5d ago

Terminology: on the spectrum

To me, it feels like it is some sort of desperate attempt to not say 'autistic'/'autism', but I don't fully understand why. Most people I've seen using 'on the spectrum' are either actively questioning whether they or someone they are close with are autistic, or think it but don't care all that much. Personally, I find referring to autism as 'the spectrum' a bit offensive, as the only reason I can find to use the term is to forcibly emphasize that whoever is referred to (hereafter: 'me', although sometimes I am a spectator) is not like other (higher needs, lower perceived status) autistics. They suggest that they think badly of autism this way, and ungroup me from that group so it's not insulting (but it is, to the entire group and thus to me, who is, could be argued, also insulted directly). Although I know that basically everyone perceives people unalike themselves as 'worse' (human nature sadly) and it isn't on purpose, it is still very insulting to me. I already knew I was a joke to most people, so please don't make fun of me for things I have trouble with. Am I wrong about the reason people use the term? Do you agree or disagree and most importantly: why?

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15 comments

people might use it to sound less clinical/doctorish/formal or if they misunderstand the meaning. They also might misunderstand neurodivergency with "on spectrum" and use both terms alike to someone who is not diagnosed formally. I would like to be called how I call myself, autistic would be the best, because saying on spectrum feels like I am sitting on some tree or on a train. Also I strongly doubt that perceiving people unlike themselves worse (which I would call xenophobia) is natural. Saying it natural rather sounds as excuses for xenophobic people. If someone raised in diverse environment with different people around and without xenophobia then they won't be xenophobic.
- I am happy to have a non-xenophobic reason for understanding it's usage, but I disagree that it would be possible to not be xenophobic.
  If you ask people, most of them will say they aren't, because they don't want to be, but in reality I think most of them are. If a black person is trying to break a lock, people will call the police, and if a white person is trying to break one they will be offered help. The most important thing is to be aware of it and minimize acting to it, not just by compensating for the xenophobia, but by making it impossible to act xenophobic in the first place (like with blind job application processes).
  Saying it natural rather sounds as excuses for xenophobic people.
  It's important that you bring this up and I hope that suggesting that xenophobia is natural to humans won't be perceived as an excuse for acting xenophobic to anyone.

15 comments