Have YOU been accused of microaggressions??

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I shall explain it: The issue is not that she was wearing second hand clothes. It is that at a fancy ball, every woman wants to feel beautiful and unique. The Aspie embarrassed her.

Last edited by magz on 21 Jan 2023, 5:59 am, edited 1 time in total.: quote fixed

Gender-related issues vary a lot by culture and by subculture. What's acceptable in one group is not necessarily acceptable in another.

Yes, according to Wikipedia, the term "microaggression" was "coined by Harvard University psychiatrist Chester M. Pierce in 1970." So, yes, it did originate in the academic world.

There has long been a mutual influence between academia and political activists of various kinds. Political activists are more likely than the average person to read scholarly books that happen to be relevant to their cause. And marginalized-group-oriented academic "____ Studies" programs tend to attract students with at least some experience in political activism. This includes the grad students who eventually become faculty in these programs.

The role of BLM in popularizing the term "microaggression" was only indirect. Obviously, microaggressions are not the focus of BLM. But the rise of the BLM movement raised the hopes of many other people who wanted improve the lives of Black people, and other marginalized groups too, in many other ways besides just getting rid of police brutality. This is similar to what happened in the 1960's, when the end of Southern "Jim Crow" racial segregation raised all manner of other hopes too.


Hmmm, interesting. It's certainly possible that that played a significant role.


In terms of the overall chain of causation, I agree that DEI is more an effect that a cause. But it's the point in the chain where culturally mainstream white people were most likely to start coming into direct contact with the idea of "microaggressions" (apart from the afore-mentioned conservatives mocking the concept).

Does that mean there's a problem with the idea, or is this just our #EnlightenedCentrism update for today?

What exactly are you 'just saying'?

I think that there is an umbrella word for that and it's called politeness.

I happen to like “enlightened centrism.” We need a little more of that in the US Congress, so we don’t default on our debts.

“Microaggressions,” when there’s many of them, when there’s an accumulation, could cause a “that’s the last straw!” sort of situation.

I’m the recipient of microaggressions on a daily basis. If I get offended by each one, I’d go insane.

I have used “attention seeker” countless times here to describe a common accusation used against autistic people. I have never used “attention whore”. That has nothing to do with the word “whore”. “Attention whore” is a more recent expression and I am old. I have often used the newer phrase “inspiration porn”. Abuse of women is common in the porn industry and plenty of feminists have objected and sex workers are a marginalized group. Be it “inspiration porn” or “weather porn” for proliferation of storm chasing video shows, there is no outcry of offense.

It is a big world with a lot of different types of people. I am positive there are a few people out there triggered by “attention whore” and “inspiration porn”. Should we call them microagressions and stop using those expressions?

I would call it insensitivity

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 21 Jan 2023, 11:37 am, edited 2 times in total.

Why?

From what I hear out of your example is that at first sight it seems that it's micro aggression to put change on the counter if the guy is black. But what if the lady running the register is not aware of this thing, even in the early ages where it would have been described as micro agression, isn't it micro agression from his side to her, instead of her towards the black guy? How can someone assume you know this stuff? It's like forcing someone to move the way they want. And then complain about it if they don't.

I think the original point of this thread was perceived microaggressions against one's peers, i.e. saying things that to the autistic person seem like straightforward comments or observations, but are seen by the NT "target" as a disingenuous way to humiliate or get back at them in payment for some perceived slight.

Not this sort of political thing with race relations etc., which really doesn't have all that much to do with autism, after all this is the GAD forum not the PP&R forum.

Because it is being insensitive to the other person.

I'm not sure if you were following the conversation we had. The other person was asking me how should we call a situation where we need to assess it and decide wether what we sau might offend the other person. My response was that the word do describe that is politeness. Why would you chose the word insensitivity?

Microagression has been a political term from the get go so discussing the term is going to end up political.

Let’s get back to autism, sort of. Yes you are correct. Since we tend to use literal and blunt language what we say is often taken as an offense whether it is about marginalized group or not. The term microagression is used to point that these acts are not trivial, and the days of us letting them slide are over, from now on you are at minimal going to be called out if not canceled. This has made an already bad things for autistics a whole lot worse. I have found that when one is very afraid of making mistakes, one is more likely to make them. How can a ramping up of censorship be helpful?

Hooray! I just have Resting Bltch Face and I'm not being aggressive! Well if people asked me they'd know

Enlightened Centrism isn't actually enlightened though, you're reading it literally without understanding the background.

You know those people who insist they're centrists but only seem to have criticisms of the left? That's an Enlightened Centrist.