Adam MacLeod
The #ActuallyAutistic hashtag has really opened my mind to a lot of things. It has enlightened me to so many behaviours and traits that I either share directly, or can relate to in some way. All of these things in my personal life, that I personally considered to be odd, different, strange. And sadly, way more than too often, just a negative vibe that I felt/got to/from my doing certain things. I have come to learn that I really am not alone.
However, this all comes with one huge downside.
I don't #ActuallyAutisticallyQualify. Why not? Because I don't have a paper from a doctor saying so.
So I am appealing to the community.
While I lod the goals of the hashtag and community around it, and certain things really do need to be upheld, the conotation that one must be diagnosed is a huge barrier to entry, and can come off seeming a bit discriminating. But it needs to be like that, you have to qualify something, or else, the slop and trolls... So I get it for sure. So, I propose a solution.
Can we all create a new hashtag, that should operate independent of this one, without a perceived stigma of requiring some sort of qualified determination of a condition? I propose
#ProbablyAutistic
Please feel free to reply with feedback, and please boost for reach if you support.
Dec 12 at 11:27amWeb
Show threadAdam MacLeodDec 12
No doubt, I'm probably misunderstanding the whole nature of the "actually" word that everyone couldn't stop preceeding everything with there for a while. So perhaps a medical diagnosis isn't #ActuallyRequired. So perhaps just go on doing what you're all doing, and I'll not worry about it so much, LOL.
Show threadDay GarwoodDec 12
@adam I didn't even know there was a rule about that hashtag. That's precisely why I never use hashtags, because you don't know when or when not to use them, who else is using it, its rules, its quirks and quibbles...
Show threadAdam MacLeodDec 12
@daygar Well, someone just gave me a totally different perspective on the thing, that I had not considered. It gives me cause to feel that perhaps I have been misunderstanding things about this. And that's fair enough. And totally causes me also to 100% completely agree with you. Its too much junk to worry about...
Show threadBorrisDec 12
@adam Who says you need an actual diagnosis? I'd say a good majority are self-diagnosed.
Show threadAdam MacLeodDec 12
@BorrisInABox I guess some posts within that hashtag gave me cause to feel that it was. But you're right, who says that? And who do they think they are? LOL. I dunno. So perhaps I've misunderstood it all along, and that's good to fix too.
Show threadBorrisDec 12
@adam Some people feel strongly about it. My response: screw it.
Show threadDoggleDec 12

@adam I'm self diagnosed and that qualifies IMO and I think most using the hashtag agree.

If a doctor told me I wasn't, it wouldn't change my understanding or the benefits I've had from being in this community, and unless they had a convincing alternative, I doubt it would alter my belief.

Medicine has left autistics undiagnosed for decades and caused incredible harm. They have caught up somewhat, but it doesn't mean they are always right.

So I suggest you be your own judge.