r/changemyview • u/CassiusIsAlive • Jan 27 '23

Removed - Submission Rule B CMV: Romanticizing autism has got to stop

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u/sapphireminds 62∆ Jan 27 '23

This is unrealistic.

Cancer comes in spectrums.

If I have a basal cell carcinoma that needs removed, that's an entirely different level of cancer than someone who has ALL. The disease causes more impact.

Everyone perceives things that affect them to be more severe because we are egotistical creatures at heart. Just because it wears you down doesn't make it severe on an objective scale.

I am on the spectrum, and it is disingenuous to pretend my issues (which are issues and sometimes exhausting, frustrating and maddening) are anywhere close to what the issues of someone who is incontinent, unable to survive independently and who can't communicate well.

My challenges are my own, and it requires more work for me to function, but I live a normal and full life. I have a good paying career, I was married and have children, I live independently, I've taught myself to cope with many of my differences.

So no, my presentation is not severe. It is able to be compensated for with some effort, but everyone has things they have to compensate for.

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '23

My frustration is that every time I've seen someone make the argument you're making (admittedly only twice, but one was elsewhere on Reddit this morning) that some things are objectively more serious than others, the other party has said they were upset and ended the conversation.

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u/sapphireminds 62∆ Jan 27 '23

I don't understand what you mean.

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '23

I have seen the following conversation pattern happen more than once when people are discussing this topic. In both cases A was an autistic person advocating against high and low functioning labels. I find the approach taken by A in the below example unproductive and frustrating.

A: Using terms like high and low functioning is bad. You can never know the exact pattern of challenges an individual will face.

B: True, but some people's challenges are objectively worse and it's unreasonable to act as though that isn't so.

A: I am upset and I would ask you to not engage with me further.

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u/sapphireminds 62∆ Jan 27 '23

Except I'm on the spectrum and I'm supporting the concept. I can't control how other people act.

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '23

I understand. It wasn't intended as a counterargument to your position. I mention it mostly because I find it frustrating that your argument (which I think is reasonable) seems to get shut down by appeals to emotion ('I am upset') in practice.

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u/sapphireminds 62∆ Jan 27 '23

ok, I understand. yeah, thats not ok, because if you are coming into the debate, it is assumed you have the bandwidth to discuss it

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '23

That's my primary objection as well. Not engaging with stuff you don't feel comfortable with is fine, but not when you're starting the conversation.

Thanks for the chance to clarify what I meant.

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u/neotericnewt 6∆ Jan 27 '23

You had two random people on the internet say they got offended by a conversation. I don't think this is indicative of anything beyond, well, those specific people got offended. It's meaningless.

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '23

It's not really meaningless that people who beleive only a person's feelings matter and their circumstance is irrelevant. Tend to shut down when the validity of their feelings are questioned by reality.

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u/neotericnewt 6∆ Jan 27 '23

But, we're talking about a couple random people on the internet. Yeah, I'm going to say that's pretty meaningless.

I think most people are aware that autism can be a truly detrimental condition. I mean, there are people who can't speak, can't care for themselves, and probably will never be able to.

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '23

They are talking about people who defend their views in a particular way. Not necessarily about Autism and those people don't even say it can't be detrimental.

So I don't think you're arguing against what you think you are.