tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post5272738943665869594..comments2024-03-01T03:37:20.420-05:00Comments on I'M SOMEWHERE ELSE: olympicsAmanda Foresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200794053287551087noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post-10235615263893759732010-11-14T11:42:38.430-05:002010-11-14T11:42:38.430-05:00I find that I relate to the experiences of the sto...I find that I relate to the experiences of the stories, memoirs, and poems written by Asian American authors in my Asian Lit class because they struggle with language and cultural differences but it is so hard to explain to my teacher and classmates that I am comparing their experiences to my experience with Autism. I am clearly not Asian American, and like you said none of them would read me as a minority.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06001020811877167957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post-37608866390570094902010-11-13T21:30:59.798-05:002010-11-13T21:30:59.798-05:00I have to admit I also find analogies which compar...I have to admit I also find analogies which compare one kind of oppression to another really useful in getting people to understand things. Like, in explaining to people why I resent Autism Speaks so much, I might say something like "What if the biggest women's organization was actually run by men, and a lot of women thought they were doing really sexist things but they still thought they knew better?"<br /><br />To be safe, I try to stick to comparing oppressions I experience to other oppressions that I experience (ableism to sexism, etc.).Zoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415989880473044852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post-48161329409433575392010-11-13T21:25:44.043-05:002010-11-13T21:25:44.043-05:00Really good post. I saw that ontd_political threa...Really good post. I saw that ontd_political thread and was annoyed by it, too. I feel like people were latching on to that one line in the really long interview as a way to discredit Ari and the neurodiversity movement. Neurotypical people who otherwise spend absolutely no time considering the oppression which autistic people (or PWD in general) face. Blech. I think Ari could have worded what he was saying a little better, but a lot of people were kind of missing the point in a major way. And as for all of the "but people get killed for being queer" part...people get killed for being autistic, too. And it's commonly considered an act of mercy. Seriously, I wish people would open their minds and do a little research before dismissing these comparisons offhand.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00313619400997453196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post-84517987373790497872010-11-13T20:47:43.659-05:002010-11-13T20:47:43.659-05:00As another gay autistic woman I agree with Amanda&...As another gay autistic woman I agree with Amanda's evaluation of the situation between gay and autistic people. I'm also transgender and even there who I am is not treated as something to be cured outside of truly bigoted circles.<br /><br />I think the salient difference is that when someone says they should work to "cure homosexuality" people perceive them as the bigoted assholes they are. When people say we should "cure autism" they're seen as compassionate and down right magnanimous by the population at large (and nobody listens to us anyway).<br /><br />In fact, the times where I have stood up in neurotypical space and protested "the cure" I was slammed pretty heavily and called all kinds of nasty things.<br /><br />So, that's the difference between the two.<br /><br />~~<br /><br />As for comparing oppression I agree that it can be valuable. I feel that as long as it's done respectfully it does give us a lot to learn from but it can also be used to oppress in and of itself.<br /><br />Perhaps, because we want to learn, it is better to ask questions than to assert ill-informed truth: "Do you think that that way they oppress you is like what happens to me when they do this?" I think I'd respond much more favorably to that.The Untoward Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18035737424208837888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post-12441797284087082902010-11-13T19:11:43.184-05:002010-11-13T19:11:43.184-05:00Amanda, no worries at all, and I really appreciate...Amanda, no worries at all, and I really appreciate your interest in the interview. I just wanted to clarify because I thought you might be interested in where I got the statement. Thanks so much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post-44105929055738274302010-11-13T19:08:13.176-05:002010-11-13T19:08:13.176-05:00To clarify, I was complaining about people's r...To clarify, I was complaining about people's reactions to your analogy. (I understand that you didn't come up with the analogy, and in fact I'm not surprised because I've heard Autistic people use it before--but if I remember right, the way it is included in the intro does make it look as if you agree with it.)<br /><br />First I was just pointing out that a supposedly offensive-to-gay-people analogy was used by a gay person who apparently didn't find it offensive (you), and that a gay Autistic person (me) does not find it offensive either. I was pointing this out as evidence that the statement is NOT objectively offensive to gay people (and I also tried to explain why I don't think it displays any ignorance about what gay/queer people go through).<br /><br />Then I used this as a jumping-off point to discuss the issue of "comparing oppressions," which some people seem to think is inherently offensive and competitive, and explain why I don't think it is. This was the main subject of my post. My intent really wasn't to criticize you or the analogy.<br /><br />As an Autistic person I really appreciate you doing such a respectful interview with Ari, and I'm sorry if this post comes off as criticizing you--if some aspect of it is misleading, I'd like to know what it is so I can fix it.Amanda Forest Vivianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06284158336100298682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post-87708333872890183052010-11-13T18:35:22.626-05:002010-11-13T18:35:22.626-05:00Hi, I was actually trying to defend you--I don'...Hi, I was actually trying to defend you--I don't think that what you said was offensive. I'm sorry if it came off differently. Would you want me to delete this post if you feel it misrepresents you?Amanda Forest Vivianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06284158336100298682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466691337834051176.post-78489997626413625062010-11-13T18:33:04.753-05:002010-11-13T18:33:04.753-05:00Amanda, for your information, I got that analogy v...Amanda, for your information, I got that analogy verbatim from a non-gay autistic person who is very active in the disability rights movement. I would have quoted him directly, with attribution, but his statement was said to me in a situation that had rules about direct quotes, which I followed to the letter. In fact, he wrote to me afterwards to tell me how much he appreciated how I handled his statement. So...<br /><br />Steve Silberman<br /><br />Steve SilbermanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com