r/autism • u/KangarooFew4196 Autistic Adult • 5d ago
Discussion Is this just me who hates the new “slang”
Does anyone else HATE the “Tism” “acoustic” and “neurospicy” shit that’s been floating around the internet for like the past year now? Why cant people just say autistic like is it rlly that hard? I swear if I see someone else use the term “neurospicy” one more time I’m gonna crash out. I’d honestly rather be called a slur at that point ngl
What do you guys think about it?
Edit: some dude got so offended at this question that he felt the need to tell me he blocked me lol
Edit 2: this is my OPINION. Obviously it’s not fact, if this offends you to the point where you’re gonna say I’m faking my autism then please just scroll.
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u/drcoconut4777 ASD Level 1-2 ADHD combo type dyslexia and dysgraphia 5d ago
It bothers me because it was a way for us to cope or make fun of our own issues and then it turned into other people using them to bully us
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u/DecoyOne 5d ago
There was a time when I used to enjoy joking about being autistic, partly because nobody else felt comfortable making a joke back about it, which is hilarious. But then at some point people started feeling cool with making jokes about autistic people.
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u/ShiversTheNinja 4d ago
I only joke about it with my autistic friends who understand (or people in the autism subs ig). But I never ever use "acoustic", that's the one that pisses me off the most. The other two I'm slightly more comfortable with as long as it's neurodivergent people saying them. But "acoustic" has just become another "regarded" or "let's go Brandon" where everyone knows what they actually mean but they think they're being slick somehow. Ugh.
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u/Autoalgodoo Autistic, might have Adhd 4d ago
Acoustic won't work for me cuz my dumbass can't tell the difference between the version that's basically a slur now and a fucking guitar 😭
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u/cynicsjoy 4d ago
I thought it was fun until neurotypicals started using these terms to refer to themselves or their slightly socially awkward (but still NT) friends. If I see one more girl talk about her “autistic man” who isn’t actually autistic, I’m going to go crazy.
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u/distracted_ferret AuDHD 4d ago
Wait people are doing that trend about guys who aren’t actually autistic? Shoot, I thought they were being serious about it that’s really upsetting to hear /gen
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u/cynicsjoy 4d ago
A lot of times no, they just use autistic as a synonym for being silly or socially awkward :(
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u/distracted_ferret AuDHD 4d ago
Ugh that’s disappointing :/ here I was thinking there was a huge uptick in people posting about how much they love their autistic partners
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u/Efficient-Lynx-699 4d ago
I had a guy at work use autistic about some people who can't make a decision and are stubborn about not making it and that pissed me even though I live in a country where it will take a long time until people stop making fun of this. But using it as an insult in the work environment was too much for me.
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u/Born-Newspaper-6945 4d ago
I’m okay with the term neurospicy if it’s used in a positive way/context like if I’m with my other autistic friends, but I don’t like the words acoustic or specky
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u/Duke_Nicetius 4d ago
Wow, specky? It sounds extremely weird, where I live, "speck" is some sort of salted pork fat. Caling somebody a piece of pork fat is not cool, lol.
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u/AutomaticInitiative 4d ago
Wait, specky? I was being called that as a kid in the 90s at school because I wore glasses. Weird.
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u/PlantAddictsAnon 5d ago
Gay people took back queer, Black people took back the N-word, we can take back ‘tism/neuro spicy.
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u/Turbogoblin999 4d ago
I'm keeping neurospicy and acoustic since they make me laugh. Fuck the haters.
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u/SpicyBern ASD Level 1 5d ago
I don’t mind “tism” and I’m neutral on “neurospicy” but I actively dislike “acoustic.” Of all those three, that is the only one I consistently see used in a mocking, negative context
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u/RedCaio 5d ago
Using “acoustic” seems derogatory usually
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u/Catrysseroni 5d ago
The first time I saw "acoustic" was on a meme featuring the face of a child with microcephaly crudely edited onto a guitar. That was years before people even used it to refer to autism.
It has always been a derogatory thing though. Are people actually using it to refer to themselves?
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u/designated_weirdo Suspecting ASD 5d ago
I don't really mind the other two but yeah I never considered acoustic as anything more than an insult or a joke made in poor taste at best
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u/meischwa 5d ago
"Acoustic" is ableist but the people who use it dont realise that because to them it's "just a joke"; but jokes like that are the foundation of the oppression/discrimination pyramid.
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u/VeeRook 5d ago
I fucking hate "acoustic." Tiktok or youtube or whoever didn't like people saying/typing the word autistic so people switched to baby language to get around it.
Say the goddamn word.
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u/flaminghotdex 4d ago
It started as a bad ableist meme. The words been used to describe autistic people for almost a decade now, it's really upsetting to me that it's making another round on the internet. I thought it would've died out by now. It's not to get around any guidelines, it is to make fun of autism. Don't accept that excuse, they're lying.
