Clapping banned?

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Someone on another forum sent me the message below and I'm wondering if anyone here has heard of this?

"There's an argument atm because a feminist conference in the UK requested (people are saying 'banned' but that's not quite right) that people not applaud speaches because it 'triggers anxiety'. I said that this was actually a fairly common thing and it grew out of activism for autistic people who are sensitive to things like applause so the media is being quite sensationalist acting like this is some new crazy thing rather than a sensible accomaditon, but I'm having difficulty finding a source.

Would you be able to help me out?"

What do you need help with?

I haven't heard of it.

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Unapologetically, Norny.
-chronically drunk

Never heard of it.

But it does sound like a new crazy thing vs. a sensible accommodation to me. I can't imagine attending a speech and then everyone staying silent and motionless vs. applauding a well spoken speaker. That would just be weird. If you can't handle being around applause, don't go places where it's likely to occur. Or buy yourself some earplugs or something if you really want to attend. Adjust yourself to the environment.. don't expect everyone else to modify their behavioural norms & bend over backwards to accommodate you like you're the centre of the universe or something.

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No for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.

I'm sensitive to the sound of a room of people clapping, but I'd still much rather they applauded my speeches or presentations than just sat silently, that would give me the impression that I'd done a bad job. I suppose we could adopt the sign-language version of clapping, which involves shaking both hands in the air.

oh man, the 4channers really had a field day with that one.

i think i did read the original article quoted, maybe it is one of these?. apparently their preferred alternative is 'jazz hands'. totally the same appreciation effect. i agree with goldfish's points.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/566202/NUS-jazz-hands-clapping-anxiety-feminists

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/24/feminist-conference-says-clapping-triggers-anxiety/

i don't see how an appropriately timed applause (sometimes it comes early) can be interrupting. whooping is something else, last year when i went to see a dance recital, the dance instructor has to interrupt the performance to discourage people to stop whooping and 'cheering', borderline harassment of the dancers. same few people every time.

I just can't imagine the late Dr. Martin Luther King's, "I have a dream" speech met with silence.

Temple Grandin tells people not to clap to her speeches, because she finds it overloading. (I went to a talk by her once.)

I've heard of it and I don't think it's crazy or weird to ask that people not clap....I guess I can see how it would be weird, because it's unfamiliar, but I personally don't find it weird.

Also, asking that people not clap is not the same as asking them to sit completely motionless nor is it the same as asking that they give no indication of whether or not they liked a presentation. Clapping is really just as random a signal of approval as anything else and I don't understand why it's such a big deal to use some other signal.

I also personally wouldn't consider asking people to not clap to be asking them to "bend over backwards" to provide accomodations....to me it seems like a pretty small thing to ask of people when you consider how potentially big and meaningful the opportunity to attend/participate might be.

I've read about this somewhere else... but what do they mean with 'jazzing hands'? I tried to google translate 'jazzing' but it brought up nothing and I can't really picture what they mean, then.

Anyway, I think they take the whole 'trigger' and 'inclusiveness' thing way too far, it's beyond reason and oppressive.