie to them, constantly. So just give the people what they need.

Once I realized this life got a lot smoother.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (11 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] 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 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 1 year 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] 20 points 1 year 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 1 year 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 1 year ago (2 children)

I check too many boxes here

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (45 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] 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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 1 year 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 1 year 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.

[–] rarely 11 points 1 year 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] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why can't we just be ourselves, without NTs imposing judgement on us? Sometimes I feel like I'm expected to act NT, when I feel like it shouldn't be a big deal. It's very frustrating for me. So what if I don't know how to add to a conversation, or if I avoid eye contact, or if I don't like people trying to make eye contact with me for too long? Can't I just share that I'm autistic, and be given my own autonomy? I really don't like when NT standards are imposed on me. It makes me angry.

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[–] ElBarto 12 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I've been trying that maintain eye contact thing, how to they do that? Doesn't't the constant screaming in their heads hurt them?

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago (4 children)

You've probably heard this already but, in case you haven't, try watching their eyebrows or right above them instead. It's a lot less awkward for some people for reasons I don't completely understand.

Remember to look away for a moment every ten seconds or so unless you're trying to seduce or intimidate them! It becomes a routine after awhile. Also, humans are really weird.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year 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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