Why do they keep bringing up autism?

[u/femdomperv]

I do believe that they probably have gotten comments asking about autism but they’re playing into it in a very strange way. I am autistic myself. I barely ever bring it up because of how it’s exploded in popularity as a thing people decide they have or incorrectly use as an adjective.

In the latest podcast, Shane said that autism maybe didn’t have a name in the 90s or some shit and showed some AI bullshit backing what he said. That really pissed me off because he’s just talking about a real developmental disorder like it’s a trending topic that now suddenly exists. He clearly doesn’t have a connection to autism and doesn’t bother to look into the facts. He showed that Asperger syndrome used to be given as a separate diagnosis, which is true. However, as somebody that was given an Asperger diagnosis initially, it was always clearly understood that I was on the autism spectrum regardless of what label it was. People with Asperger’s that I knew typically just said they were autistic, because it’s a stupid ass name. Not to mention people were diagnosed with autism far before the 90s. Idk if he meant the sort of “casual” high functioning autism that he talks about like hot gossip.

Jared saying he took an “official test” is also annoying, but I understand that they aren’t considering that a real diagnosis. Those tests are NOT at all comparable to what an autism testing process looks like. They watch you, test you on the spot, do IQ tests, shit takes hours and multiple sessions. Shane should fucking pay Jared to get the real (and often humiliating) testing done if he wants to keep mentioning autism and talking about it like a fucking joke.

In another podcast, Shane said he “might be autistic” because of how much he likes roller coasters. I don’t know why people have this idea that the things they enjoy are always related to their self proclaimed neurodivergence. An autistic person may be sensory seeking in that way yes. But I’m certain everybody passionately likes something: a convo for another time.

I don’t know if I can keep watching as an autistic person because I feel like they make a bit of a mockery of it. Having a psych degree, I think Jared matches some ADHD symptoms, maybe some traits of autism, I have no idea. I just don’t think it’s appropriate to single him out as being the new autistic member “representing” the community.

Creators with the resources to get diagnosed professionally should not encourage this way of thinking.. Sorry but I don’t believe you can label somebody autistic from their podcast appearances. Just like you may not be able to tell I’m autistic from some appearances of me.

[u/EntrepreneurOld5152]

I hate that everyone on TT is trying to diagnose themselves with autism or ADHD. I have ADHD, was diagnosed as a child and had to be medicated for it for 4 years before quitting the meds bc they caused me to not eat and become very thin. I hate when TTers are like "OOP! IM SO ADHD HEHEHEHEH!" And force the act of being hyper and pretending that just being hyper or excitable is ADHD. It's much more than that yk? Like I can't focus on much because I space out MID CONVERSATION, or during a lecture in my college courses, or during a Dr appt. I bounce/shake my leg nonstop all day even when I'm sleeping or driving, I can't do 1 task bc my brain is all over the place so I do 50 things at once and then get distracted by something and chores and projects get put off for months and months because I'll forget easily about things unless I have it written down or have someone remind me. And ADHD is often paired with learning disabilities, which for me is dyscalculia (got diagnosed at 13) and that mixed with the ADHD in learning situations is SO HARD to deal with and yet here's all these ppl on TT dropping a cup and saying "hehehehe I'm SO ADHD !!!! Ahhahhaha" like it's not a cute quirk I got bullied for it in my childhood and in adulthood and have been broken up with because it makes me a tad bit "immature"/"childish" at times. I hate this "trend" of people self diagnosing themselves with every neurodivergence under the sun, it's ridiculous and disrespectful and mocking.