How do you feel about the word ret*d?

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In Australia there is an active campaign to remove the r-word
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/20 ... rd-retard/

There is a precedence in this country for people being charged with hate crime for using the r-word (although not soley for using the word) to attack others

There is well established literature that suggests disability hate crimes often get primed from using the r-word
https://www.theguardian.com/society/joe ... rime-abuse

I'm sorry to hear that.

We have had unusual situations where right wing politicians in Australia have said and done things which normal folks would be charged with discrimination under the vilifications laws.

Best examples are former immigration ministers Kevin Andrews and current minister Peter Dutton who blocked immigration from the entire continent of Africa over media driven claims that African migrants form violent gangs (despite no actual statistical evidence to back up claims that Africans are more violent than regular Australians) .

If an Australian employer tried the same trick to block employment of Africans because they are prone to aggression they would be charged and their business closed down. The Australian laws seem to protect racist politicians.

I'm pretty desensitised by words such as "ret*d", and I often find attempts to offend funny, as there can be unintentional comedic context behind their statements.

I'm my own worst enemy, so every insult or attempts at antagonising or degrading me fail, as I've called myself pretty much every name under the sun, and felt every way the said offender intends me to feel.

Depression, a blessing in disguise.

I agree with you. It's good to take ownership of the word which takes away the power from the NT trying to inflict hurt. However you don't have to internalise their hate. Why?

NT people learn to compartmentalise their internal conflicts and put it in a drawer somewhere in the recess of their mind. I think it's called cognitive dissonance where you internalise something other people do which you don't agree with but appear (on the surface) to accept/not be perturbed. But this eventually changes you and I think may be one the contributing factors that make NTs get mental health issues later in life.

SJWs annoy people but at least they make a stand opposing things in society on principle which in some ways can be liberating for the mind even though they can be annoying.

How do you feel about the word ret*d?

It's f*****g ret*d.

Ok you win

Huh. My lack of skill in compartmentalization has negative effects on my mental health. I can't seem to put my anxiety away.

My peers and family (many of whom are very intelligent when they want to be) are good at compartmentalization, even when it makes them seem illogical. It's much less stressful for them.

Very true for me too. On all fronts. You're so self aware as I did not grasp the concept of compartmentalization, till a therapist brought it up.
Dr Tony Attwood and the lady whose name I forget (she was diagnosed as an adult and had horses) both said women with ASD can be more emotion-driven than other people. Or at least emotions have a greater hold and this may be why...lack of compartmentalization.

On the other hand as Dr Tony rightly pointed out women with ASD can be exceptionally gifted at caring professions and are very compassionate.

I think you are referring to Dr Temple Grandin (lady who researches horses)

Compartmentalisation is linked to Festinger's cognitive dissonance. Most NTs learn to behave in a manner that is inconsistent with their beliefs/attitudes in order to socially conform. Classic example is in school where your friends might decide to pass a cigarette or marijuana and smoke. An NT friend might believe smoking is bad but accept it to please their friends. A friend with anxiety may not have a filter or control their emotion and blurt out their beliefs and refuse to take it.

I don't know. I guess I've used it as a coping mechanism. My partner often gets alarmed when she jokes with me about me, and how I often take the self-deprecating too far. Something I've tried to address in previous counselling sessions, but it has never been fully resolved.



There have been many times when I have displayed and executed cognitive dissonance. As you state in a further post, I've done this, as it's helped me conform to what is the 'norm' of society. The stiff upper lip nature of this has helped me get through some distressing and confusing situations, but my body and mind do pay for it, feeling absolutely exhausted afterwards.



Which is fair enough, but some (not all) more often then not, contradict themselves and backpeddle with adverse reactions when outed of this behaviour.

Life is about trade-offs. If you want to assimilate with NTs then (yes) there is a price to pay. Only you will know if that price is too steep. Compromise and coping certainly do help with adaptation.



Do you mean SJWs or NTs in general? in my experience all NTs have a tendency to backpeddle after contradicting themselves. I think it's a form of social equilibrium that's innate in us NTs that we try and restore order although physical altercations are sufficiently common to suggest that backpedaling doesn't always work

This is why a lot of such behaviour is in the past. Present assimilating is used for situations such as negotiating busy shopping centres etc. Still an exhausting process!



A bit of both. It's human nature to contradict and backpeddle, but it's when others try to defend straw man arguments and resort to adverse profanity as a first line of defence when proven wrong.

Assimilating according to group-think is a lot more comprehensive and broader than just negotiating shopping centres. But I take your point, factoring autism means you have to fight one battle at a time in order to fit in.

Group-think in personal conversation means compromising personal values/virtues/beliefs in order to accommodate your NT friends. Unfortunately many Aspies prefer to join in when the weak are being picked on rather than stand up for their principles.

This is what I was on about in terms of day-to-day negotiation, but...



I am fully aware of this concept and these ongoings. Most of my friends echo-chamber each other within Left and Far-Left political ideologies. I myself am more Centrist, but often flip flop between Centre-Left or Centre-Right.

Because of this, I don't fit through the Overton Window and would be perceived as a racist, Nazi fascist, despite not believing in any form of prejudice, discrimination or ideology related to these. It's easier to simply nod, smile and stay neutral, as opposed to be ostracised.

My closest friends align more within my personal beliefs, and those I seek comfort in and with more. I try to personally respect individual beliefs of either my closest friends or acquaintances, but I cannot tolerate strawman arguments, so it's easier to keep the peace and block out the irrelevant hyperbole of such group-think.

Actually that's not a bad philosophy in principle but respect should always be subjective to scrutiny and whether the people you respect actually deserve it. But only you will know.