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.

@CorrBlimeyGG

when NT people say they're having a meltdown?

I'd assume they're ignorant.

Why? Meltdown is not a term exclusively for the use of neuro diverse people. And I speak as parent to a neurodiverse person.

My 6 year old son is autistic but I don't take offence to it at all. Meltdown is a widely used word that as has been said above, isn't "copyrighted" by the autistic community. I just think it's a pretty rubbish joke on a fairly unattractive looking jumper

Oh, I associate melt down with problems at nuclear power stations, particularly Chernobyl in the Ukraine, which coincidentally did actually melt a lot of snowmen (or should that snowpeople now?

@notanothertakeaway

NT toddlers have tantrums, not meltdowns

I think this jumper is in rather poor taste, a bit like people flippantly saying they are"a bit OCD" when they just like clean and tidy house

Agree fully with OCD. It really irks me when people describe themselves as "a bit OCD" (total oxymoron anyway) about housework etc.

But meltdown isn't a medical term. It is not solely associated with autism. I think it's a bit of a reach to be offended here.

I don't like it. I think it's pretty divisive though. My autistic sister would love it, I personally don't like it. When I think of all the autistic people who 'pass' for NT and get treated like crap, with little to no understanding when they do reach crisis point because they're 'basically normal' it just makes me a bit sad. I don't like the use of the world meltdown at all tbh. Might be OTT to some though.

@TheLikesofMe

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.'

Wow, reaching much?

I couldn't care less about going viral or not I was looking for other peoples opinions, of which I've been given many, and I'm taking them all on board. I am clearly being unreasonable in some people's eyes and in some others they can see where I'm coming from. No harm, no foul.

@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.

I've taught autistic children for several decades. The use of 'meltdown' for when they can't cope any more is recent in itself. It's not a medical or professional term, it simply started being used by parents of ND children maybe a decade ago, and then grew.

I'm afraid that it's not a term that people with autism and their parents can own. It equally describes toddlers having an extreme tantrum, and has expanded to include them.

I get that it might seem unfair, but it does not have a definition that only applies to autistic people. Language develops. It developed from its original meaning to be used in the autism community, and it's developed again to include toddlers.

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”.

I can't find any evidence that that was the direction of travel. There's this on the etymology of the word www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/debacle-catastrophe-and-disaster-before-they-were-bad/meltdown As far as I can work out the two definitions have run side by side.

When someone tells me they're depressed, I know they might mean they're a bit down, or they might mean they have a medical condition. I have depression. I don't lecture them on how they might use the word. When I do get annoyed is when someone uses a word that should be used to describe cerebral palsy as an insult. That I do pull them up on.

@TheLikesofMe she probably posted in the hope of educating some ignorant dickheads on mumsnet. Clearly you’re too far gone.

Sorry @HugeAckmansWife, it looks as though my post is addressed to you, when actually I'm agreeing with you and addressing the OP.

So 'meltdown' is basically a word that has been hijacked by a group who now claim ownership of it, didn't tell anyone of this hijacking, and now some people in that group are offended because it's still being used by any old Tom, Dick or Harry to describe toddlers having meltdowns?

TBH I just feel really sad for the nuclear reactors who can no longer use the term 'meltdown' for fear of being accused of being ablest 😞

The term 'meltdown' does not have its roots in the autistic community. It is not officially a word specifically for people with autism. If you look it up in the dictionary it means an emotional outburst, autism is not mentioned at all.

I find it funny and would happily let my 2 year old wear it

Get real @RussianSpy101

She 's not trying to educate because, as it turns out, she isn't educated about the term herself!

I'm not an ignorant dickhead but if the cap fits you, you must try it on.

Also have a neurodiverse child & couldn't get upset over this

@TheLikesofMe nothing from your head would fit me dear.

I don't think there's an issue with it but I understand if you do.

@Welshiefluff

1. Its nice

1. WTF is neurodiverse? Sounds like another bullshit term

You don't know what 'neurodiverse' means? Can't you figure it out?

@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.

Eh?

Those are medical conditions.

Meltdown is not.

I have an autistic child but I think the jumper is awful, regardless. Why would anyone want to declare they were having a meltdown for the entire day? It's not funny.

To be honest, when I read the title, I thought you were referring to the Christmas jumper that actually says Home Bargains on it. Now that's tacky.

@stingofthebutterfly

I have an autistic child but I think the jumper is awful, regardless. Why would anyone want to declare they were having a meltdown for the entire day? It's not funny.

To be honest, when I read the title, I thought you were referring to the Christmas jumper that actually says Home Bargains on it. Now that's tacky.

I saw that one today as well

ASD mum and ASD kids. Don't mind it, if I see one I'll buy it.

I'm surprised by so many posters on here claiming meltdown as purely relating to autism.

Firstly, it just isn't. It's been around since before autism was recognised.

Secondly, it's not really a very good word. It's quite flippant.

I can see that you need a word to differentiate between a tantrum and an episode caused by autism. But I really wouldn't have thought meltdown was the best option.

@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.

Meltdown isn't a medical term, unlike those you have listed trying to be clever and witty.