Reply to Is "on the spectrum" offensive?

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Reply to "Is "on the spectrum" offensive?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]On the spectrum as a term is not offensive. However, saying someone is on the spectrum because you perceive them as quirky can be offensive and derogatory. [/quote]

This is what I think too. I hate armchair diagnoses that are often given in bad faith. [/quote]

I agree 100%. And what gets me is: why can't they just call the person quirky? Every time... I just want to tell the person to expand their vocabulary and stop using fad language. Using "spectrum" makes some people feel smart.[/quote]

Bc they’re not saying quirky they’re saying the person has autism. On the spectrum is like ‘person of color.’ Feels a little less on the nose than ‘Black person’ or ‘autistic’ [/quote]

They're not qualified to diagnose autism. When a random person tries to do this it connotes ignorance and cruelty on their part as it is clearly a dig at another person's social skills. [/quote]

Again, it’s the chronic symptoms that cause issues at work, home or socially.

Not the Dx. Stop fixating.

If saying the word quirky or on the spectrum quickly explains the behaviors and situations, then so be it. That’s all it’s doing, describing the behavior. No one cares to get into to the neuropsych test or mental disorder care or their avoidance of it. They care about the suffering and issues that are created. And must be dealt with. In the workplace, in the home, in the relationships.

Frankly most people would assume the rude person is being Passive Aggressive and not stick around long enough to view the pattern as on the spectrum.

[/quote]

"The spectrum" refers to a specific diagnosis. It's offensive to use it to refer to someone with troubling social behaviors who causes "suffering" in the workplace. People can have troubling social behaviors for a variety of reasons including anxiety, BPD, sociopathy, you name it.

You're being willfully obtuse on this. I wonder if it's possible you - the person fixated on referring to problem people in the workplace as being "on the spectrum" may actually be the source of the problems in the workplace.[/quote]

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