this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2026
905 points (94.8% liked)

Autism

10478 readers
242 users here now

This is a community for people with Autism to be themselves. All neurotypes are welcome.

Community:

Values

  • Acceptance
  • Openness
  • Understanding
  • Equality
  • Reciprocity
  • Mutuality
  • Love

Rules

  1. No abusive, derogatory, or offensive post/comments e.g: racism, sexism, religious hatred, homophobia, gatekeeping, trolling.
  2. Posts do not need be related to autism, off-topic discussions are allowed. This is a safe space where people with autism can feel comfortable discussing whatever they feel like discussing, as long as it does not violate the standing rules.
  3. Do not request donations.
  4. Be respectful in discussions.
  5. Do not post misinformation.
  6. Mark NSFW content accordingly.
  7. Do not promote Autism Speaks.
  8. General Lemmy World rules.
  9. No bots. Humans only.

Encouraged

  1. Open acceptance of all autism levels as a respectable neurotype.
  2. Funny memes.
  3. Respectful venting.
  4. Describe posts of pictures/memes using text in the body for our visually impaired users.
  5. Welcoming and accepting attitudes.
  6. Questions regarding autism.
  7. Questions on confusing situations.
  8. Seeking and sharing support.
  9. Engagement in our community's values.
  10. Expressing a difference of opinion without directly insulting another user.
  11. Please report questionable posts and let the mods deal with it.

.

Helpful Resources

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] diaphragmwp@discuss.tchncs.de 42 points 1 week ago (4 children)

"legality is not a guideline to morality" sign

This has little to do with autism and more with being smart. No, seriously.

From the English Wikipedia, stages of moral development:

  1. Obedience and punishment orientation (''How can I avoid punishment?'')
  2. Self-interest orientation (''What's in it for me?'') (''Paying for a benefit'')
  3. Interpersonal accord and conformity (''Social norms'') (''The good boy/girl attitude'')
  4. Authority and social-order maintaining orientation (''Law and order morality'')
  5. Social contract orientation
  6. Universal ethical principles (''Principled conscience'')

1 and 2 are "Level 1 (Pre-Conventional)" (according to the same article, children and animals have this), 3 and 4 are "Level 2 (Conventional)", 5 and 6 are "Level 3 (Post-Conventional)".

The last one is basically thinking around "what if everyone did that?". Unfortunately, lots of people are at either stage 2 or 4. Sometimes downgrading from 4 to 2 once they become the authority.

[–] Strider@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

Now I need to figure out how to level down to live a happy life.

[–] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Exactly this. Why is everything nowadays neurodivergent...

[–] Strider@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Because one isn't necessarily the causation for the other or vice versa. And this moral-guideline portrayed here is simply a sign of a higher intellect and/or more time spent on the problem of "what is right and wrong".

I am both BTW.

[–] Strider@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Well, you know, it was rethorical and before you answer, yes I am aware. It was more of a funny/sarcastic poke at the topics.

I can relate to the situation. Everyone (as an example) has adhd now. And it fucking sucks. My sister had that diagnosed in around 1990 where you could be sure you had it when you got the diagnosis.

And now it's flipped upside down. Now the ones that need support or a diagnosis can't get it because of that flood. I would like to have my autism diagnosis but I likely will never get the chance. And especially now later in life when I could have used support because my limits are starting to hit harder and my energy is lower.

Anyhow, I'll be fine. But just to state where I am coming from, the whole situation is totally messed up either way.

[–] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Problem is probably not that "everyone has adhd now", but that everyone gets diagnosed now what was mostly ignored back then. I'm a genx-oldfart and I was told my whole life to stop being so "weird" and "be more like the other kids". I only got my diagnoses with 50+. Useless now, but at least i know i'm kinda "normal". Just differently wired.

And yes, I've heard that the public health diagnosis can suck ass here (germany) too. Waiting-times for psychiatries are sky-high, and most don't even do adhd-diagnosis anymore because of that. And paying yourself is not for everybody.

So yeah, I hear you. Knowing that MUCH earlier could've changed a lot of things. But that's what happens when knowledge evolves. Things become more "mainstream" and that has downsides too. No light without shadow.

[–] Strider@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I wasn't bashing on you or adhd, but the situation. I even got paid for people to diagnose me wrong (not ados even though I requested it).

I got told I am too friendly for Autism.

[–] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Nono, didn't think you were bashing on me or ADHD. It's frustrating, that's for sure...

Too friendly for autism? What an insult for autists.

[–] Strider@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Haha, no worries. It was just to be explicit.

Yes too open and friendly, you know, like adaptable intelligent people learn to be as seems to be the requirement for society. That's why the CAT-Q test is far mor important in my case than others and of course experts thst are aware.

But I digress. I don't have much to gain but the official diagnosis, since I am already handicapped anyhow.

[–] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 days ago

Indeed. I have the diagnosis and it was basically worthless :-)

Though I might also digress and argue that being "open and friendly" isn't just a skill to be learned to function in society, but more a basic rule of ethics/morals. Which one might conclude by logic. Like "what if everybody was just nice and friendly to each other". This would be a nice world to live in. Instead it's more like "me first, fuck the others!"

So...can one actually be TOO open and friendly? Probably only if your vis-à-vis isn't reciprocal :-)

[–] TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

because it makes people feel special to say they are neurodivergent. it's a neat label to have for many folks.

it doesn't make them feel special to say they are lazy entitled jerks... which is usually the behaviour they are reporting on that they claim makes them neurodivergent.

and if you look at the neurodivergent communities on here... a lot of the posts are them basically claiming they have super powers.

it's the same psychology behind horoscopes, new age religions, flat earthers, etc. people really really really want to feel special and different and superior (or persecuted/victimhood) to 'everyone else', and neurodivergent has become yet another way for folks to feel that way about themselves.

[–] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago

I never thought of being ND as "something special". But yup, probably right. Whatever makes you feel stand out. Another useless trait humans shouldn't have. The need to be in the center of everything.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It's very curious to claim neurodivergent people refused to participate in the slave trade, the Holocaust, or white nationalist lynch mobs.

I haven't seen any evidence to this effect. Certainly, I've seen a fair share of evidence against it.

This has little to do with autism and more with being smart.

Intelligent people engage in immoral activities frequently. They get sucked into cults of personality and religious extremism frequently. They are conned frequently.

Intelligence isn't infalliblity.

[–] Colloidal@programming.dev 0 points 6 days ago

Just because you're following your principles, doesn't mean they're not shitty principles. Nazis were following a principle (white supremacy) to the ultimate end.

[–] diaphragmwp@discuss.tchncs.de -1 points 1 week ago

It’s very curious to claim neurodivergent people refused to participate in the slave trade

I never did.

Intelligence isn’t infalliblity.

True. Objection, relevance.

[–] x00z@lemmy.world -2 points 1 week ago

This is why I'm Vegan.