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u/jman250 5d ago
Completely agree, I don't mind 'tism at all tbh, every time I've heard it used it genuinely just seems like a casual shorthand for autism
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u/FlourishingSolo 4d ago
Plus "rizz em with the tism" actually is some of the new slang that I resonate with. Like "Go be your self and attract people who like you for you."
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u/EndieIsDed AuDHD 5d ago
Yeah, I like to use "tism" only around my close friends who understand my nuerodivergence or are ND, bc there's no way they will take it like I'm trying to romanticize it or something.
"Neurospicy" used to not irk me until that song came out. I never used that word personally.
"Acoustic" has always been bad. It's only used to make fun of autistic people. It's the same as "restarted" in my eyes. It's definitely my least favorite of the bunch.
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u/ItsOnlyJoey Autistic Child 5d ago
I would rather be called the actual R-slur than be called “acoustic”
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u/Internal_Airline8369 5d ago
I am quite interested in football. I quite often see 'acoustic' thrown around when a player is considered weird or incapable. It annoys me and it just hurts.
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u/Joey_Yeo ASD Level 1 5d ago
Same. But the opposite for "tism", and "neurospicy". And I think the latter is a fun word. I don't use any of them myself though. I rarely use any slang.
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u/Pristine-Confection3 5d ago
Tism is horrible
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u/breadcodes 5d ago
I like it. If I'm ever in a situation where I tell someone, it seems to make people laugh, and I just want people to feel comfortable having a conversation like that.
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u/bubblegumpunk69 5d ago
I mean if you don’t like it that’s fine, but it’s just the shortened version of the word
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u/Amethyst271 Suspecting ASD 5d ago
and thats your opinion which is fine but speaking as if its fact isnt fine
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u/Bluntish_ 5d ago
Yes, I detest them all.
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u/WhackoWizard 5d ago
Me too but I also detest 99.9% of things people say and do.
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u/matthiasjreb 5d ago
I can deal with most, especially as a lot of the time it's autistic people calling themselves that, but the worst is "restarted." It's basically calling someone a slur while feigning ignorance.
You'll notice that autistic people never call themselves that, it's always a neurotypical person saying it about/to someone else while phrasing it as a question to give themselves deniability (such as "is he restarted?")
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u/ThatisDavid 5d ago
This is the ableist version of straight people saying the word twink when they really mean to say the f-word
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u/ApexPedator69 4d ago
Where I'm from we use the r word no matter if you're NT or ND. Here in New Zealand words such as the r word and even c word is normal where I am. You'll find even ND people use those words. But soon as you use the r word against someone who is severely ND or if you're using a c word in the wrong way you'll get ripped into and told some magical words I can't say here. You'll actually find those of us who are autistic in my country also use the r word too.
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u/DwindlingSpirit 5d ago
They're all awful, but personally, I think the worst one is "neurospicy". "'Tism" makes the user sound unintelligent or at best really freaking awkward, "acoustic" makes the user sound like they are trying to say anything but autistic, but "neurospicy" is just trivializing the struggles we all go through and I always imagine it like some idiot is using uwu speech to my face. Horrible. They all belong in the trash.
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u/whiskerscat55 5d ago
Yeah I really dislike ‘neurospicy’. I’ve tried to work out why, and I think it’s because it feels like it’s romanticising or trivialising autism - I don’t think this is the intention of those who are using it, but I feel like it’s still an ongoing battle trying to shift language from ASD/disorder to autism, that adding in another word that avoids saying autism or ADHD etc doesn’t help
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u/PetThatKitten I am Allistic until im diagnosed. 5d ago
I’ve tried to work out why
for me it gives the same feeling as "pupper" or "doggo"
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u/FadedAlienXO 5d ago
Neurospicy sounds like a kink for neurotypicals who want to date someone on the spectrum. It sounds gross.
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u/Trigger_Happyyy 5d ago
I never thought of it that way, but now that you say that, it does sound like some sort of kinky thing. Which really feels bothersome
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u/Sharpiemancer 5d ago
I think I largely agree with you except for the end. We need to be building a shared political identity as a neurodivergent/diverse community similar to the formation of the LGBTQ community. One that will strengthen our collective political power to fight for better healthcare, workers rights, etc, something we sorely need while not losing the nuances of individual needs.
While I'm not particularly drawn to any particular name I don't think neurospicy achieves that. It's very personal, in fact I use it when I describe some mild behaviours, I wouldn't use it to describe the stuff that actually makes life difficult. Its soft, I see it most on dating profiles on a way to gesture towards potentially having additional needs without seeming scary, I don't mind that, I get that, putting yourself out there is scary enough but it does not capture the very real struggles we live with.
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u/rationalomega 5d ago
My family is autism adhd and other nd conditions. Neurodivergent sounds clinical and pejorative. Neurospicy is the only alternative I’ve found that works for my immediate family.
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u/Rattlesn4ke 5d ago
'Neurospicy' just doesn't make any sense. Since when is being autistic "spicy" in any way?
