Published on 12, July, 2020
How do y'all feel about an autistic person identifying as an "aut*st" or calling their autistic friends they have close relationships with the same word? My autistic friend prefers it because he says it is "taking the word back", but only autistic people can use it. He likens it to the n-word or h*llbilly.
Personally, I agree with him. In fact, I designed a shirt that says "All my friends are aut*sts" (but actually spelled out without the astrix). It's from a running personal joke where I was completely unaware I was autistic and just thought I liked autistic people, which is why I would say, "All my friends are autistic." Using the word "aut*sts" in the shirt would be an indirect way of disclosing my autism flavor since only autistic people can use it. Would this shirt be offensive?
a derogatory term for people who find 'edgy' humour funny.
Perfect!
I love it as well as Sperg
Beware any site not written by actual autists. Allists do not know what it is like to be in our shoes and have a nasty habit of trying to speak "for" and over us.
There's nothing wrong with you. They are just awful people for using slurs against you and trying to create new ones out of harmless description to use against you too. Honestly take it to safeguarding and the police, because these kids are just gonna be hate crime merchants and assault people one day if they aren't held accountable now.
This list is so helpful, thank you.
Whilst I personally don't think it's on the same level as racial slurs like the N-word (there's a lot of dark history behind words like that, that's why they're so deplorable) I think that allistic people should tread with caution when using words like 'autist' and 'Aspie'. I always feel a bit irritated when allistic people use those terms; it can feel a bit 'cringey', or like they're taking the mickey, even when that isn't the intention at all. I strongly believe it's best to stick with 'Autistic person' if you're unsure – or, better still, ask the person what they're comfortable referring to themselves as! Person-first is becoming less and less acceptable (thankfully!) although I know some Autistic people still prefer it and that's entirely their right, if that's how they're comfortable then that's absolutely fine. I'm not sure about 'running personal jokes' about friends being Autistic...if that works in your friendship group and everyone's happy then cool, but reading that I just think of an ex-friend of mine going on about how she's sure all the guys she's been in relationships with have been Autistic, how she said, 'I clearly, like, just have a think for, like, people on the spectrum...*giggle giggle giggle*'. I get that this is a totally different situation and that it turns out you're Autistic yourself, so you were clearly feeling genuine connections with people who turned out to share your neurotype, but just in a broader context...it's not a quirky aesthetic/personality trait/kink/thing to look for in a friend or partner; that doesn't sit right with me. Just my opinion.
Whilst I personally don't think it's on the same level as racial slurs like the n-word (there's a lot of very dark history behind words like that, that's why they're deplorable), I think allistic people should tread with caution when using words like 'autist' and 'Aspie'. As an Autistic person all I can say is that I get a bit irritated when allistics/NTs use them. My reaction is to cringe and say 'that's not for you to say, mate' (although I don't actually say it out loud). It can sound a bit like they're taking the mickey. To be really honest, I think it's only OK for anyone (this includes other Autistic people) to use a word like 'autist' or 'Aspie' in relation to themselves; if that's how people personally want to identify, then cool, but unless you absolutely know that the person is comfortable with you calling them an 'Aspie' or an 'autist', stick with 'Autistic person', or 'person with Autism' (although I, like many, am not keen on the 'person-first' language and think it's always best to stay 'Autistic person'). Or probably the best thing to do, if possible, is to start by actually asking what the Autistic person wants to be referred to as. Just my opinion.
I said it before and I'll say it again: I HATE that word!
Well... from what I know and could read in the comments "autists" is not a slur... surely it isn't! Or have I missed something? I have never heard this as an insult but just another medical term to describe us, autistic people. And indeed it's not reserved for us to our lips only! That's absurd!
I think your friend might be wrong in putting it on the same level as the N-word. And I think the shirt sounds fun!
Bed beckons - I'm tapping out for the night. Sleep well, y'all.
"Normalcy Shade" - I call it !
I do the same if anything gets thrown my way.
Yes, I'm always quick with the retort....."Who are you calling normal?" if it is directed at me!
To be fair I've always used "normal" as a bit of an insult...
I personally don't mind it so long as it's used and expressed in a nice way.
My little brother does online gaming and he said people now call you autistic as an insult.
I think it's so sad. We can often be seen in such a bad way, a lot of people get the wrong impression of us. I wish they could see us the way we all do.
Maybe then they wouldn't use it as an insult.
Autista would be a person, autismo the condition. The autistic spectrum is espectro autista.
Forgive my dumbness - what are "Edgelords?"
Edgelords think the "mo" part makes it quirky because they are too disintellectual to realise that espanol isn't some exotic thing that exists to be fetishised by non-Spanish speakers.
Interestingly autist has never been a slur in common usage, autistic has been used as a slur for ages by NTs though. Shardovan Don't worry about it Shardovan, it's likely just someone stirring the pot. There are people that steal stuff through misappropriation but the way to fight against that is to not let them have the monopoly on that word. Keep using autist in it's intended way. Never concede ground to the kinds of people who would rob us of our language and culture the way white supremacists tried (and failed btw) to appropriate the valknut from Norse Pagans who have it as a genuine religious symbol.