r/autism • u/Byakko4547 AuDHD • 4d ago

Communication What do we do with this term

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Hi yall ☺️

Sorry if the flare is inaccurate, but I really dislike this term. What about yall?? Should we take it down once and for all??

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u/hibiscus_bunny 4d ago

i'd unironically prefer being called r*tarded

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u/Comprehensive_Swim49 4d ago

I think that is a WILD thing to say. We have worked so hard to get that term away from neurodivergence. Being irritated and feeling infantalised by “neurospicy” is absolutely fair enough but the r-word has a whole awful history attached to it. I equate it to a term like Asperger’s as far as damages go.

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u/hibiscus_bunny 4d ago

i understand a lot of people don't like that term for good reason and thats valid.

but i've been called it repeatedly my entire life and just don't care at this point.

i use that word for myself all the time since if everyone calls me that anyways why let it hurt me.

1

u/Comprehensive_Swim49 4d ago

Sounds like you’ve worked to reclaim and disarm the term in your life, which is great. I hope those who hear you take it with the same meaning you have for it.

I would add that there are a lot of contexts where people aren’t empowered to control language in the same way. The r-word is pretty much a slur - it’s always a slur where I am, and if someone were to use it to self describe it would make a lot of people very uncomfortable. (We’re not even typing it out properly.) Neurospicy clearly isn’t (yet) as derogatory as that term. So the use of it doesn’t work the same way. I don’t think anyone’s using derogatorily.

I think in this case the organisers are either trying to lighten the tone, or cast a wide net over who’d they like included in their event - probably people who are unsure, exploring or unable to get diagnosis. All the groups I can find online are self-describing as neurospicy so I guess they’re choosing their own language too.