Hacker News Reader

Comment by jdowner | Hacker News Reader

The reason that some autistic people get upset by that usage is that is diminishes how they experience life. It's like saying, 'everyone is a little black'. There is a big differences between having the genes of a black ancestor in your family tree, and experiencing life as a black person. So, to autistic people, you are not communicating the right thing.

View on HN

Some people are a little black. Not everything should operate by the one-drop rules of American slavery. I don't think many people are saying "everyone" is a little autistic.

But, to play devil's advocate, isn't this exactly what we should want, long term?

I think the end goal is for Black and autistic people to be thought of as people first and foremost, and their differences would take a back seat. This is the only way we can be one big happy family. Wouldn't the best way to accomplish this be for the rest to realize that they actually have something in common with the marginalized groups?

Imagine a white supremacist who learns they had a Black ancestor. That would transform their whole world view.

Same with autism: neurotypical people being able to relate to quirks that cause social exclusion isn't something to shut down. We should be celebrating the normalization of these things because that is how they stop being markers of the "other".

Sometimes I wonder what the people who are up in arms about being "not properly" Black, autistic, etc. have as their end game. Perpetual exclusion of the marginalized groups for sympathy points? I think many would gladly trade those points for greater inclusion.

My understanding is that the normalization doesn’t mean subsumption but that the differences are normal and accounted for by default. For example, m/f bathrooms are largely considered normal to account for two different gender identities (this is extremely simplified; I’m aware that non-binary people exist but they are still not considered “normal” largely and are not accounted for by default). Very few people are running around saying all men are a little bit women so why do we have separate bathrooms, clearly this is perpetual exclusion.

Being able to better communicate with one another is obviously a good thing. The point is that the language being used isn't facilitating that and that is why the autistic community has pushed back on it. So it seems to me, that it is now on the neurotypical community to listen to that feedback.

Also, autism isn't just about social quirks. These are people with different neurophysiology who experience the world in a different way. It is not simply a matter of holding a different opinion or learning a particular behavior. This is not something that can be 'normalized' by talking through it.

The autistic community is largely against gate keeping, and are quite accepting of people who are self-diagnosed. This is not about not being 'properly' autistic, but about having a voice. Being a part of society for the person you are. To not having the challenges you face in a world defined by and for neurotypical people being trivialized.

> magine a white supremacist who learns they had a Black ancestor. That would transform their whole world view.

Afaik, it does not. Nazi who found out they have Jewish ancestors did not concluded being Jew is fine. They continied to hate Jews and found whole thing unfair.

Self Hate is a thing, ignoring evidence is a thing and both can make you even more dangerous.

>Imagine a white supremacist who learns they had a Black ancestor. That would transform their whole world view.

Never underestimate the mental gymnastics of racism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mischling_Test

I don't know. If you are a "little" autistic, you don't have as many issues. I get that you have lots of issues, just not as many as say, someone who is non-verbal.

What would be the point of doing away with the word "mildly" because aren't you then downplaying what severe autism looks like? So aren't they just saying that the support structure for "mildly" autistic people isn't strong enough?

Seems like a really indirect way to say such a thing.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com