Using a social perspective to autism, I would appreciate if there were a way to classify someone as autistic without calling it a disorder. Yes, we have difficulties, but from a social perspective, a lot of them come from society being structured to meet the needs of allistics. They get guidance, acceptance, and ultimately privilege of a world that is designed for them, while we have to try to meet their expectations. From this perspective, we’re not disordered, but oppressed/marginalized. How does that make us disordered?
I agree that there are different levels of functioning, and that some individuals might meet criteria for a disorder due to autism spectrum characteristics, so that would be valid. However, many individuals would function quite well in a setting that was designed to raise, educate, and accommodate autistic brains.
Anyone have any insight or ideas on this?
Words matter, otherwise verbal assault wouldn’t constitute a hate crime (at least in the UK). You used an ableist word and that matters. The word has an interesting history, in case anyone is interested (see below) and using it is ableist given it used to be a psychiatric classification. I am assuming you wouldn’t use the ‘F’ word to describe gay people or the ‘N’ word to describe black people. Those are just words, too, what makes them different?
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-sinister-history-of-the-word-moron-explained
Also, taking the “science doesn’t care about your feelings” line of thinking is really lazy. We don’t have to keep the status quo. In fact, it’s generally good if we don’t. I can see from your responses that you aren’t interested in discussion, so I’m leaving it here. It’s OK to be wrong about things sometimes. Maybe you are wrong about this. Maybe not, but maybe you are.
I do agree with you words do matter that was my entire point, a disorder is not a bad word it’s a technical term, do we need to make up a new word because it has a stigma attached to it for some people? As far as moron goes what words that you don’t like are next is idiot gonna be on the chopping block? Dim witted? Should I spell it like this? m*ron does that make it so it’s not the same word and doesn’t hurt people? Sometimes policing what other people say can go too far you saying ableist could be bothersome to me but I’m not gonna tell you that you can’t say that
Comparing moron and the N word is a stretch but hey words are hurtful to you personally I can’t change that, good luck navigating life if that is going to set you off, not everyone is gonna be nice or agree with you that’s life though
Pretty sure scientifically proven facts are truths, unless they are disproven or the methodology is flawed if that’s lazy then I don’t know what to say lol
I do agree with you on my possibly being wrong, I don’t have a problem admitting when I’m wrong, on the flip side maybe, just maybe you too are wrong
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I didn’t reply to that question cuz quite frankly it’s a stupid question, those are words that are meant to be offensive they were never clinical terms… their sole purpose is to insult someone
Disorder isn’t an offensive word it’s a clinical term