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Moderation, respect, and offensive language.

Scorpion0x17

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?

  • A question, Alex:

    Would you reprimand and threaten to moderate a user who came on, stated they were severely dyslexic, and who then posted message so full of mistakes and errors that they often contained apprent insults and offensive language?

    This may seem unlikely, but it's not totally beyone the bounds of reason, and I just wonder if you would handle that situation any differently.

    Also, I too was insulted by Rachel's use of the word "crazy", I was then further offended by the off-hand way in which she dismissed the complaints about the word as if they do not matter. And yet it appears no action was taken in that regard.

    However, I more concerned about the way you, as a reprensative of the NAS, an organisation meant to support and represent the needs of those on the spectrum, chose to publicly name and shame a member who has stated they are a member of the autistic community, for something which, in my opinion, was a product of their being on the spectrum.

    I, quite frankly, would expect more understanding, and a far more nuanced response, than that.

  • Hi there,

    I don't intend to comment much about the specifics of this case. I've asked those with an interest in it to email me if they want to.

    However, I think the important point here is one of degree. People post individual things that may offend others pretty frequently. It's a sad fact of life; I'm sure I do it myself.

    I'm not here to be the language police. I trust you, the users, and I don't want you all to think that I'll leap in every time someone says something.

    The reasoning behind my response to autismtwo is contained in the post Scorpion0x17 quoted: this was not an isolated incident, or a simple mistake. It was repeated harassment of a user who had come here to ask for help. Autismtwo had been asked not to harass other users on other threads already.

    Even so - thanks for the challenge, Scorpion. It's good to know people pay attention.

    Yours,

    Alex R - mod

  • This is a really difficult one. As one on the spectrum I know that I can be blunt with others at times and that can be perceived as offensive but that is never my intent.

    However, I would never swear, use sexual innuendo or deliberately harass someone - I have learned where that line is over the years.

    I have noticed on this forum that there are several users who are very blunt to the point of offense at times and as such I have considered not coming here any more despite the fact a lot of folk are very supportive and helpful. If someone makes a comment I see it as it is and interpret it as it is - I can't 'read between the lines' or understand that someone might not mean what they say - this causes problems for me in my daily life.

    It's no good saying to someone on the spectrum you are useless, for example and then say well I didn't mean that literally or totally - we take things literally. So if a post is very blunt it could in theory cause offense even if the poster didn't intend it.

    The moderators will struggle to get this right, obviously if posts are racist, sexist, etc then rightly they should be removed and the poster reprimanded. But some users are really straight but I can also see that some could be offended by that.

    I'm ranbling now but you see my point - it's a hard one to get right, but there are those who are bordering on offensive in how they make their comments.