The term "Neuro Typical"
I don't know. I don't really look at "NT"s as anything other than human. Yeah, usually they're mean to me where I live, but some of the people who are mean happen to be the Aspie's I know.
Do I think it's degrading towards "NT"s, or "aspies"? Not in my opinion. I think it's pretty normal. They have less neurological issues, hence the term. Like, they may have no problem with bright light, unlike myself. I do think it's way out-dated, though. I think we could use a term like Non-ASD?
Plus, no one is really neurotypical anyway, so...
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Sweetleaf
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Some traits:
* So what is the term for obsessive disorder to comply in decision making with peers as the highest priority. Add to that constant anxiety to fulfill this.
* Being engaged in talk about things that are of really no concern, where the real message is in how the message is presented and to whom is the message.
* Trying to instigate intrigues or drama.
* Status chase. (I bought the car because it's fast OR I bought the car because it's faster than my neighbor)
* Impulses to do things with others, much of the time.
Not all is present all the time. But ought to be a starting point for a better term?
NT is an awful term. Every time I hear it, I think of the person saying it in a mocking looking down tone like normal people are soooo typical, easy to predict, mundane, a thorn in "our" side.
There's not such thing as a NT, whoever came up with the term felt grieved by people they felt typified some psychological profile, that is filled with a bunch of arbitrary characteristics.
I don't see why...if I use that word I am not looking down on anything, just referring to people that have neurotypical brain functioning, meaning they are individuals without brain wiring that differs from the normal brain, who certainly have difficulties of their own but usually not the same difficulties people with mental disorders like autism or others involving any neurological differences face. It's just people that don't have a brain wiring that varies from the norm. But just like any term it's not perfect....I mean what exactly is a normal brain anyways? But yeah its easier to discuss things when you can use terms to describe them....at the moment neurotypical seems to be the best term for people who function normally.
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Sweetleaf
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Because not all people who don't have AS or Autism are neurotypical...there are other disorders attributed to major differences in brain functioning as well.
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Sweetleaf
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Because most people are just dying to have something wrong with their mind....honestly I don't see how they would be offended by a word that implies they function normally and don't have a neurological difference that causes them difficulties. And even those here who disagree with it being disabling are probably aware that most people are quite happy with not having something wrong with them.
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If I could briefly thrust my (callipygous) ass into this mini debate.....I'd just like to say that-well, firstly, I am neurotypical. Full disclosure. I am certain I say something uncontroversial if I say it is not a derogatory term, it wasn't created for that intention. What people should be wary of is when a negative action or behavior is attributed to a broad group. "Yes, let's post it up to the neurotypical wall" or "this goes up there on the autisic wall" "or the aspergers wall" so to speak. We must be extremely careful when doing that. Having said that, I have yet to see someone who is autistic perpetrate bullying or contribute to it therefore I've already stuck that charming sticky note up on the NT wall. We're guilty of cruel behavior towards atypical people more often. Back to the point, um if someone, like myself, finds it terrible and unbearable to be called out on what I am it is my problem. Let's not be silly here, we don't defend, for example, in America, right wing extremists for being offended by President Obama passing a bill that requires everyone to have a health isurance plan. Unless you're a rightwing extremist that is. They call him a communist stripping away freedoms eager to bring forth a totalitarian state. No, their f*****g problem. We all know why these right wing extremist are really upset. The same goes for neurotypicals, if someone from the NT group, for lack of a better term, finds the name offensive it's likely because they're secretly harboring a deep resentment for all of you, most of you, and, this goes for bullies as well, are self conscious and scared in the face of differences. They're threatened and pitifully intolerant. There. I hope I've made myself plain and I'm interested if anyone disagrees. Thanks.
Sweetleaf
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So I will assume you meant neurotypicals are are guilty of cruel behavior towards atypical people more often, not that you personally are that way.........I guess that's more hoping not assuming, but anyways any ideas as to why? what is it about atypical people that pisses off neurotypicals so much they would want to be cruel to them. I guess that is just one thing I've always wondered, I mean i knew I was different at an early age, people made that damn clear........but I never could understand why that was reason for people to treat me like crap.
