I think something important hasn't been mentioned: a way lots of people with any sort of mental/physical disabilities cope, if it's very socially costly, is to take pride in it.
Conversation
This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author. Learn more
This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author. Learn more
This is a big part of why I identified with Naruto when I was young, a kind of "thrown with scorn & caught with pride" thing.
1
3
So, given someone who was bludgeoned throughout their development because of their disability and decided to identify with it, take pride in it to cope... say at some point it's no longer something they can't control and is just deep part of their identity... should they be
4
This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author. Learn more
I hate to warrant bad faith arguments, but setting that aside, the question here is whether disability provides a get out jail free card for harming others. (Granting for a moment that microaggressions etc. constitute real harms, which some like will probably dispute.)
1
The point of the doctor’s note is (a) it provides a basis for the teacher to explain: “This behavior that would be intentionally harmful coming from a neurotypical, in this case means something else; so don’t be offended or alienated but empathize with her disability” & (b)…
1
1
and (b) that it smokes out the assholes who are attempting to use the legitimate challenges of the neurodiverse as cover for their assholery
2
1
There is a real division between a-holes and dysfunctional social conditions or disabilities. A-holes generally intend harm or willfully disregard others to garner advantages. It ain’t a miscue or abrasive speech pattern
2
4
Janes Damore is an interesting test/edge case. Seems to have elements of both.
This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author. Learn more
What I find problematic about dismissing this argument this way is that ASD is arguably a canary in coal mine for degree of systemic sclerosis. Third category of people who use the argument is neither assholes nor ASDs but canary watchers
3
Neurotypicals do not have a monopoly on assholery, nor does neurodiversity endemnify you from charges of being an asshole. Which Damore seems not to understand.
2



