How to deal with people making fun of autism online?

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Hello, I really need to talk about something that is really hurting me. I have Aspergers and I hardly interact with people outside of the internet and social media. The internet is basically how I cope. I like to watch reviews about art on youtube. It always makes me laugh and it makes me feel better. So one of the ones I was subscribed to made fun of autism not once, twice but three times. It made me mad and depressed but then I thought, "Well this isn't the only art review channel". So I went to watch another youtuber I like. I had watched all their videos so I was like "Thank god they don't make fun of autism or anything". I was wrong. They uploaded another video, and they start the video off by making fun of autism. I hate how I keep feeling unwelcomed to watch videos. I wish I never got diagnosed with autism because then I probably wouldn't mind as much. I also have depression and I get sad easily so it doesn't help. I don't know why people mock us when they don't even know what it is like. I know I should just ignore it but it makes me really sad and it just hurts. It makes me feel like my life is meaningless and I am stupid. I just wish they'd apologize once in a while but no one ever does and if they do it's usually to make themselves feel better.

Well obviously the solution to this problem became clear when you said youtube, we need to burn down the comment section lol.

That is joke by the way but that aside, consider the source. It is youtube for crying out loud, the stupidity is matched only by 4chan so even through I was joking, its kind of a valid point. Youtube is a training grounds for trolls and you might feel better to know that its not just you, its pretty much every group of people. If you have eyes to read the internet then there is something there to offend you.

"Autist" is increasingly a go-to insult among many YouTube commentators, Redditors, etc., since "ret*d" and similar became stale. It's edgelords looking to get a rise out of people, and in the process writing off autists as less than they are. No different from schoolyard bully behavior.

Fortunately, the movement pushing for recognition of neurodiversity is also more visible than ever. So, it shouldn't go unchallenged for long.

Yeah I did get that actually, I was referencing the site as a whole. My point was the community is poison, its the community that makes most to those videos and some of the sponsored ones are just as bad.

However,

My apologizes, carry on, someone probably has something better to say on the topic, I do for the record feel your pain and have dealt with this problem on steam. I guess my solution was to just ignore it and that might be great for some people but not others so I'll step aside here.

I wish I knew what to do about it myself. Usually I'll say something like "This would be a great video if you didn't just put down a whole group of people with that autism comment. I don't know if you're aware, but a lot of people actually have autism and are far from stupid or immature." Then I get no response or a bunch of trolls depending on the community. Most people aren't like that, though. You just have to surround yourself with the people who are more respectful.

I'd have to see the videos to give an opinion. The way I see it, virtually everything gets made fun of. That doesn't make it right, just makes it kinda unavoidable.

When they are making fun or joking about it they forget that they are joking about real people wother real problems. If they knew someone with autism they probably wouldnt be horrible to them.

They are just trying to be funny sometimes and think the best way to do that is to take the mick. You can either just let it go or calmly explain that their jokes could be insulting a whole group within their fan base. Chances are they don't even realise it effects people.

Well, Welcome to the internet. Where everybody can be equally bullied and made fun of. Try not to give words that power that they were intended. I'm not saying that your feelings aren't justified, but on and off the internet, there's always going to be a**holes who have negative opinions of your for seemingly no reasons and the internet is where they unleash them to the world. It's better just to try and remember that if you stay strong and don't back away, the bullies won't win. Stand your ground and keep your pride. Also, learn how to make fun of yourself in a light hearted way. That's what helped me.

I guarantee that you've applied far more thought to their words than they have. It doesn't make it right, but they're obviously misusing terms they don't understand. Please don't grant them the power to make you feel less about yourself.

Hi Elsa,

Sorry to hear that some of the art review channels you like to watch on youtube are letting you down. Do you have links to these videos? I am interested to see what the context is of their comments on autism are. It is unfortunate that most people feel the need to diminish the value of a person or even groups of people for whatever he reason. I find it odd that an art review channel would come out of the gate saying something negative about autism. One would think they would want to start talking about the art they are reviewing not go into unprompted negative comments about something totally unrelated. In the end, if it bothers you that much maybe continuing to search for another art review channel would be in your best interest. Kind Regards Shark