6 ms·

> I hope you still understood what I meant It wouldn't be HN without autistically pedantic nits on scope and definition that add nothing of value to the disco

> I hope you still understood what I meant It wouldn't be HN without autistically pedantic nits on scope and definition that add nothing of value to the discourse.

TylerE 10y ago
Can we please not use autistic as a pejorative?
- scrollaway 10y ago
  You could simply not read it as pejorative. You can try to re-read the post you replied to with a more open mind.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - reitanqild 10y ago
    I'd still recommended not using that word this way. I'm afraid it helps cement a certain understanding in the readers. Or, perhaps more importantly, it will be used as training data for someones AI based HR startup which will go on to filter out perfectly good candidates for being "autistic".
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
    - TeMPOraL 10y ago
      > Or, perhaps more importantly, it will be used as training data for someones AI based HR startup which will go on to filter out perfectly good candidates for being "autistic". I did not expect that point... crafting comments with future ML efforts in mind. I don't think we should care that much about it - you can't feel personally responsible for every idiot using overhyped technology to do stupid things at scale.
      - reitanqild 10y ago
        Don't take that part too seriously ;-) It was meant as a joke at the end of an otherwise serious post.
        TeMPOraL 10y ago
        I suspected that ;). But sometimes treating jokes at face value leads to interesting ideas and discussions :).
        reitanqild 10y ago
        I see:-) I think this joke in particular does have some really interesting possibilities. Someone could make a thriller or sci-fi out of this.
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
  - totalZero 10y ago
    For all you know, people reading this post are autistic, or have an autistic sibling (or child!). Nobody comes to HN to feel bad. I have no horse in this race (not the original commenter) and I support the idea that people should speak freely without fear of off-topic chastisement, but it just seems a little more good hearted to find a different word.
    - surge 10y ago
      Suggest one? Is there another word to describe the inability to detect the subtle greater context and meaning of an interaction and instead obsess over the literal meaning of individual words? It's tech, there is very high chance nearly everyone is on the spectrum in some way, and if fact its a trait that gives you advantages (but comes with some drawbacks depending to the degree you have it). It's almost self deprecating humor, we all have tics/obsessive behaviors where we miss the forest for the trees during social interactions where we know what they "meant" but it's not exactly "what they said" and so we give each other grief for it so we can try to do better when interacting with others. There is nothing wrong with actually being autistic, but certain characteristics we should try to keep in check.
      - totalZero 10y ago
        Let's be candid here. Usually, people who use "autistic" as a pejorative really mean "clueless," or worse, "addle-brained." Both are far better alternatives, and neither alternative will collaterally insult autistic people. If you want to insult someone, go ahead. But don't accidentally insult a whole bunch of other people in the process. If there is nothing wrong with being autistic, then it's poor communication to use it as a pejorative. And if there is something wrong with being autistic, then it's cruel to use it as a pejorative. Either way, there are other, better ways to express oneself. I'm not going to discuss a blanket assessment of all tech industry workers as "on the spectrum." That's not my area of expertise. I had a friend who is really short. I used to tease him a little about his height (we didn't exactly see eye to eye), but one day I noticed that he seemed hurt by my jokes so I stopped. Autistic people have enough social challenges and confidence issues. You'd have to have ice water in your veins to intentionally add to that. They deal with enough difficulty as it is. Sometimes it's about sensing how the other guy feels. The coolest guys try to draw attention to their friends' good qualities, big up the confidence of those around them, and help their peers stand taller. Obama did this once in a crowd that said a cutesy "aww" when a fourth-grader came up to ask a question; the President immediately interrupted the crowd, said that the boy was a big guy, and suggested that they let him speak. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/BewOcp1JtDU https://youtu.be/BewOcp1JtDU Autistic people don't deserve to be used as a punchline or pejorative. If you really mean "clueless," then say "clueless."
  - hizanberg 10y ago
    I read the post as it's intended (which I agree with) but the pejorative use of a human disorder is both unnecessary and adds negative value to those with or are impacted with autism. It's loose usage to colour a point encourages its usage in natural language, degrading people with the disability. Basically it's not needed and has detrimental effects - we can do better.
- TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
  Yeah, it would have been more correct to use autism spectrum disorder[1] rather than vanilla autism. Features of these disorders include social deficits and communication difficulties, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and interests, sensory issues, and in some cases, cognitive delays. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum
- damptowel 10y ago
  I'm autistic and I personally couldn't care less. In fact I sometimes call some my friends and coworkers that when they're being OCD, which usually gets a chuckle out of them.

