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Do not discriminate - please, everyone, work to hold the line

DormouseAtRest_25

"Rule 5: Do not discriminate.

Do not post or link to anything that is considered offensive to others with regard to the protected characteristics outlined in UK equality legislation: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. We encourage open conversation, but everyone has the right to share ideas without fear of hostility."

In support of "Rule 5: Do not discriminate" - please, everyone, work to hold the line (so that our community here may remain a safe space).

Discrimination may appear in many guises. 

Some forms of discrimination may more subtle and insidious (proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects) than others.

I celebrate and embrace the diversity of our Autistic community. 

I view "Rule 5" as a central tenet (main principle, or belief, that forms the foundation for a system of ideas, a belief system, or a movement) in supporting and maintaining that diversity of our community here (and in the real World too).

In volatile times; our news media channels, social media platforms and other forum places can become tough watches, not to mention points of engagement.

If you ever find you want to follow some news with the horror show elements toned down a bit; don't forget about the BBC CBBC NEWSROUND as an option:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround

www.bbc.co.uk/.../cp44v5q09dzo

An example of today's Newsround editorial themes:

"Nina has your Friday Newsround. Ricky visits a sewage works, we find out about a hunt for space rocks and there are surfing dogs, dinos and Marios in this week's Strange News.

  • Everything you need to know about the World Athletics Championships
  • Scientists solve mystery behind dancing spiders
  • Quiz of the Week: Have you been following this week's news?
Remember, on weekdays, if you want to watch Newsround with British Sign Language and subtitles, you can find it [on the Newsround website]."
In our household, during the COVID-19 pandemic; we found this proved to be a welcome strategy (a bit of news, with some respite from quite the relentless and frenetic level of - doom-mongering, people-baiting and conflict simply because it makes for buoyant ratings).

Similarly, although from time to time; we do all enjoy some verbal sparring / banter on our online community here - maybe, as World events are wont to periodically rush to form their next maelstrom (a situation, or state of confused movement, or violent turmoil); we too can play our small part: by buffering (just a little) - the wholesale import of "the news" and the potential erosion of diversity, equity and inclusion that may involve.

Wellbeing is a whole-of-society consideration. 

Autistic community is richly and tolerantly diverse - long may it remain so.

How do these suggestions sound to you?

Parents

  • I want to pick up on what you’ve said about discrimination, because I think it deserves some careful questioning. You’ve presented it as something that can be “subtle and insidious” and suggested that it appears in many guises, but the way you frame this feels so broad and undefined that it risks shutting down valid discussion. If “discrimination” is allowed to mean anything that someone might find offensive, then almost any disagreement or difference of opinion could be painted as harmful, which isn’t what the law or community rules actually set out.

    Rule 5 is clear about protected characteristics under UK equality legislation. That’s an important boundary and one I think most people here would support. But when you expand the idea into something more nebulous, it makes me wonder whether the goal is to protect people from genuine prejudice or to discourage perspectives you personally don’t like. Discrimination is a serious issue, and diluting the meaning can make it harder to call out when it really does happen.

    So I’d like to understand more about your motives here. Are you trying to strengthen the community’s protection against prejudice, or are you trying to shape the culture of the forum in a broader way by redefining what counts as discrimination?

Reply

  • I want to pick up on what you’ve said about discrimination, because I think it deserves some careful questioning. You’ve presented it as something that can be “subtle and insidious” and suggested that it appears in many guises, but the way you frame this feels so broad and undefined that it risks shutting down valid discussion. If “discrimination” is allowed to mean anything that someone might find offensive, then almost any disagreement or difference of opinion could be painted as harmful, which isn’t what the law or community rules actually set out.

    Rule 5 is clear about protected characteristics under UK equality legislation. That’s an important boundary and one I think most people here would support. But when you expand the idea into something more nebulous, it makes me wonder whether the goal is to protect people from genuine prejudice or to discourage perspectives you personally don’t like. Discrimination is a serious issue, and diluting the meaning can make it harder to call out when it really does happen.

    So I’d like to understand more about your motives here. Are you trying to strengthen the community’s protection against prejudice, or are you trying to shape the culture of the forum in a broader way by redefining what counts as discrimination?

Children
  • in reply to IntruderAlarmAbatis
    IntruderAlarmAbatis said:
    So I’d like to understand more about your motives here.

    My having been an active member here over the last 7 months; I would have hoped my record of best effort of peer support towards members, both in good times and in not so good times, ought to have spoken for itself.

    "are you trying to shape the culture of the forum in a broader way by redefining what counts as discrimination?"; I have just made it clear that I fully support the definition of Rule 5.  (I think you know that is the case).

    To have effectively called into question my record and intent to date - neatly demonstrates my point in an offensive manner.

    I made no attempt to dilute the meaning of discrimination, quite the opposite (I am fairly confident you knew that too).

    Congratulations; you have (yourself) just shut down valid discussion.

    I shall not invest my efforts further.

    Signing off.  DormouseAtRest_25.