To be a bit wtf at this home bargains christmas jumper?

[Effinell]

I seen this when I was in store today and it just didn't sit right with me. I do have a neurodiverse DD so that might be colouring my view slightly.

To be clear I wasn't fuming, crying and about to go and demand that the manager do something about it and take them off the shelves.

There are more important things to get offended about I agree and it's been interesting seeing this from both sides.

@TyphooMary

Ableist folks like those on this thread are why I have to specify 'autistic meltdown' instead of just saying meltdown.

Even then, folks who aren't neurodivergent still don't understand.

I am 39. I experience both autistic meltdown and autistic shutdown.

Neither are funny. Both involve a distressing lack of control. Frightening, distressing, embarrassing, shaming, soul destroying - these are all things other neurodivergent folk like myself feel about actual meltdowns.

A toddler tantrum might seem the perfect behaviour to describe with the term meltdown, but it very much is not the same. Similarities in places like reasons for, and processes, but they still are not the same.

The jumper would be something my two autistic children and my autistic self could laugh about between us, but I very much would not wish to encourage NT friends or strangers to join in on that because it's not appropriate.

People aren't being ableist - the dictionary definition of meltdown doesn't say anything about autism specifically. You having to specify autistic meltdown isn't ableist. In fact the opposite because then people know that an autistic meltdown is all of the things you describe.

As opposed to an 'actual meltdown'.. which is... what exactly? Financial markets collapsing? Nuclear reactors malfunctioning? Or the other definition as given in the dictionary related to a general inability to cope?

There's no one meaning of the word

I'm autistic, and usually laugh at people's oversensitivity with stuff like this but nah it does feel a bit 🤨 mocking.

@RussianSpy101

NT people don’t have meltdowns. They have tantrums

That's not true. A meltdown is a loss of control and being unable to cope with or process emotions. Which pretty much sums up anyone below the age of 5.

Having said that I wouldnt buy or wear the jumper because I hate slogans full stop.

I think you're being sensitive

I don't think meltdown is specific to autism is it? It's a term that's been used for years but NT people I assumed.

Is it a bit like people saying they are "OCD" when they are just a little particular but NT except OCD was only ever used as a ND type.

Is that right?

@HugeAckmansWife

But 'meltdown' isn't really a medical term is it? I know it's used to differentiate an autistic spectrum episode over a general tantrum but it's not unique. You can have a nuclear meltdown for instance. In this instance, applied to a snowman who can and is literally melting, I really think to be offended is somewhat reaching.

Agree with this.

You are over reacting .

The word meltdown can be used in relation to autism, however, it’s not unique to that and has other meanings that relate to non autistic people. Anyone who is overwhelmed and overflowing with emotions can have a meltdown.

This is just a fun play on words. Nothing offensive, although it’s your choice to be offended if you wish.

The word frail has a clinical meaning with specific definitions but many people use that for old people unsteady on their feet. It can mean either depending on the setting.

It's cheap and tacky, that's all.

Sent jumper to autistic DP for opinion which resulted in him ordering me one - not the home bargains one but apparently there are lots of these floating around!

@sonjadog

Is the expression "having a meltdown" particularly related to autism? I had no idea. I thought it was a widely used expression.

This

I thought it was a widely used expression
It is.

I have autism and meltdowns but am not offended. I hate having them but the context is so completely different.

🙄

I think we have to move away from the idea that anything can give offence before life becomes one big miserable experience.

Some things like racism do but here, you've gone out and about looking to suck on a lemon and you've found one.

The Puritans are back looking to piss on everyone's chips.

Tis bollocks and I hope that doesn't offend any poly-orchids out there.

It's an awful jumper that makes light of being autistic.

No it doesn't , the world 'meltdown' didn't come about because of autism.

@PinkyU

The issue is that the language has been appropriated by the NT community to mean a tantrum, and so now, the neurodiverse community have no language that expresses the biological phenomena that they actually experience during a “meltdown”.

And worse, when a ND person does experience a “meltdown” it’s conflated with tantrum and the ND person is not only not offered the correct support they are often judged and treated appallingly for “misbehaving”.

Do you mean the word meltdown has been appropriated by some in the ND community? I think you need to look into the etymology of the word.

It’s awful

It's just you OP

@ChargingBuck

What a delightful sentiment, & not in the least ableist. I'm on the website now, searching desperately for a jolly jumper that proudly announces "I'm having an epileptic fit". While it's in the wash, I'll proudly sport the "my catheter is leaking" cardigan, maybe over that nice "I'm having a panic attack" t shirt.

This, in one post, shows how MN has "evolved" since it began.

Ffs

Autistic adult here who took it literally. Having read the thread, I see it is about a snowman.
As you were.

NT people don’t have meltdowns. They have tantrums

Of course NT people have meltdowns, the word isn't exclusive to ND people.

I wonder if you hoped that this thread would go viral and you would have the shop scurrying about begging forgiveness from you and maybe a few old notes to soften the blow.

Alternatively, I think some of these "offended at nothing" posts are put up by right wing groups, so that everyone laughs at them in a 'world gorne mad' type of way, hoping that eventually they can wrap all this batshit up with the many times that real times offence is given and just dismiss the lot.

Apologies to those who may be shaking if they pronounce 'gone' as 'gorne.'