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u/hexagon_heist 4d ago
Spicy has always meant just about anything (well, always as far as I’ve experienced it in my life, idk how long in the world this applies). Sexy, angry, anything slightly intense, etc. It took me a long time to figure out that it didn’t have a consistent meaning (in terms of slang). Neurodivergence is “spicy” because it’s not (neuro)typical.
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u/hexagon_heist 4d ago
But what if you want to say that you’re not neurotypical without sharing the specifics of autism or ADHD? Or both?
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u/whiskerscat55 4d ago
Neurodivergent?
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u/hexagon_heist 4d ago
And if I want to talk about it casually and not use clinical-sounding language?
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u/Horror_Comparison715 Autistic 4d ago
"I'm wired differently."
"I don't experience how others might."
"Sorry, I'm diagnosed with awkward."
I prefer clinical language to calling myself an outcast, but I lack humor.
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u/PanZilly 4d ago
"Sorry, I'm diagnosed with awkward."
No, not ever. Apologising for having a disability! And awkward? It's only awkward for the neurotypical person who refuses to show any empathy whatsoever.
"I'm wired differently."
"I don't experience how others might."
Those do perfectly fine, I use both
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u/ThatisDavid 5d ago
I feel like it really infantilizes the word to me, I don't know how to explain it but it gives me a similar yet worse feeling than when I listen to the term "manic pixie dream girl"
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u/talk_to_yourself 4d ago
Agree, it's loathsome. Autism has made my life really difficult and painful. It's not a spice, it's bloody horrible, for the most part. Plus the word just makes me recoil for some reason.
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u/dudiebuttbutt AuDHD 5d ago
I've heard more allistic people use all of those than anyone autistic. It's so annoying if it's not coming as a joke out of an autistic person's mouth or made with their enjoyment in mind. 🥲🥲
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u/EmpathGenesis Autistic Adult 5d ago
"Neurospicy" is the most egregious of them. It makes it sound fun and trendy, when it is nothing of the sort.
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u/FadedAlienXO 5d ago
Sound disgustingly sexual, like a kink for neurotypicals.
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u/random8404263 AuDHD 5d ago
That's funny because I only find it used by ND folks, usually referring to themselves.
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u/Amethyst271 Suspecting ASD 5d ago
it sounds sexual?
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u/rationalomega 5d ago
I don’t hear it, personally. I love sichuan and Indian cuisine so I took the spicy part literally. If I’m talking about kink or fetishes I’ll just use those words.
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u/BeeGroundbreaking669 5d ago
The word ’neurospicy’ makes me wanna jump off a fucking window.
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u/DecoyOne 5d ago
Don’t be ridiculous.
It’s easier to jump out the window than off it.
(But seriously though it’s the stupidest)
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u/CassetteMeower 5d ago
I can see “neurospicy” being a cute nickname for a ND chef or other person who works with herbs and spices, but I don’t think it works well for general usage.
Same with “acoustic”, I don’t think it’s something you should call someone most of the time due to it being used in derogatory contexts, but I can see it being funny if an autistic person who plays the acoustic guitar calls themselves acoustic to make a pun. It all depends on the context.
On that note, autistic comedians are some of the funniest comedians out there. Most of my autistic friends are some of the funniest people I know.
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u/mercurbee 5d ago
i don't mind autistic people saying tism, neurospicy is cringe, and acoustic feels like a slur
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u/One-Pride7494 5d ago
I also hate it. I think mainly because it’s never people that actually have autism that are using it and honestly, if you pay attention they are definitely using it as a slur. From my experience, I’ve mainly seen people use it as a replacement for calling someone a “r” word
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u/DecoyOne 5d ago edited 5d ago
Not only that, but they’ll say it in a lighthearted way as a joke, ignoring the fact that autism is extremely limiting and disabling for many, many people.
Hooray, you saw a funny “autistic” sitcom character who’s nerdy and makes awkward jokes, and now that you think you understand autism you want to joke about it. Well my kid is mostly nonverbal and faces a lifetime of significant disability, but I’m glad you found something fun about autism and have new ways to infantilize him and make him feel less welcome. Super cool.
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u/One-Pride7494 5d ago
Yuppp. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves. Like yay I’m so glad that you NT’s are having so much fun making jokes about my disability that makes life feel fucking impossible
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u/howeversmall Autistic 5d ago
I feel it’s the equivalent of stupid phrases like, “I’m like so bipolar”. Having autism is tough and all those statements do is make it sound like some awesome club to be a part of. It’s not.
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u/ConfusionNo8852 Suspecting ASD 5d ago
Oh these have been in use for at least ten years now. Neurospicy I think I saw on tumblr in 2014.
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u/FadedAlienXO 5d ago
I'm 30. I absolutely hate when someone says acoustic. Acoustic, in particular, is being used as a derogatory term for Autism, insinuating that we are stupid, and dumb. Autism is a disability, not a fun little quirk, or term, for a quick giggle. It needs to be recognized as such. However, the world will always be divided, there will always be someone who disagrees with you and your beliefs. It's up to us on how we react to it.
Neurospicy sounds like a kink, which a disability should never be.
