Discussing Politics When Autistic

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My school is quite liberal in the sense that more conservative opinions are often labeled as bigoted or too controversial. While I do recognize the merit in interrupting harmful and racist conversations, they go too far when shutting down debates. We can barely talk about gender without having a teacher meet with you to discuss "ignorance" and "tolerance by widening perspective". I believe this might be worsened by my autism. During class today, we talked about gender fluidity and how we must accept/acknowledge the presence of unlimited identities. I couldn't hide my own opinions and disdain (that sounds rather aggressive; I have no better wording) as well as I'd like. I didn't voice my opinion since one of my friends had recently transitioned from they/them to he/him. I believe there are two genders; however, it is not my place to dictate another's choices and will support them. I don't know how to join the discussion without coming off as intolerant or somehow bigoted. How can I word this? Body language in these types of discussions is very important to help express your point. Should I mimic the others' positions? This is difficult for me, and I don't want to hurt anyone. Am I intolerant or bigoted???

A lot to unpack here

This is a feeling common to many not just autistics who feel that current standards of discourse tend towards shutting down opposing views rather than debating them. Frequently it is expressed by more conservative view points, but in some circles it also applies to more liberal view points. I tend to agree that modern discourse tends to veer towards shouting the other view point down.



In this particular debate it is probably best to keep your opinions to yourself. You say you don't agree with what others think but will support those who are transitioning. Supporting means letting their opinions hold sway. Given the difficulties faced by trans people I think it is best to respect their preferences whether you agree with them or not.



The fact that you are asking these questions means that you are sensitive to others view points even if you don't share them. In my experience don't try to bring this up in a group situation. You'll get ostracized and ridiculed if you go against the grain. Instead discuss it one on one with someone who disagrees with you but will actually listen to your full viewpoint. These conversations will be more productive and both of you will learn from the experience. As a personal example I am a die hard capitalist, but have a communist friend that I enjoy discussing things like the situation in Venezuela with. We almost never see eye to eye, but I learn a lot from discussing with him.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Well, they used to be when I was a kid.
Unfortunately, left-wing influences have created an environment of "groupthink" at some/many schools where an independent, free-thinking mindset isn't encouraged (how ironic).

To work towards self-actualisation it is necessary to define who you are, not to adopt what authority figures decide who you should be.
This is not China or North Korea after all.

As an autistic person myself, I would advise you not to fight the establishment, since a lone individual will get pummeled by a feral groupthink PC emotionalistic mob.
You can't fight them and expect them to respect your individuality.
After all, reason, objectivity and rationalism aren't part of the skill set of sanctimonious, self-righteous, virtue-signalling non-individualists.

I hope I haven't been too subtle in where I stand.



Total agreement.
You can't win in this situation, imo.
Trust me, I have experienced/confronted the groupthink mentality many times and you simply can't reason with unreasonable people.

And you could find other like thinking people to discuss the issue.

BTW, I haven't a position on gender identity at this stage.
I don't know enough about it since I am an old fart and have other things to research which have higher priority.
But I have a problem with sanctimony and virtue-signalling.

Edit. I would advise you to remove your age in your profile.

So your beliefs are something along the lines of "I support someone if they need to change their gender, but I still believe that there are only TWO genders. And I don't buy this "there are 71 genders' nonsense."

Actually sounds quite liberal and tolerant in my book.

Not much you can do. You could try working out in advance what to say if "topic X" comes up, and make sure that you have disclaimers ready in advance to season and tenderize your points. Like what you said here- SAY that you support an actual friend changing from he to she, but ...so on ..".

"ignorance"?

A counselor asked me if, the schoolteacher that had the nerve to tell me that it was "lying" for me to ask him to call me "he" instead of "she", knew he was ignorant

He did not know he was ignorant

But everyone is ignorant

That was San Diego 2006. He was a friend, not my teacher

So it was not "discrimination"


That was before 2012 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission




The ass hole acted like I invented "lying". He acted like Public Enemy Number One

Incite a riot


Then it turned out that he "discriminated against" me, not even an email apology

It has nothing to do with your autism and everything to do with with you being tolerant. Actually you are more then tolerant, when your friend transitioned you not only tolerated him you supported him and respected his choice of gender identity/pronoun. In a fair world it should be you who should be teaching them about tolerance, respect, and civility while debating issues. I think the way you worded it above is just fine.

Unfortunately your school has the authority thus has the power to unfairly punish you. Fortunately so far the school has not punished you and hopefully they won’t . If you do speak up again and you are punished you might need lawyers to protect your first amendment rights. That can involve time, energy and money you may not have.

I had an opposite issue where I was always rather left leaning in an overwhelmingly conservative environment. People get very offended if you go against the prevailing norms, whether it be politics, religion, or various other means of signaling resonance with the regional culture.

On issues like genderfluidity, my position is that acceptance has a lot more to do with preventing an "outgroup" in society that faces discrimination due to internalized attitudes which are negative towards those individuals. Whether or not there are more than 2 genders and whether gender is separate from sex is not as significant as the reality that individuals are indeed expressing themselves in this fashion at an increasing rate.

Groupthink works both ways.

Are you aware that, even on a purely biological level, there is such a thing as intersex?

Oh, for goodness sake.
Why did god make things so complicated?
Errm.

How about we roll a dice, and if it comes up "snake eyes", we have a two penised individual?

It's not possible to discuss something you disagree with without coming off as intolerant and bigoted. You just simply have to keep your opinions to yourself if they are deemed unacceptable by society. Do not disagree and just listen and say nothing.

Intersex people are either male or female. Gender is in your brain. Not what your body is.

God didn't do it, it wasn't done with intent, malicious or other wise. It's simply that we didn't always understand the complexities of the universe as well as we do now, and we still don't understand as well as we hopefully will some day. There's nothing wrong with updating our understandings of concepts as we gain more insight, but maybe that's why I could never be conservative.

I'm a Vulcan since I think like a Vulcan.
<ponders>
Where the hell are my pointy ears?

Isn't it a question of what context one is using?
A purely physical context or one of perceived identity?

I am a biological human whether I like it or not, surely.
And no manner of desire will change that fact, surely once again.

Well assuming magic doesn't exist in the world, the horror!
<Quentin Makepeace Coldwater sulks as per usual>

Intersex people are of ambiguous biological sex. For example, their sex chromosomes might be XXY instead of XX or XY. Or they might have XX chromosomes (female) but be born with with male-looking genitalia due to the hormones they were exposed to in the womb. Or they might have XY chormosomes (male) but be born with female-looking genitalia, again due to the hormones they were exposed to in the womb.

Many though not all transgender people were actually born intersex.

Gender (in your brain) can differ from sex (of your body), but my point is that BOTH sex and gender -- not just gender -- can be nonbinary.