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submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by RosethornRanger@hexbear.net to c/neurodiverse@hexbear.net

I don't like being referred to as a "person with autism". I can't just set it down, it's not something I can remove. It is fundamental to the way I interact with the world, right down to how stim enters my brain. If my brain has types of inputs no allistic person can even approach, and methods of processing inherently different, it is an existence no allistic person can reach. There is no version of me that is not autistic.

A "cure" is the same as shooting me and replacing me with someone else.

The type of person I am is autistic. I am autistic.

I know it is a big trend in leftist spaces to use person first language, but in many situations that just sounds like eugenics to me. Personhood is not some distinct universal experience. There is no “ideal human mind” floating out there in the aether for them to recognize in me.

I get that person first language helps some people recognize that thoughts happen behind my eyes, but if the only way they can do that is by imagining I’m them, I don’t care.

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[-] oscardejarjayes@hexbear.net 10 points 2 months ago

Certainly an interesting first post to make on Hexbear.

Seeing person first language as eugenicsy feels a bit weird to me. By law, only a person can have rights, protections, and privileges. And I feel like person in no way implies an "ideal human mind", given that even an organization can be a person (a "judicial person", though perhaps it's a silly comparison given how legal and actual uses of terms vary), and even when unconscious people are still often referred to as a "person". The only entities that usually aren't considered a person are slaves, and animals, so it feels like refusing personhood would be even more problematic. Adding on to all that, I've basically never heard a proponent of eugenics using person first language.

The people first vs identity first debate seems to have a lot to do with the specific identities involved, specifically how "harmful" it's perceived. Blind people, hard of hearing people, and autistic people often see their condition more as being a part of them. Homeless people, people with drug issues, people with diabetes, people with AIDS, people with cancer, generally see their condition as inherently problematic, and so want to be associated more with themselves than their condition (even when it's not curable). An autistic person can be at peace with who they are, in a way that no drug addict or cancer patient could be.

All that said, I think identity first language can work better in some situations, mostly because it's less verbose. "in common usage positive pronouns usually precede nouns" and all that. "Autistic person" rather than "person with autism", "homeless person" rather than "person experiencing homelessness". It still gets most of the idea across, but it's easier to put on a sign or in a headline.

Oh, and like people have said, "autist" is a 4chan word with some not amazing connotations, and it's often used by people who aren't necessarily autistic. Perhaps it's better to avoid that word (unless you have some intention of reclaiming it? I'm not sure it's reclaimable, or if it's even worth bothering).

this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2024
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neurodiverse

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What is Neurodivergence?

It's ADHD, Autism, OCD, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, bi-polar, aspd, etc etc etc etc

“neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behavior”

So, it’s very broad, if you feel like it describes you then it does as far as we're concerned


Rules

1.) ableist language=post or comment will probably get removed (enforced case by case, some comments will be removed and restored due to complex situations). repeated use of ableist language=banned from comm and possibly site depending on severity. properly tagged posts with CW can use them for the purposes of discussing them

2.) always assume good faith when dealing with a fellow nd comrade especially due to lack of social awareness being a common symptom of neurodivergence

2.5) right to disengage is rigidly enforced. violations will get you purged from the comm. see rule 3 for explanation on appeals

3.) no talking over nd comrades about things you haven't personally experienced as a neurotypical chapo, you will be purged. If you're ND it is absolutely fine to give your own perspective if it conflicts with another's, but do so with empathy and the intention to learn about each other, not prove who's experience is valid. Appeal process is like appealing in user union but you dm the nd comrade you talked over with your appeal (so make it a good one) and then dm the mods with screenshot proof that you resolved it. fake screenies will get you banned from the site, we will confirm with the comrade you dm'd.

3.5) everyone has their own lived experiences, and to invalidate them is to post cringe. comments will be removed on a case by case basis depending on determined level of awareness and faith

4.) Interest Policing will not be tolerated in any form. Support your comrades in their joy!

Further rules to be added/ rules to be changed based on community input

RULES NOTE: For this community more than most we understand that the clarity and understandability of these rules is very important for allowing folks to feel comfortable, to that end please don't be afraid to be outspoken about amendments and addendums to these rules, as well as any we may have missed

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