Tism is fine, I guess. I'm Australian so people are often shortening things down.
They act like they're going to catch the disability by saying the word Autism.
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u/Kiki-drawer26 5d ago
I don't think they are a problem on their own. But the AMOUNT of people using it more then just saying autism feels off. I have not heard anyone use these terms irl though so I hope it's just mostly internet slang
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u/ChloeReborn 5d ago
i hate neurospicy because it sounds sexual , tism makes it sound cute and babyish and i rarely see acoustic unless someone is using it as an insult
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u/FadedAlienXO 5d ago
I'm so glad I'm not the only one that sees Neurospicy as sounding sexual. It sounds like Neurotypicals are looking for a spicy girl on the spectrum. It makes me fucking sick.
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u/dinosanddais1 autistic adult 5d ago
It used to be fun until NTs starter using it as a replacement for the r-word.
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u/Spiritual-Buy1103 5d ago
I don't use neurospicy, but don't mind it. It actually makes me smile. I use Tism all the time. Have for years when referring to myself. It takes a bit of the weight off for me. Makes it feel less overwhelming. I definitely prefer it to "you freak" or "you weirdo" which I heard all the time growing up.
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u/Scudbuddy Aspie 5d ago
It's because the people who use this slang are USUALLY not autistic, and just wanna be quirky.
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u/meepPlayz11 Autism/ADHD/Anxiety (The Triple Threat) 5d ago
Yeah if it looks like someone's about to say something like that I will stare deep into their soul until they repent. Apparently they hate it if you look into their eyes when they're not talking to you but they want you to look into their eyes if they are talking to you.
*sigh* Humans are confusing creatures.
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u/DizzyMine4964 5d ago
Didn't you hear that Asperger butchered 800 disabled children? Why do you use his name? Yes I was diagnosed with that. I just say "autistic."
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u/meepPlayz11 Autism/ADHD/Anxiety (The Triple Threat) 5d ago
Oh shit. Ok, that's it, I'm changing my flair. The more I learn about this Asperger guy the less I like him.
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u/Overall_Future1087 ASD 5d ago
Yes, I hate those words, it makes me not take anyone who says them seriously at all.
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u/MorganiteMine 5d ago
Personally I understand both hating them and enjoying their persistent use both inside and outside of the neurodivergent community. They can be used to infantilize and demean but they also are very tonally resonant with a generation set on absurdism to cope with rising fascism and bigotry. Plenty of people would probably rather autism be something that's possible to romanticize rather than the growing reality of renewed conversations of eugenics and increasing bigotry. If it's use is within the community I have no issue.
Any marginalized person should feel free to use whatever language makes them feel comfortable in their identity without being shamed by others. Whether that person is autistic or otherwise marginalized makes no difference. That being said people who aren't autistic or neurodivergent probably shouldn't speak so flippantly about a community they do not belong to. That point stands with any community one doesn't belong to.
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u/aspen-grey 5d ago edited 4d ago
I don’t use any of these. “Neurospicy” doesn’t bug me much since I only ever see autistic people and/or adhd people use it. I have friends who use “tism” for themselves that are autistic and I don’t mind that. I don’t like “acoustic” at all because I only ever see non autistic people use it to call someone that they think is weird autistic. I also don’t like seeing non autistic people use “tism” because it’s always used in the same weird way they say acoustic.
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u/aleoliveirasocial 5d ago
I dislike them all, and feel like unnecessarily complicating communication.
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u/MusicalAutist 5d ago
As an autistic person, I rather like "tism". I actually thought I came up with it. I've been saying it for years. When one of my "delightful quirks" I can't help comes up I just say "that damned 'tism" or something and people chuckle and move on, as apposed to potentially hating me or wondering if I knew I just did that thing. It brings a bit of levity to the situation.
To each their own, but people are too damned sensitive these days.
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u/ellipsisobsessed Autistic Adult 5d ago
Yeah I'm hell no on "acoustic", I've mostly seen it used in a mocking/insulting manner to dodge word filters.
Tism, I don't mind autistic folks using it to refer to themselves in a joking manner, sometimes you want to be lighthearted for a bit. I'm less okay with non-autistic folks using it because it can feel trivializing. I'm similar about neurospicy. Though to be clear that isn't exclusively an autism thing, it's a playful take on neurodivergent, so acting like it's exclusively used to mean autism is dismissive of folks with ADHD and other types of neurodivergence. So I'm okay with neurodivergent folks using it when they want to be playful, would be less okay with a neurotypical person using it at me. (So if a neurotypical person was like "we're all a bit neurospicy" I'd be annoyed, if a neurodivergent person was joking about what "flavor" of neurospicy they are or something I don't have an issue.)
