What is the purpose of this forum?

leveller61 said:

I would prefer it if we were discussing autism, the challenges we face and our successes in navigating them and our sources of autistic joy, offering support to each other. That's what I come here for!

I do have concerns that social media has accelerated a trend towards people posting and saying whatever they want to, however much that may hurt others. I avoid Facebook, X/Twitter, etc for that reason and hope this place can be kept/made free of toxicity.

I think this is how I am mostly minded although I've started threads on other subjects before but usually personal ones, ie relating to us individually.

What I particularly dislike are the threads that are started on contentious subjects as they predictably live up to their name.

Politics, LGBTQ+ and religion come to mind.

I've come across members here who think that we should be able to be 'free speech' ish in what we say and shouldn't be in any way censored or cautious as long as we are within the forum rules.

I have also come across members who believe that others' opinions + views shouldn't be challenged.

There will always be subjects that can be covered here that will cause dissension and I personally am not able to pass a subject by as some members suggest pretending it doesn't exist when it cuts to the core of my beliefs and principles.  That can be obvious from the title alone without even opening it.

I'll always stand up for what I believe is right but I try to protect myself from that kind of pain by not taking part in any type of shouty social media and avoiding world news.

This isn't because I don't care as others might suggest but because I care too much.

I doubt if I am unique in this approach.

We can all post whatever we like here but, as has always been the case, if it hurts people, they will leave or just stop reading.

I would say LGBTQ is quite pertinent to the autistic community, we are more likely to identify as part of the LGBTQ community. But I can also respect the views of others who don’t wish to discuss it. 

Orangegnome said:

I would say LGBTQ is quite pertinent to the autistic community, we are more likely to identify as part of the LGBTQ community. But I can also respect the views of others who don’t wish to discuss it. 

There have been some horrible threads on this subject here in the past + it's those I'm thinking of.

You can start a positive thread and it spiral downwards.

However, the group of people who are presently active here aren't likely to cause this to happen (I think).

B said:

I believe that it is 'safer' here now.

It's OK, I didn't interpret your comment as where it is at the present. I'm just sorry it was unsafe for any period. 

Alexa said:

Oh, what a shame!

I am going back quite a way.

I believe that it is 'safer' here now.

B said:

There have been some horrible threads on this subject here in the past + it's those I'm thinking of.

Oh, what a shame!

I think I am generally surrounded by moderate people who I feel safe with but I know not everyone will share my views. I would rather everyone felt safe here, we are all facing life with some difficulties already. Maybe I’m just naive. 

I think I am generally surrounded by moderate people who I feel safe with but I know not everyone will share my views. I would rather everyone felt safe here, we are all facing life with some difficulties already. Maybe I’m just naive.