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I don't have a problem with the term "neurotypical." I included it as part of my screen name because when I got on this site, I did not want to give people the impression that I was anything but an outsider here. Little did I know that the more I learned, the more I related to the people here, and the more Aspie I felt. All of the on-line tests show that I am a neurotypical, but I feel anything but typical, either in the outside world or here.
I think the intent of the OP was to pathologize what is seen as neurotypical behavior, in an attempt to feel superior to neurotypical oppressors.
Some traits:
* So what is the term for obsessive disorder to comply in decision making with peers as the highest priority. Add to that constant anxiety to fulfill this.
* Being engaged in talk about things that are of really no concern, where the real message is in how the message is presented and to whom is the message.
* Trying to instigate intrigues or drama.
* Status chase. (I bought the car because it's fast OR I bought the car because it's faster than my neighbor)
* Impulses to do things with others, much of the time.
Not all is present all the time. But ought to be a starting point for a better term?
NT is an awful term. Every time I hear it, I think of the person saying it in a mocking looking down tone like normal people are soooo typical, easy to predict, mundane, a thorn in "our" side.
There's not such thing as a NT, whoever came up with the term felt grieved by people they felt typified some psychological profile, that is filled with a bunch of arbitrary characteristics.
I agree, while at times I do feel a little frustrated by some people, the fact is, there's loads of issues any person someone might identify as NT may have. Plus the fact exists that different people with AS are individually different people in terms of functionality, interests, co-morbid conditions, and quirks.
While I don't like setting up normal/freak dichotomies which words like "normal" do. I can't object all that much to Neurotypical in reference to people without any mental illness or cognitive differences.
I do object to Neurotypical being used to mean non-autistic because there are non-autistic people who are not neurotypical (ex. bipolar)
Non Autistics are Allistic.
Allistic's can be neurotypical or neurodivergent, they just don't have autism.
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Joker
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I am now properly chastised.
Neurotypical is not a slur, it refers to a privileged group. It's absolutely nothing like the word ret*d.
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If your success is defined as being well adjusted to injustice and well adapted to indifference, then we don?t want successful leaders. We want great leaders- who are unbought, unbound, unafraid, and unintimidated to tell the truth.
I tend to use "NT" only for bullies and curebies (and only privately, for safety's sake). Non-Autistic people who are generally nice enough, as far as I'm concerned, don't really need a special word. They're just people, and usually decent people. I realise that there is some contradiction there, considering that these people are, in my experience, more common than bullies and curebies, but "neurotypical" does sound quite derogatory, so I think it's the bullies and curebies that deserve it.
EDIT:
I also don't think NTs are particularly privileged.
EDIT:
I also don't think NTs are particularly privileged.
Well then you're using the word a little incorrectly it only means "non- neurodivergent" it has it's own word because neurodivergent v. non- neurodivergent sets up a dichotomy where one is "normal/better" and the other is less than. Same reason there is a word for non-autistic (allistic) a word for non trans* (cis) and word for non gay (straight). It's not a special word, it's an accurate descriptor.
Just like it's accurate to say I'm autistic. That doesn't mean I'n not "just a person, and usually a decent one"
This is a way to describe differences between people without deeming some people as deviencies from an imaginary norm.
Neurotypical people live in a society that is designed for them, they get to experience life as the majority, people like them make up most of governing bodies, most media they're exposed to includes people like them, tey are not institutionalized for their neurotype, they are not discriminated against for their neurotype, they benefit from systems that hold neurotypical behaviors and strengths above neuro-divergent behaviors and strengths even if they don't activley participate in this system they are complicit.
This is privilege, privilege is not having to fill in the blank in from of the word person when your describing yourself.
Taking away the assumption of normality from neurotypical people is actively fighting oppression and marginalization. It puts everyone on equal linguistic footing and that is a good start.
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If your success is defined as being well adjusted to injustice and well adapted to indifference, then we don?t want successful leaders. We want great leaders- who are unbought, unbound, unafraid, and unintimidated to tell the truth.