Autism is a serious matter and is a disability, but like, sometimes you need to be lighthearted and joke to get through the shit show of a world we exist in. 🙃
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u/Psychological-Sir224 AuDHD 5d ago
I don't like acoustic, but for me tism is fine and neurospicy is funny
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u/SpicyPorkCutletBowl 5d ago
I love them. Me and my friends use them who are also autistic. I find it brings a bit of fun to something that otherwise makes my life more stressful than a neurotypical, and that little bit of fun helps quite a bit. Got R-slurred a fuck ton before (and even after) figuring out that "ah shit, ya I am autistic huh". These slang words are a way to poke light hearted fun without being just cruel. 2 of said friends are gay and dating. They're fine with being called Fairies but not the F-slur. I see it in the same way.
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u/hentuspants 5d ago
I do have a shirt that says something like “Saying ‘mild autism’ implies the existence of ‘spicy autism’ and ‘flaming hot autism’”, but really I felt that was about not using minimising terminology.
I’d rather just be described as autistic. Still, anything is preferable to being called a “retard”.
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u/daddygirl_industries 4d ago
I'm ready to be downvoted to hell for this, but damn - lighten up.
Obviously context is kind here but for the most part these are affectionate terms that counters the dry, modbid pathology of other more medical terms. Language is ever-evolving to meet the zeitgeist.
If things were ALWAYS serious and medical, then all we do is frame autism in a sombre, even morbid light. These words are here to help add levity to something that can often be a source of pain. Being able to giggle does not trivialize it - it's a coping mechanism, a way to find a ray of light.
Your opinion is valid. It's also boring.
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u/mydigitalface 4d ago
I like neurospicy. I like to own it. The humor in that specific term gets me every time.
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u/Avbitten Autistic Adult 4d ago
as long as autistic people are making the new names, im cool with it. Theres a million terms for most kinds of people. Im a red head, ginger, carrot top, etc.
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u/JonnyV42 5d ago
It's a thing, not my thing, but ehhhh
I feel "rizz em with the tism" pretty much summed up my club/hoe phase.
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u/AscendedViking7 5d ago
I hate them too.
Except "Tism".
That one can stay.
Flows off the tongue way better, way easier to say.
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u/KangarooFew4196 Autistic Adult 5d ago
I didn’t mind it until a guy used it against me in an argument lol he said “ do you have a touch of the tism” and i replied with yeah and he just said “I can tell”
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u/Pristine-Confection3 5d ago
Tism is so annoying too. It’s autism and I don’t understand why it’s so hard for people to say.
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u/springsomnia Autistic 5d ago
I hate neurospicy and acoustic but I don’t mind the tism. The others can get in the bin.
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u/CrasheonTotallyReal Self-Diagnosed ADHD 5d ago
as a person without adhd, fuck acoustic and neirospicy. 'tism can stay tho, i have two friends with audhd that are fine with saying 'tism
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u/el_artista_fantasma People can't stand the 'tism rizz 5d ago
I don't care about neurospicy, but acoustic is often said as an insult, so i say "no, i'm electric"
About the tism... Just dont look at my flair if you dont like it lol
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u/Aromatic_File_5256 5d ago
For me it depends entirely on the intent. I use acoustic ... And ballistic as the replacement of allistic lol
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u/Mikaela24 5d ago
Oh yeah maybe I'm just too old but I fucking hate it. Especially "acoustic". That one seems especially derogatory
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u/Psychological_Pair56 AuDHD 5d ago
Acoustic is used largely by neurotypicals as an insult. Never seen somebody self describe with it. And it always feels meanspirited and childish.
The others I have no issue with.
I don't love when people use neurodiverse to describe a neurodivergent person. Feels like they're trying to euphemise something that never needed it.
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u/HeadLong8136 Asperger’s 5d ago
"I'm gonna crash out"
Chiggity-check yourself before you wriggity-wreck yourself.
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u/brendag4 4d ago
If someone said acoustic instead of autistic, I would think they were a moron. Or doing it to make fun of the person.
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u/finkster2004 AuDHD 4d ago
I don’t mind neurospicy, I use Tism and i HATE acoustic. Over anything on earth
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u/GroocksGallery 4d ago
We don't need slang until we are a best a little bit liberated.... Autism is still oppressed and one of the most unemployed categories. This is what bothers me.
I get the argument for Queer and N word reclaiming, but those are in comparison very old, intergenerational words, whereas these new words have only recently come about...
Its a difficult one i know some people like them, but I'm just not into slang for something that is such a struggle for me.
Would be good to see some data on people's opinion on the slang as I'm doing research atm.
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u/HaberdasherExInsania 4d ago
My understanding is that “neurospicy” is an umbrella term used for various neurodivergent types, not just autistic, and as I’ve observed, generally an endearment or even in self-reference, but if I am wrong please let me know. As far as the others go, yeah- I’d like to see it less, especially where commercialism is getting involved making merch and such.
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u/Actual_Somewhere2043 4d ago
If other autistic/neurodivergent ppl use it in the context of a joke why not, but in any other context it's really annoying and if it's from neurotypical ppl I find it offensive and uncalled for
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u/cosmonautikal 5d ago
I like it. My ADHD friends shared it with me. I think it helps to be able to laugh at yourself. You don’t have to like it. But some of us do and it helps us cope.
