I hate the term "neurotypical "

Good for you I guess said:

I don't think you can say that someone you never met and know nothing about is "neurotypical" It's just a complete assumption and it's rude. 

That's true - if you've never met them and known nothing about them.  I wouldn't look at anyone new and try to think of them either in terms of 'neurotypical' or 'neurodiverse'... just as 'someone else.'

The terms are used to differentiate people on the basis of neurological make-up, and 'neurotypical' means basically 'not displaying or characterized by autistic or other neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behaviour.'

It does get used as a label by autistic people, and sometimes in a derogatory sense.  I've used it as such myself, I admit.  I think a lot of it stems from those of us who've endured negativity at the hands of neurotypical people: stereotyping, bullying, discrimination, being accused of using our condition 'as an excuse', etc.  We are in a very small minority, and as such we often have a battle to get our voices heard and understood.  Which isn't to say that all neurotypicals treat us the same.  Not at all.

But I agree that it's wrong to make assumptions about people based on no knowledge.  That goes for everything about them: age, race, colour, belief, sexuality, gender, ability, education, class, etc.

Good for you I guess said:

I don't think you can say that someone you never met and know nothing about is "neurotypical" It's just a complete assumption and it's rude. 

That's true - if you've never met them and known nothing about them.  I wouldn't look at anyone new and try to think of them either in terms of 'neurotypical' or 'neurodiverse'... just as 'someone else.'

The terms are used to differentiate people on the basis of neurological make-up, and 'neurotypical' means basically 'not displaying or characterized by autistic or other neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behaviour.'

It does get used as a label by autistic people, and sometimes in a derogatory sense.  I've used it as such myself, I admit.  I think a lot of it stems from those of us who've endured negativity at the hands of neurotypical people: stereotyping, bullying, discrimination, being accused of using our condition 'as an excuse', etc.  We are in a very small minority, and as such we often have a battle to get our voices heard and understood.  Which isn't to say that all neurotypicals treat us the same.  Not at all.

But I agree that it's wrong to make assumptions about people based on no knowledge.  That goes for everything about them: age, race, colour, belief, sexuality, gender, ability, education, class, etc.

Martian Tom said:

That goes for everything about them: age, race, colour, belief, sexuality, gender, ability, education, class, etc.

That is true, but would you ever say that someone was an old hag / slag / ***? Let alone call someone a n****r!? Would you call a person a Bible basher or a cripple or just plain thick?

So what's different about the word "neurotypical" (other than that it sounds like some kind of real medical thing.)

Although I would not fit in that category myself, I think the term is very offensive.