this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2025
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I see the ongoing slide into labelling anything mildy analytical as autistic is in full swing.
Disability as a subculture or identity is just really cringe. Especially the deaf/blind organisations lobbying against curing childrens deafness/blindness.
Not arguing here. But just want to point out that disability subculture usually arises as a survival response in the face of discrimination and segregation. Everyone has a need for community and a sense of belonging. When broad hegemonic culture rejects you and your presence, belonging is found in the one distinctive feature that is the cause for the rejection and the source of cohesion with your peers. See also gay subculture as a response to homophobia, US black culture as a response to racism, feminist sorority subculture in response to misogyny, etc. So it is not rare to see disability subculture as a response to ableism. These communities are very important for security and preservation of individuals. Just as everywhere else, security is always a trade-off with something else.
Support community? Great. Using it as an excuse or identity like many autistic people do? Cringe.
You don't see black people going around talking jive, and then going, "oh sorry, you see I'm black" when they catch a confused look...
We wouldn’t need a subculture if we weren’t oppressed and excluded from normal culture.
Obviously autism can vary between people, but it's not something that's wrong with me, and I wouldn't want to cure it. I'm different than what's widely considered normal, but in a way that I think is fine. It's like having red hair or being transgender.
High functioning autism is a fine character trait to identify with. Though I seriously doubt someone who's basically mute takes pride in their autism.
Autism still isn't a disease though, you can't "cure" it, it's something we are. Even with the most disabled we should start with accepting them and offering the help they need, not just immediately label them as defected and try to erase who they are. Sure, let's figure out ways to lessen the worst symptoms, but how about if we'd just stop discriminating first and see where that leads
Nowhere did I ever defend discrimination. I merely said some people do not have a form they'd likely be proud of.
Sorry if I sounded like blaming you of something! The point I was trying to make was more about how many autists are ashamed of themselves because of discrimination; that maybe those with a more difficult type could be more proud if they were* treated better
I dislike pride in general. Nobody should take pride in anything literally inaliable, just like nobody should be shamed for it. They should be comfortable in their own skin and not made to feel lesser for sure, though pride? Ehh... It's a dangerous, blinding emotion.
Nonverbal people are free to make up their own mind how they feel about it, but calling it "cringe" when people choose to come together over a shared identity and experience is extremely insulting.
Nowhere did I ever call making a community cringe.
I'd say subculture is fine. A subculture doesn't have to be bad or annoying. Identifying with autism is also totally fine. Recognizing kinship isn't bad.
Where it goes wrong is using it as an identity outright. "Sorry, I'm autistic" is just fucking more annoying after someone does something annoyingly autistic. Being autistic doesn't mean you literally cannot learn good social behavior. By the time that is true, there is definitely something more serious than autism involved.
Quick question, are you disabled yourself?
Context is important. In this case, it wasn't the place for that kind of analysis.
Although ironically it matches the meta-context perfectly (displaying signs of autism in an exam to detect autistism).
I blame finance bros.