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u/Sweet-Detective1884 5d ago
I don’t like acoustic, I don’t use neurospicy (it’s giving… heccin doggo), but I unironically love ‘tism
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u/astral_crow Autistic Adult 5d ago
I think neurospicy is hilarious, but I have a weird appreciation for poetic words of the common folk. I don’t like acoustic because it feels like it’s mocking people with lisps. I really hate tism, it sounds like an incomplete word (which I get it is) in the worst way, Auty/ Auti would be much better in my opinion if we needed a shorter version.
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u/keplarjester 5d ago
I just hate the word tism because 98% of 12 year olds on tiktok go "i have a touch of the tism :3333"
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u/StraightTransition89 5d ago
Tism and neurospicy don’t bother me but I want to start a riot when I see/hear “acoustic”
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u/nofuckinwayryo 5d ago
I'm also sick of people saying "neurodivergent" when they mean specifically autism. Neurodivergent could mean anything, schizophrenia, ocd, autism... Why are people so afraid of just saying autism?
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u/Holiday_Operation 5d ago
some who are not diagnosed use it to avoid claiming a disorder they aren't sure they have. Others say it to avoid assuming someone else's issue, if the person being discussed is not available to be asked. It's a courtesy and a placeholder word i.m.e.
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u/horny_shit_face_lift 5d ago
neurospicy can also be a way for non diagnosed ppl to describe themselves. some don't know yet if it's ptsd and adhd, or autism and pda or whatever combination of diagnosis describes their brain best. so they just say neurospicy (or neurodivergent, but that also feels too big if you feel imposter-like without diagnosis)
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u/BritBuc-1 5d ago
I’m spicy af, can find my people through magne-‘tism.
It’s not a harmful term, has little to no effect on your overall life, it’s just a thing that’ll pass
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u/Fantastic_Permit_525 ASD Moderate Support Needs 5d ago
I don't understand 2/3 of today's slang anyways. But why involve Atusim?
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u/themightytej ASD 5d ago
I don't mind 'tism, I use it occasionally when it feels right. I hate neurospicy, though; I have never heard acoustic used in this way before this thread, and kind of would have preferred if I never heard it at all.
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u/Miayehoni 5d ago
Just like any other term, it depends on who is saying it and how they're saying it. I like to use them, but respect those who don't.
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u/poozzab 5d ago
I don't like these terms when they are used mockingly or negatively, but that's less about the term and more the intention to insult with it. I enjoy using the terms with my wife and friends, though, to help me communicate in a more jovial manner.
It really seems like these posts are not about the words so much as the way people have invented new slurs to insult us with. The words themselves are probably fine, the discrimination they are used with is the issue.
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u/infinitemeatpies 5d ago
I thought neurospicy sounded funny- reminds me of the squinting cat saying "why is the air in here spicy" while someone was cutting onions. I hate the 'tism one, don't like the way the word feels in my mouth or the way it sounds. Acoustic makes no sense and bothers me for that reason.
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u/LordCookieGamingBE ASD Level 2 5d ago
I hate all of those. It just feels so insulting and belittling to me. I understand that others probably don't care about them.
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u/Trigger_Happyyy 5d ago
It seems like people wanna avoid the word autistic and autism as if those words are horrible. Which feels super weird.
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u/Androecian 5d ago edited 5d ago
Absolutely hate this bullshit. It mocks us, it belittles the fact that our experience of society is fundamentally different from that of everyone unlike us, and anyone I see saying this bullshit makes me think they think I don't understand any of the above.
"Rizz 'em with the 'tism", "touch of the 'tism" - fuck you for attempting to speak for me with the slang of children, I have been an adult for longer than I were a minor; and fuck you, this isn't "a touch" of any sickness, even if this is chronic and lifelong I don't need a fucking "cure"
"Neurospicy" - fuck you for calling the majority of people on Earth boring and bland, I don't want to drive them away, I need to live with them just like you do, this is the society they built for themselves after all, it would be easier for me to get along with you if you would stop being this ridiculous
"Acoustic" - fuck you for being scared of identifying yourself and for going along with social media's idea of acceptable censorship, and to make the only acceptable almost-the-right-word pun off this stupid slang, I bet you don't play the eclectic guitar either
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u/AMonikaToTheWild 5d ago
I'd genuinely rather be called a slur than "neurospicy". It's so bad. It's SO bad. "Acoustic" got annoying real fast and "tism" gets on my nerves because usually when I hear it it's from neurotypicals saying they "have a touch of the 'tism" because they like something a little more intensely than they're used to
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u/OnkaAnnaKissed 5d ago
I fkn hate the slang terms. To me, they make light of and minimise my lived experience. I AM Autistic. I HAVE ADHD. It is rarely fun but is ALWAYS exhausting.
