I find the following post deeply concerning:
Autismtwo,Please stop this. You have no business demanding that Rachel uses words in a particular way. You have already been asked recently to treat other users with respect. This is your last warning. If you do this again, your posts will be moderated, requiring approval from me, or one of the other moderators, before they are published.
When you signed up, you agreed to obey rule 1:
"Don’t post messages that are offensive or insulting to other users."
You made your own views about Rachel's words very clear. This has now gone well beyond that, into aggression and harassment.
I know you don't like the way the NAS does things. I have never censored your opinions about us. But when you harass other users like this, we will intervene.
If you wish to discuss this privately, please email community.manager@nas.org.uk.
Yours,
Alex R - mod
A post was made that used language that several members, who have clearly stated that they themselves are on the autistic spectrum in numerous posts, found to be offensive and dengrating to those on the spectrum.
When this was pointed out it was dismissed out of hand by the original poster, as if the use of such language did not matter.
The above quoted post clearly takes the side of the original poster, and thus, by implication, condones the use of that language.
Should not a representative of the NAS at the very least remain neutral in such matters (reprimanding both those who denigrate people on the spectrum and those who speak out against it too strongly)?
Should an NAS representative not also be aware of the nature of the traits common amongst many on the spectrum and, in particular, their propensity to use very honest, direct, and sometimes too blunt, language without meaning any disrespect or offence?
Should a representative of the NAS, in fact, not actively discourage any language that denigrates those on the spectrum, not matter how mild the nature of the denigration?
Are these not things that every representative of the NAS, no matter their position, or role, should do, and bear in mind, at all times when dealing with the public, or anyone else, be they on the spectrum, or not?
