Deficit or difference?
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Deficit or difference?
There are a few things about autism that it takes quite a lot of ingenuity to consistently frame them as negative.
I've listed some of them here...
A thread 🧵
️ #Autism #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic
1/13
@KatyElphinstone Now let's describe allistic people using the same framework. >:3
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Indeed it's true, that all this represents quite a threat to the status quo.
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@KatyElphinstone Now let's describe allistic people using the same framework. >:3
Ooh ouch. I just did it. I mean, if anything it made me realise that's an even worse bind to be in (in my view, at least) than for autistic people. It's like you're so close to the machine that you're living inside it all the time.
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To sum up, many autistic ‘deficits’ may only be deficits in a material world that needs very high sensory tolerance & the constant filtering of a barrage of human-made information...
... and in a social world that's built around implication, hierarchy, performance, and obedience.
13/13
Can anyone think of more things?
Whatever your view, comments very welcome!I’ve explored the “negative or nothing” theme more here: https://www.neurofabulous.org.uk/autism-negative-or-nothing.html
@KatyElphinstone
the problem is, in current society, a "normal" person cannot be exempt from the harsh judgement of our lord and savior, the market. If you're Autistic you need to decide if you're on the exempt side (all bad) if you're on the not exempt side (aren't we all a bit...).That's why self diagnosis is so reviled. Trying to get exempt from the market without a doctor? What if everyone wanted to be exempt?!
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@KatyElphinstone
the problem is, in current society, a "normal" person cannot be exempt from the harsh judgement of our lord and savior, the market. If you're Autistic you need to decide if you're on the exempt side (all bad) if you're on the not exempt side (aren't we all a bit...).That's why self diagnosis is so reviled. Trying to get exempt from the market without a doctor? What if everyone wanted to be exempt?!
Exactly this. Very well put.
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@KatyElphinstone That’s a good list. A few of mine are slight rephrases: that I assume equality between parties (may be related to you social hierarchy one), that I assume people say what they mean (taking words seriously), and that people are capable of negotiating what they need (direct communication). My rule zero, though, is that I don’t intuitively prioritize performance of social agreeability with human social pack dynamics, and this seems to be the crux of my disconnect.
Yes! Assuming equalities between parties. I actually prefer your way of putting it.
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@KatyElphinstone Also, both my daughter and I will use the literal meaning of idioms to make jokes. (eg "two shakes of what?")
Hehe I love this! 🦙
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@undefined_variable @KatyElphinstone I mean because we don't think like they do, they can't use all the same controls. That's inconvenient for them. Someone like Greta Thunberg is inconvenient.
Super inconvenient. And then it looked so awful to shoot her down because she was a child.
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@KatyElphinstone
the problem is, in current society, a "normal" person cannot be exempt from the harsh judgement of our lord and savior, the market. If you're Autistic you need to decide if you're on the exempt side (all bad) if you're on the not exempt side (aren't we all a bit...).That's why self diagnosis is so reviled. Trying to get exempt from the market without a doctor? What if everyone wanted to be exempt?!
@KatyElphinstone
I feel like most of the time when people challenge my Autism they're saying "why should you be treated like humans and not like normal crap of the earth like the rest of us?" -
@KatyElphinstone
I feel like most of the time when people challenge my Autism they're saying "why should you be treated like humans and not like normal crap of the earth like the rest of us?"Which is a very good point. But instead of attacking the autistic person.... one could try attacking the system instead.
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Which is a very good point. But instead of attacking the autistic person.... one could try attacking the system instead.
️@KatyElphinstone of course. But the system is invisible. You need a mental model of it to start seeing it, and our society did a lot to help us forget and naturalize the system.
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@KatyElphinstone of course. But the system is invisible. You need a mental model of it to start seeing it, and our society did a lot to help us forget and naturalize the system.
Yes.... it's very Wizard of Oz. Hidden, and assumed. Invisible in plain sight. And not a very reachable target. Much more satisfying to kick down & have your blow connect with something satisfyingly soft.
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Yes.... it's very Wizard of Oz. Hidden, and assumed. Invisible in plain sight. And not a very reachable target. Much more satisfying to kick down & have your blow connect with something satisfyingly soft.
@KatyElphinstone
my read is that "the autism epidemic" is actually the breakage of our "normal" with a normality that is drifting away from sustainability even on a personal basis. And autists are just the canaries in the coal mine. -
Deficit or difference 🧵
Autistic deficit no.2:
Taking words seriously.In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as literal-mindedness, rather than respect for meaning.
3/13
@KatyElphinstone I had “I’m NOT stopping in the middle of the street! I’m stopping at 2/3 of the street!”…
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@KatyElphinstone I had “I’m NOT stopping in the middle of the street! I’m stopping at 2/3 of the street!”…
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Deficit or difference 🧵
Autistic deficit no.4:
Deep focus and commitment.In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as obsession, rather than depth, care, or expertise.
5/13
@KatyElphinstone I don’t think I’ll ever get over the immense sadness from learning that actually giving a shit about a topic or a cause is considered pathological by the majority of humans.
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@KatyElphinstone I don’t think I’ll ever get over the immense sadness from learning that actually giving a shit about a topic or a cause is considered pathological by the majority of humans.
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Deficit or difference 🧵
Autistic deficit no.6:
Not performing hierarchy and status games fluently.In the “negative or nothing” model of autism, this is framed as social naivety, and not as a different relationship to power.
7/13
@KatyElphinstone Also, I am personally able to perform those if I have to, (mostly). I understand the dynamics at play - I don't believe in them, though.
I have *never* experienced this as a negative.
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To sum up, many autistic ‘deficits’ may only be deficits in a material world that needs very high sensory tolerance & the constant filtering of a barrage of human-made information...
... and in a social world that's built around implication, hierarchy, performance, and obedience.
13/13
Can anyone think of more things?
Whatever your view, comments very welcome!I’ve explored the “negative or nothing” theme more here: https://www.neurofabulous.org.uk/autism-negative-or-nothing.html
@KatyElphinstone As a corollary to the power AND the understanding thing - most autistic people I know are highly individual in their choices, e.g. media, clothes, etc. Their tastes are less susceptible to advertising manipulation. This is a deeply threatening trait for a capitalist system.
