This forum

everytime you return here there are extreme individuals stoking discord and disharmony.

This is a really tricky one to address in this day and age.

On one hand you have people with a strong view on a subject who want their view to be heard and respected but you can have another group who hold an opposite view with the same rights. Who gets to be heard?

I'm not talking about insults here, but opinions on whatever subjects, whether around drug use (legal or otherwise), dealing with conflict, the tactics of the police force, whether to mask or not, gender identity, approaches in therapy, discipline of children or whatever.

If a fair and open society we should be able to share our opinions, risk being asked to explain or justify them and talk through all manner of subjects that are important to us.

As autists we often can connect with the base emotions of anger and fear which tend to make us poor in arguements but it is worth learning to master these so you can hear others opinions and not be triggered by them.

To want to cancel others because their opinions are not "nice" or not aligned with yours is an approach that appeals to some but is a form of bullying itself.

I would advocate for tolerance, understanding and openmindedness as this has proven to me to be the most effective way to really hear others. Sometimes there is something to be learned even if you didn't initially agree with them.

My friend. This is not a politics forum.  I come here because of the isolating nature of my Autism and***.  That's not going to make me feel any better is it? And what about minorities who have to read that ***?

I recognise you have some opinions on gender issues and wish to voice them.  Why are you making this the venue to voice those opinions instead of countless other internet sites you could use?

[edited by moderators]

I come here because of the isolating nature of my Autism and am confronted by out right Fascists.  That's not going to make me feel any better is it?

I think I see where you are coming from. The site rules say ( community.autism.org.uk/.../rules )

Our Community is designed to be a safe and welcoming place for those that use and visit it for support and information about autism. 

Which seems to align with what you, as an autist, want to have. The problem is when another autist with different views also wants to discuss things in contrast to your opinions then the safe and welcoming environment you want is polluted.

But what about the other person? They are autistic too and if their views are not illegal or break the site rules then they have every right to be able to express themselves in our democratic society.

That is the downside to freedom - you have to allow others who you disagree with the freedom to hold those views. Anything else is subuigation.

I'm sure the mods here have a hard enough time as it is without dragging them into monitoring content to make sure we are all being "decent" or whatever the criteria is you are striving for here.

I believe we have to take responsibility ourselves to filter the views we do not agree with if that is your issue. Expecting other autists to align with your sensibilities is folly as we are as diverse and odd a bunch as you can ever expect to meet.

If that doesn’t count as personal abuse - on a thread about the reality of having no friends or family - then what on earth does?

I wouldn’t say something like that to ANYONE, never mind an autistic person baring their soul.

ah, yes thats strange language too. it seems fluid and well put slang, like a trendy young adult. i would say it doesnt look too autistically put, it looks pretty standard/trendy/current person wording.

ah, yes thats strange language too. it seems fluid and well put slang, like a trendy young adult. i would say it doesnt look too autistically put, it looks pretty standard/trendy/current person wording.