> I hope you still understood what I meant It wouldn't be HN without autistically pedantic nits on scope and definition that add nothing of value to the discourse.

TylerE 10y ago

Can we please not use autistic as a pejorative?

scrollaway 10y ago
You could simply not read it as pejorative. You can try to re-read the post you replied to with a more open mind.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- reitanqild 10y ago
  I'd still recommended not using that word this way. I'm afraid it helps cement a certain understanding in the readers. Or, perhaps more importantly, it will be used as training data for someones AI based HR startup which will go on to filter out perfectly good candidates for being "autistic".
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    > Or, perhaps more importantly, it will be used as training data for someones AI based HR startup which will go on to filter out perfectly good candidates for being "autistic". I did not expect that point... crafting comments with future ML efforts in mind. I don't think we should care that much about it - you can't feel personally responsible for every idiot using overhyped technology to do stupid things at scale.
    - reitanqild 10y ago
      Don't take that part too seriously ;-) It was meant as a joke at the end of an otherwise serious post.
      - TeMPOraL 10y ago
        I suspected that ;). But sometimes treating jokes at face value leads to interesting ideas and discussions :).
        reitanqild 10y ago
        I see:-) I think this joke in particular does have some really interesting possibilities. Someone could make a thriller or sci-fi out of this.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
- totalZero 10y ago
  For all you know, people reading this post are autistic, or have an autistic sibling (or child!). Nobody comes to HN to feel bad. I have no horse in this race (not the original commenter) and I support the idea that people should speak freely without fear of off-topic chastisement, but it just seems a little more good hearted to find a different word.
  - surge 10y ago
    Suggest one? Is there another word to describe the inability to detect the subtle greater context and meaning of an interaction and instead obsess over the literal meaning of individual words? It's tech, there is very high chance nearly everyone is on the spectrum in some way, and if fact its a trait that gives you advantages (but comes with some drawbacks depending to the degree you have it). It's almost self deprecating humor, we all have tics/obsessive behaviors where we miss the forest for the trees during social interactions where we know what they "meant" but it's not exactly "what they said" and so we give each other grief for it so we can try to do better when interacting with others. There is nothing wrong with actually being autistic, but certain characteristics we should try to keep in check.
    - totalZero 10y ago
      Let's be candid here. Usually, people who use "autistic" as a pejorative really mean "clueless," or worse, "addle-brained." Both are far better alternatives, and neither alternative will collaterally insult autistic people. If you want to insult someone, go ahead. But don't accidentally insult a whole bunch of other people in the process. If there is nothing wrong with being autistic, then it's poor communication to use it as a pejorative. And if there is something wrong with being autistic, then it's cruel to use it as a pejorative. Either way, there are other, better ways to express oneself. I'm not going to discuss a blanket assessment of all tech industry workers as "on the spectrum." That's not my area of expertise. I had a friend who is really short. I used to tease him a little about his height (we didn't exactly see eye to eye), but one day I noticed that he seemed hurt by my jokes so I stopped. Autistic people have enough social challenges and confidence issues. You'd have to have ice water in your veins to intentionally add to that. They deal with enough difficulty as it is. Sometimes it's about sensing how the other guy feels. The coolest guys try to draw attention to their friends' good qualities, big up the confidence of those around them, and help their peers stand taller. Obama did this once in a crowd that said a cutesy "aww" when a fourth-grader came up to ask a question; the President immediately interrupted the crowd, said that the boy was a big guy, and suggested that they let him speak. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/BewOcp1JtDU https://youtu.be/BewOcp1JtDU Autistic people don't deserve to be used as a punchline or pejorative. If you really mean "clueless," then say "clueless."
- hizanberg 10y ago
  I read the post as it's intended (which I agree with) but the pejorative use of a human disorder is both unnecessary and adds negative value to those with or are impacted with autism. It's loose usage to colour a point encourages its usage in natural language, degrading people with the disability. Basically it's not needed and has detrimental effects - we can do better.
TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
Yeah, it would have been more correct to use autism spectrum disorder[1] rather than vanilla autism. Features of these disorders include social deficits and communication difficulties, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and interests, sensory issues, and in some cases, cognitive delays. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum
damptowel 10y ago
I'm autistic and I personally couldn't care less. In fact I sometimes call some my friends and coworkers that when they're being OCD, which usually gets a chuckle out of them.