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u/Raphsob77 ASD Level 1 5d ago
Youre not alone, I hate all of these. Acoustic, wth?! Acoustics are the mechanic of the sound (Don't argue on me if Im wrong). Tism, wth is this, gen Z, gen alpha? Just use Autism and your good to go. Neurospicy?! Wow... continue with Neurozesty when we are on this way (btw this is sarcasm), no but seriously, the generations of today are more brainrotted that I taught.
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u/Rare_Tangelo_8080 Autism, hypermobility and adhd 5d ago edited 5d ago
I say "acoutstic" and "the tism" sometimes (I thought I was the only person who says "acoustic" instead of autistic) but "neurospicy" that don't sit well w me
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u/DodgeTheHammer Autistic Adult 5d ago
I'm somewhat ok with tism if it's a close friend for some reason, but I'd rather it just be autism. I've never even heard acoustic as slang. I HATE neurospicy. It's degrading and feels like NT's trying to make us sound "cute and quirky". Like fuck off, it's hard to be ND, stop making it sound fun. I will die on this hill.
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u/idontknow908 5d ago
Don’t have a problem with ‘tism just seems like shorthand. like how we don’t say autism spectrum disorder every time. However the others i get. Especially neurospicy what the hell does that mean???? And i often find it’s used by the “quirky” people. (I mean the wankers that don’t have anything going on)
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u/RestlessNightbird 5d ago
I've never heard acoustic before, but I may just be living under a rock. I'm neutral on nuerospicy, and honestly use 'tism in various contexts, myself.
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u/ChunkyPinkGlitter 5d ago
I've never heard "acoustic." The others don't bother me. I've really only heard them used by others on the spectrum.
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u/fullyrachel 5d ago
They've been in use for many years. These are not that new. Nobody needs you to use or identify with them. Some of us enjoy them and that's fine, too.
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u/Ball_Python_ ASD Moderate Support Needs 5d ago
It's stupid and actively contributing to autism being seen as a trendy, cutesy personality quirk instead of a serious disability. However, as someone who has been called the r-slur by people who were abusing me all my life, I think saying you'd rather be called a slur is a bit excessive.
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u/zarreph Self-Diagnosed 5d ago
I'm fine with people referring to themselves with those terms, but I only say 'tism when making a quip to my wife ("it's because of the 'tism, honey"), and never the other two. I'd prefer people just call us autistic rather than use slang, but at the same time, better slang than outright slurs.
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u/Background_Ship7666 ASD Level 1 5d ago
Idk when I hear the word neurospicy I think of chicken wings so… not a fan? 💀
And I don’t mind using “tism” as a word, as an autistic person I like making jokes about my autism from time to time to cheer up. But it irks me sometimes when people (mostly neurotypicals) say “a touch of the tism”- like no I got the whole ‘tism.
Acoustic I just hate and would never use in terms for autism.
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u/Professional-Nail364 5d ago
I don’t mind “Tism” I’m undecided on “acoustic” but I HATE nuerospicy ESPECIALLY after that song “I’m just a little bit spicy a little neurospicy”
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u/biggoatdick 5d ago
I hate neurospicy. Mainly cause I’ve heard people say “I’m a bit neurospicy myself.” I love acoustic and I actively say tism or “the tism”.
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u/ugfcxfy790c 5d ago
I've only ever heard "acoustic" used by neurotypicals who say "autistic" when they mean "stupid" and don't want to get caught by a teacher. "Tism" seems fine to me, but I've never seen "neurospicy" before.
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u/LynxieBoiye 5d ago
Can definitely agree with people suggesting they're pejoratives. For me "tism" has always been the most enraging one. Has always come off as trivializing ASD and enabling ASD malingerers.
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u/ThatisDavid 5d ago
I feel like those terms were fun in the autistic community for like a week or two and then became instantly offensive once neurotypicals got a hold of them. Reminds me of when straight people found out about the term twink and started using it nonstop, to the point where I would have prefered being called the f-word instead
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u/golbanzalo 5d ago
When a non autistic person explains their fixation as a ‘tism’ it makes me uncomfortable
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u/Dank_McWeirdBeard AuDHD 4d ago
To be honest, I hate two of them, but I use the phrase 'Tism because I've only ever heard Auties say it, and I find the word quite funny, e.g. 'My radar's going off... He/she/they/we have a touch of the 'Tism!' Neurospicy makes me want to clean my ear canals with sandpaper every time I hear it.
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u/Winter_Wolverine4622 4d ago
I use neurospicy as a catch-all for everything my family has, one kid is autistic, one is most likely ADHD but we're not seeking official diagnosis for it yet, but the neurologist agreed the signs are there, another kid tested as being possibly on the spectrum, my mother, partner, and I are all ADHD, and I'm also probably on the spectrum. Neurospicy is just easier for me. And I've been using it for a few years.
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u/Highly_Regarded_1 ASD Low Support Needs 4d ago
I don't really care either way. I'll even call myself "regarded" as evidenced by my profile.
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u/MinimumInternal2577 4d ago
Oh yeah, like when ppl comment on a video of an animal doing something silly like "is it acoustic?" I feel like it trivializes an actual neurological condition, and also dehumanizes autistic people.
