this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2024
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submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by Worx@lemmynsfw.com to c/dnd@lemmy.world
 

Having diverse worlds and representing different types of people is a good thing. For something like skin colour, sexuality or gender it's very easy to just say that your character posseses those qualities because it doesn't necessarily change much about them. However, how do people feel about playing NPCs who are neurodivergent?

The main example I'm thinking of is someone with Down syndrome. I don't have that lived experience to draw from because I don't have Down syndrome, but I also feel that these people (like all people) can be valuable members of society and I don't like to see them excluded. Therefore, I would want to see them in my fantasy worlds too. The problem is, I worry I'd mainly be falling back on stereotypes in a potentially harmful and offensive way.

EDIT: I would especially like other neurodivergent people to chime in, of course. Personally I really like to see representation for my neurodivergence in D&D and other literature, but also it can really upset me when it's done badly and it's worse than nothing at all

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[–] Jaccident@lemm.ee 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I think you’ve got some wonderful answers here already so I just want to add something that a few points brought to mind.

In my opinion one can authentically play a trait without playing a diagnosis. A great example of this is Drax in the MCU. He isn’t “the autistic one” he’s the guy with hyper literal interpretation. That autistic (amongst other classes) people relate that and feel seen isn’t because he’s “being autistic” but because he sees things like them; the other characters regard that and it somewhat authentically shows the outcomes one such person might have in these wild tales.

You can represent elements of neurodivergence without going all in on an ND character that might only serve to entrench stigma.

[–] OlPatchy2Eyes@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

Iirc there was a whole thing when Joker came out where people were trying to diagnose the Joker with some combination of real conditions, and the actor/writers came out and said nah we just gave him a bunch of behaviors generally accepted as dangerous red flags