People who use "aspie" or "autistic" as a slur

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Pinguino
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25 Feb 2017, 11:26 am

Hi folks, after starting university I started making some friends and things were looking better for me socially. It didn't take long though, before I realised that one of my new friends, a guy who's really popular with other students, appeared to detest autistic people and calling everyone he didn't like "autistic" or "aspie". He didn't and doesn't know that I'm an Aspie, but I realised that after he said about someone that had liked one of his posts on Facebook "He's f*****g autistic, I'm friends with him just for the fun of it", that he's not the kind of guy I should be in touch with.

Then, he had a massive conflict with a fellow and more senior student, and one of the leaders of the student board, who he felt was "nerdy" and not too good at social norms. He's been going around saying he's autistic, "has to have Asperger's or some other s**t", "he should go to the National Autistic Association". This deeply offends me, and considering that I've made some social mistakes around him in the past, he might think of me in the same way. What really sent me over the edge was that I discovered a sheet of paper on his desk one day, where he had written "you're f*****g autistic" all over the paper several times. I suspect it's directed at the guy I mentioned, but it might be directed at me, or a lot of other people, as in his opinion, "50% of the students here are f*****g socially ret*d".

Have you had similar experiences, with people using "aspie"/"autistic" as a slur, or deeply resenting people who are neurodiverse?



whatamievendoing
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25 Feb 2017, 11:45 am

I can relate. People who make derogratory devices out of "autistic" or "Aspie" (although I do have to admit that I've heard that used as a slur way less frequently) piss me off more than anything else.


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kraftiekortie
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25 Feb 2017, 11:55 am

Just don't be friends with that person. The person seems to have a screw loose somewhere. He might even be on the Spectrum. There seems to be self-hate exhibited here.



jrjones9933
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25 Feb 2017, 11:57 am

I feel you would be completely justified in bringing it up with the university administration. He's violating lots of policies by using a 'disability' as a slur, and I would not tolerate it, myself.


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iliketrees
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25 Feb 2017, 12:00 pm

Sounds like he'll soon get ostracised if he doesn't grow up.



SmallBun
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25 Feb 2017, 12:04 pm

Oh my. He sounds like someone who probably thinks a bit too much of himself. I'd just avoid someone like that, he's not worth your time. I personally haven't heard or seen anyone use "aspie" as a slur, but it is very uncalled for to use it as such. I don't believe in policing what others say, but when someone is openly verbally attacking people like that, it should be reported.
Also, this is at a University? Isn't this guy a little too old to be behaving so childishly? That's kind of depressing. :?


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Leahcar
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25 Feb 2017, 12:19 pm

Funny thing is, I've not heard "autistic" used much as a slur outside the Internet. While it's kinda like a buzzword in communities such as 4chan and Kiwi Farms, I've only ever heard two people use it as a slur in real life. And both of them are on the spectrum themselves.
Judging by the amount of times this guy has been using terms like "autistic" and "Asperger's" negatively like they are the only insults he can come up with, it wouldn't be surprising if he was actually on the spectrum himself - maybe, as kraftiekortie suggested, there's a bit of a self-hate thing going on. I'm not saying he's definitely autistic, but it may be possible. Doesn't mean it's okay behaviour, as it isn't. If I were you I'd stay well away from him, as that behaviour is toxic and childish (I'd have thought people at uni would've outgrown this silly namecalling behaviour by now).


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25 Feb 2017, 6:28 pm

I make a point of not touching those types with a 10 foot pole.


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25 Feb 2017, 7:24 pm

My favorite comedy (The Drunken Peasants) regularly uses Autistic as a slur and a long running joke is one of them has some autistic habits and gets mocked for it. I personally laugh and I have Autism. To be fair I am Canadian citizen and they regularly call for ethnic cleansing of Canadians.



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25 Feb 2017, 7:32 pm

Leahcar wrote:
Funny thing is, I've not heard "autistic" used much as a slur outside the Internet. While it's kinda like a buzzword in communities such as 4chan and Kiwi Farms, I've only ever heard two people use it as a slur in real life. And both of them are on the spectrum themselves.
Judging by the amount of times this guy has been using terms like "autistic" and "Asperger's" negatively like they are the only insults he can come up with, it wouldn't be surprising if he was actually on the spectrum himself - maybe, as kraftiekortie suggested, there's a bit of a self-hate thing going on. I'm not saying he's definitely autistic, but it may be possible. Doesn't mean it's okay behaviour, as it isn't. If I were you I'd stay well away from him, as that behaviour is toxic and childish (I'd have thought people at uni would've outgrown this silly namecalling behaviour by now).


^this.


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25 Feb 2017, 7:38 pm

There is an 'Autistic Screaming' meme doing the rounds.

I don't really care normally, but it just poked me, right through the shield and made me angry.
I'm usually impossible to get to, that got me.
We can't control our reactions to some things and we just explode, seems too easy a target, just annoyed me.
We can't help it, it embaresses us and we'd rather it didn't happen, why make fun of it?



