Discussion
"We're all neurodiverse!"
I've heard this phrase a lot recently.
It’s both depressing and enraging to me that so many of us use it, yet seem unable either to look the word up in a dictionary or to understand the implications of saying it.
A thread 🧵
⬇️
Of course we're all neurodiverse!
Just as all living things are biodiverse.
That doesn't mean that within that category there can't be further refinements.
It would be a bit of a conversation stopper if every time you tried to talk about a species or a genus, I interrupted you and said, "but all life is biodiverse."
⬇️
This kind of non-sequitur statement belongs, I think, in the same family as arguments like "all lives matter."
They’re true, of course.
But why say them in this context? Could it be… possibly… to shut down people who are trying desperately to say something about their experience?
⬇️
For arguments sake:
Imagine there's an area with a species of little yellow frog, that can't cope if certain chemicals go into the water. And then there are plentiful bullfrogs there, who can.
Little yellow frog says, "Help me! I'm a little yellow frog. My skin means I'm extra-sensitive, so I'll suffer."
I say, "You're a frog."
⬇️
Little yellow frog replies in increasing desperation, "Yes.. I know... but, I'm a little yellow frog."
I insist, "All frogs are frogs."
And everybody nods, as though that makes perfect sense.
Bearing in mind nobody has ever been interested in what makes the frog who they are (beyond pathologising their annoying tendency to keel over overwhelmed & dig their little feet in about apparently pointless things) leaving a sad lack of data on the subject.
⬇️
Install bonfire.cafe
Get the full app experience