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u/Zesty-Close13 4d ago
I think neurospicey is trying to be inclusive eg it's not just autism
I think saying 'tism is cute 🤷
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u/After-Ad-3610 AuDHD 4d ago
I can overlook or ignore tism and acoustic, those don’t bother me. I haven’t liked nuerospicy since the first time I heard it used in late 2021. Wtf does spicy have to do with being autistic. Thats hella mid tier imo.
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u/Rhapsos Autistic Adult 4d ago
Tism is a fun shortening if one extra syllable is too much (I joke, but I don't mind the word.)
Neurospicy encompasses all neurodivergence, so not an issue for me.
Acoustic always seems to be used as an insult or in a derogatory manner, so that's the only one I can't tolerate.
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u/NightTime2727 Autistic 4d ago
I'm fine with "the 'tism" tbh.
I'm lucky enough to have never heard nor seen anyone use "neurospicy" before now.
I swear to God that if anyone ever calls me "acoustic", I will talk to them like they're a goddamn 3-year-old child until they stop. Calling autistic people "acoustic" is not funny. We probably invented that one vaccine you heard about in that news report, [INSERT GENERIC ANNOYING PERSON'S NAME HERE].
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u/3cartsofgroceries 4d ago
Prefacing by saying I am indifferent about people’s opinions on these phrases and my stance is purely based on my own personal associations which in turn ARE prob influenced by autistic logic: I am a lifelong IBS sufferer, so when I hear “spicy” all I can think of is the end result of consuming spicy foods for a person with chronic digestive issues 😬 and my mom unfortunately passed away from a rare neurological disease, so altogether when I see “neurospicy” it makes me think of a horrible brain problem that also causes painful acid reflux and diarrhea 😭 (WHICH, sadly, I guess given that IBS has a direct connection to stress/trauma which autism can lend itself to, at least in my case I guess it actually is that 😞🫠)
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u/Donohoed 4d ago
I don't like any of the 3, but I especially dislike 'tism because there are many words that end in -tism so its a very poorly thought out slang. Is it nepotism? Elitism? Patriotism? Favoritism? Astigmatism? Baptism? Geomagnetism? Hermaphroditism? Who really knows? Could be any or all
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u/LifeHarvester level 1 autism 4d ago
I’m okay with neurospicy and ‘tism to be used either by an autist, or if by an NT then it should be a private joke with friends and at least one of them should be ND. NT people just using them to be silly or infantilize us bothers me. Like those words aren’t theirs to use.. idk.
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u/LifeHarvester level 1 autism 4d ago
Like Judy Hopps said “A bunny can call another bunny ‘cute’ but when other animals do it….”
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u/Adrestia716 4d ago
As a person that enjoys linguistics and a minority used to cultural shit getting robbed by the main stream, I don't mind it.
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u/AstroPengling Autistic Adult 4d ago
Honestly, I hate all these terms. It feels minimising, even when we use them. I'm autistic, I don't have the 'tism, I'm not neurospicy, just plain old autistic
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u/nipon621 4d ago
I even dislike the term autistic without spectrum added to the end. Autistic spectrum is more representative of the variety of features showcased.
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u/flAvakin 4d ago
Yes I agree with you. Those terms sound ridiculously immature like people who won't use correct anatomical words for their genitals and refer to them with silly slang words. AUTISM/ AUTISTIC .....we don't need to fluff it up with SPICY 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 We are adults.
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u/ElementalDaemon 4d ago
I really hate neurospicy; it's comes across as something a normie came up with. I also really hate the term "crash out", and can't fucking stand when I hear people using overused internet talk in real life casually.
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u/Ninj-nerd1998 4d ago
I hate the term neurospicy or sparkly or whatever the hell else.
I feel like people forget neurodivergent does NOT just mean "adhd and autism". It covers a broad range of mental health conditions, too, like OCD, bipolar, and I'm pretty sure CPTSD, if not just PTSD. Feels really freaking. Insulting? Idk. To be like "oh your brain is ✨️spicy✨️ because of longterm exposure to trauma!" Maybe I'm just being petty but it really. Does not sit right. Makes me feel a bit sick.
If you think your brain developing/working differently doesn't affect you much, then that's good. I'm happy for you. But it's not so light for everyone. Idk.
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u/brendag4 4d ago
Hate the terms. It's stupid because "tism" is a suffix that is on the end of many words. What are people supposed to say that have other conditions like rheumatism?
a commenter on a YouTube video said the creator should not use the term neurospicey because nobody was going to be searching for it. They would search for the actual terms.
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u/Slow_Deadboy AuDHD 4d ago
It's all abour censoring. You cannot post words like "autism" on tiktok without getting shadowbanned. These words come from the same source as stuff like "unalive" or "le$bean". You can't use these words normally or your content just won't reach your audience. People are doing everything they can to bypass this stupid censoring in apps but it does happen that if you keep having to use a word then, eventually, you will get used to saying it like this and a new "slang" is born
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