BettaPonic
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25 Feb 2017, 7:40 pm

QuillAlba wrote:
There is an 'Autistic Screaming' meme doing the rounds.

I don't really care normally, but it just poked me, right through the shield and made me angry.
I'm usually impossible to get to, that got me.
We can't control our reactions to some things and we just explode, seems too easy a target, just annoyed me.
We can't help it, it embaresses us and we'd rather it didn't happen, why make fun of it?


That show I mentioned called their message board autistic screeching. What harm is done with these words?



QuillAlba
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25 Feb 2017, 7:44 pm

BettaPonic wrote:
QuillAlba wrote:
There is an 'Autistic Screaming' meme doing the rounds.

I don't really care normally, but it just poked me, right through the shield and made me angry.
I'm usually impossible to get to, that got me.
We can't control our reactions to some things and we just explode, seems too easy a target, just annoyed me.
We can't help it, it embaresses us and we'd rather it didn't happen, why make fun of it?


That show I mentioned called their message board autistic screeching. What harm is done with these words?


They are equating an autistic meltdown with a simple voice of disagreement.

It's a cheap shot, autistics are really easy targets, even the high functioning like us.

I'm 41 and I still giggle like a girl at 4chan, it's just that we should never hit a target because it's easy.



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25 Feb 2017, 7:50 pm

QuillAlba wrote:
BettaPonic wrote:
QuillAlba wrote:
There is an 'Autistic Screaming' meme doing the rounds.

I don't really care normally, but it just poked me, right through the shield and made me angry.
I'm usually impossible to get to, that got me.
We can't control our reactions to some things and we just explode, seems too easy a target, just annoyed me.
We can't help it, it embaresses us and we'd rather it didn't happen, why make fun of it?


That show I mentioned called their message board autistic screeching. What harm is done with these words?


They are equating an autistic meltdown with a simple voice of disagreement.

It's a cheap shot, autistics are really easy targets, even the high functioning like us.

I'm 41 and I still giggle like a girl at 4chan, it's just that we should never hit a target because it's easy.


Their message board is toxic, filled with nazi symbols. I personally love being insulted and groups I belong to being insulted especially in a funny way. What's wrong with cheap shots?



QuillAlba
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25 Feb 2017, 7:56 pm

BettaPonic wrote:
QuillAlba wrote:
BettaPonic wrote:
QuillAlba wrote:
There is an 'Autistic Screaming' meme doing the rounds.

I don't really care normally, but it just poked me, right through the shield and made me angry.
I'm usually impossible to get to, that got me.
We can't control our reactions to some things and we just explode, seems too easy a target, just annoyed me.
We can't help it, it embaresses us and we'd rather it didn't happen, why make fun of it?


That show I mentioned called their message board autistic screeching. What harm is done with these words?


They are equating an autistic meltdown with a simple voice of disagreement.

It's a cheap shot, autistics are really easy targets, even the high functioning like us.

I'm 41 and I still giggle like a girl at 4chan, it's just that we should never hit a target because it's easy.


Their message board is toxic, filled with nazi symbols. I personally love being insulted and groups I belong to being insulted especially in a funny way. What's wrong with cheap shots?


I'm very left wing, I read a lot of right wing websites, I like 4chan for the utter offensive chaos that it is.
If you don't explore other points of view then your point of view is stunted.
Taking the proverbial piss out of people with disabilities is a cheap shot.
Making fun of people is healthy, there is a line.
Everyone is a target for having the piss taken, the angle of attack is relevant though.
I too enjoy being ripped apart, but not because of my autism.



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25 Feb 2017, 7:59 pm

QuillAlba wrote:
BettaPonic wrote:
QuillAlba wrote:
BettaPonic wrote:
QuillAlba wrote:
There is an 'Autistic Screaming' meme doing the rounds.

I don't really care normally, but it just poked me, right through the shield and made me angry.
I'm usually impossible to get to, that got me.
We can't control our reactions to some things and we just explode, seems too easy a target, just annoyed me.
We can't help it, it embaresses us and we'd rather it didn't happen, why make fun of it?


That show I mentioned called their message board autistic screeching. What harm is done with these words?


They are equating an autistic meltdown with a simple voice of disagreement.

It's a cheap shot, autistics are really easy targets, even the high functioning like us.

I'm 41 and I still giggle like a girl at 4chan, it's just that we should never hit a target because it's easy.


Their message board is toxic, filled with nazi symbols. I personally love being insulted and groups I belong to being insulted especially in a funny way. What's wrong with cheap shots?


I'm very left wing, I read a lot of right wing websites, I like 4chan for the utter offensive chaos that it is.
If you don't explore other points of view then your point of view is stunted.
Taking the proverbial piss out of people with disabilities is a cheap shot.
Making fun of people is healthy, there is a line.
Everyone is a target for having the piss taken, the angle of attack is relevant though.
I too enjoy being ripped apart, but not because of my autism.


I'm a bit of everything politically. I enjoy people I can relate to being mocked. I feel more connected to the joke. I think it depends more on the person doing the mocking. A teacher for example doing it. I would agree crosses a line,