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MNHQ have commented on this thread

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MNHQ have commented on this thread

AIBU?

AIBU to ask you to STOP

392 replies

Dawndonnaagain · 03/04/2016 14:38

using the term 'autistics'. Four fucking times this weekend on different threads. You mean person with autism, people with autism, child with autism. Autistics is not shorthand for any of those. Pack it in.

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tethersend · 03/04/2016 15:51

The difference between noun and adjective is key, no?

A group of autistic children, whilst not as good as A group of children with autism is far less offensive than A group of autistics.

lougle · 03/04/2016 15:53

I agree with you Dawndonna. 'I am Autistic' or 'my child is autistic' is very different to saying 'he is an autistic' or 'autistics don't....'. It's the collective that's the issue, as it uses the Autism to define the individual.

MTWTFSS · 03/04/2016 15:54

It is not Autistics, it is Autists!

I am an autist and refer to myself as one.

Bluebolt · 03/04/2016 15:54

I have worked with many who not only refer to themselves as aspies but also a a collective group of aspies. By the same logic they would be a person/ group with Aspergers, people have stated to using "autistics" as a form of signalling out or abuse but I really dislike " child with autism" probably another reason I stick with learning difficulties.

SylviaWrath · 03/04/2016 15:54

I've never heard anyone use Autistics as a collective term. Doesn't really trip off the tongue.
I bristle slightly when I hear the term "epileptic" but only for a second. With all the shit we have to deal with re epilepsy, the terminology really is very low on my list of stuff to give a shiny one about.

Vintage45 · 03/04/2016 15:55

Rude!

Sirzy · 03/04/2016 15:56

You see I don't like "autist" and wouldn't be happy if someone used that to describe my son.

That doesn't mean either of us are wrong, it's just people will choose to use different language and as long as it's not done to be offensive ideally it's best to just let people describe things as they please, if you find a term particularly offensive then ask them not to use it when talking to you but that shouldn't mean they can't use it at all. (If that makes sense)

WorraLiberty · 03/04/2016 15:56

Vingate Perhaps you'd like to discuss that with my spastic daughter?

Whether you asked your daughter's permission or not to post that, you do realise it's quite likely to upset others when they read it?

Does that not bother you?

NewYearNewToads · 03/04/2016 15:57

Probably not Worra because there are some people who only give a crap if it's them personally who are upset.

lampygirl · 03/04/2016 15:58

Not autism, but I'd go mad if someone referred to me as a person with diabetes. It sounds so forced and ridiculous. I'm cool with being 'a person' for anything unrelated and 'a diabetic' for anything related. Similarly I'm cool with stuff like 'diabetics (or a diabetic) may struggle if we don't offer a sugar free alternative' or whatever. It's not offensive, it has no negative connotations. It's factual. It only becomes a problem when it prohibits you from doing something you know you can e.g 'not for diabetics' on some cake but you could do with the sugar at that time. At which point the issue is the 'not for {group of people} rather than which term they chose to describe the group.

raininginspringtime · 03/04/2016 15:59

Good grief.

Sallystyle · 03/04/2016 16:05

OP

I cringed at your use of the word Spastic.

I can't actually believe you started this thread then used that word.

Dawndonnaagain · 03/04/2016 16:05

Sorry Worra that wasn't the intention.

Toads that's just fucking spiteful and completely unnecessary.

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OrangeNoodle · 03/04/2016 16:08

It's certainly not a term I would use.

However, if you read a lot of disability-themed blogs and social media content (as I do), you will know that many adults with autism (particularly in the US) use the word 'autistics' and the term 'an autistic' with great frequency.

So you can see how people might be confused.

Dawndonnaagain · 03/04/2016 16:08

U2 I cringed at the use of Autistics. That's the point. It's as offensive. My dd uses Spastic about herself, that is acceptable. My point was Vintage claimed we group people, I was trying to demonstrate that we shouldn't. We no longer use Spastic, we shouldn't use it, it's offensive.There is some appropriation, which is fine, but not by people who don't have Cerebral Palsy. That was my point. Worra has pointed out it was a point badly made. I accept that.

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raininginspringtime · 03/04/2016 16:08

Dawn I see there's some merit to what you're saying but to be honest you have been so aggressive, so belligerent, so full of anger it's difficult getting past that.

I can't even remember what the correct term to use is. Does it matter? Some parents have said it doesn't bother them, for some it does. Its not a 'this is what I have decided therefore you shall all follow my lead' situation as I agree some words are.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/04/2016 16:10

I'm a HCP so deal with many different (we're not supposed to call them "Patients" they are "Service Users" )

They will use a whole raft of ways to decribe themselves.

But terms like EMI (Elderly Mentally Impaired) aren't used (now more commonly Dementia Unit)

My patients will 99% say "I;m a diabetic/I'm diabetic " not "I have diabetes"

And , this'll sting, but I have a patient who refers to himself as "a cripple". His words.
"Are you taking any new medication Mr X"
"No, and I'm still a cripple"

Am I supposed to be offended on his behalf and say "Oh, we don't use words like that Mr X"

Yes, there is a lot of terminology that isn't used now. And yes there will still be patients (oh, service users ) who say "He's an Asian Dr but he's very nice" . They think it's a backhanded compliment.
Some are hideously racist/sexist/homophobic/Islamaphobic /xenophobic/ any other phobic or ~ist.

But I am not going to be offended on their behalf. That is patronisig to the extreme.

mumoseven · 03/04/2016 16:10

I call myself 'a diabetic'. Am I being offensive?

NewYearNewToads · 03/04/2016 16:11

My dd uses Spastic about herself, that is acceptable.

So in that case if there is a group of people with autism who happily refer to themselves as "autistics" then that should be acceptable too.

It is not your place to tell them they're wrong.

OrangeNoodle · 03/04/2016 16:12

While many of us might cringe at the term, it is in common usage by adults with autism.

Here, for example: 15 things you should never say to an autistic

raininginspringtime · 03/04/2016 16:12

Erm, d'you think we could stop using That Word guys?

Not trying to be the thread police, but ...

Dawndonnaagain · 03/04/2016 16:13

Sorry toads. I was waiting for an apology.

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Samcro · 03/04/2016 16:13

op has your dd got spastic CP? if not she needs educating about CP as there are many different kinds and that is just one.

Dawndonnaagain · 03/04/2016 16:13

raining. It's not meant to come over like that, although I see what you're saying. Apologies.

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Dawndonnaagain · 03/04/2016 16:14

Samcro yes she has.

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