Eine Bekannte hat diese #Buche fotografiert und fragte mich, ob ich weiss was mit der Buche passiert ist.

Ich habe keine ahnung, aber vielleicht weiss es ja jemand hier? #Baum #Wald

Oh gosh, it's true, you really can enter a completely nonsense phrase into Google, ask for its meaning, and lo and behold, Google's AI will make shit up.

So if you've ever wondered what "to grow an avocado, you have to slap the squirrel" means, now you know.

#AI #Google #Hallucinations

Von Nazis Respekt im Umgang fordern ist auch so ein Unfug der Mitte-Ottos in der Bundespolitik.

#Bundestag #Kühnert

So, someone just reached out to me about my autism self-diagnosis guide, but they didn't leave a way to reach them, so I'm posting it here—maybe they'll find it...

Their message:
"""
Issue: Self-Diagnosis Clarification Needed
Hey there,

I just stumbled upon your project, and I must say, it’s super informative—kudos! However, I'm thoroughly confused about the section regarding self-diagnosis in autism. It seems really vague and unfortunately, it raises more questions than it answers.

Validity of Online Tests: You mention taking online quizzes, which seems pretty common. But then you sort of dismiss their validity later. Can you please clarify? Are these tests reputable or are they just useless? I mean, if they’re not reliable, why are they even mentioned?

Process of Self-Diagnosis: The flow from self-diagnosis to seeking a formal diagnosis is shaky at best. There’s no clear path laid out. What does someone even need to do after they think they might be autistic—just show up at a clinic and demand a diagnosis? What if they get laughed out the door?

Recommended Resources: You should definitely link some credible sources or trusted tests people can take if they want to self-assess. Maybe even some professional recommendations! We need solid steps to move forward, not just a vague acknowledgment that the journey is "complicated" or steeped in stigma.

It's really disheartening to see such important content lacking clarity, especially in discussions that mean so much to potential neurodivergent folks.

Can you just take a moment to address these points? It’d seriously make this resource ten times better! Thanks for your time, though it feels like I'm shouting into the void here.
"""

My response:
"""
Hi there, glad you found it informative! To clarify your points...

1. There are a *lot* of online tests to choose from. I include links to (and my scores from) several that are considered reputable. What you're looking for is "directional correctness", e.g. they all point towards a yes or towards a no. The clinical tests I mention are usually administered by a professional, though you can find copies online and fill them out yourself (except for the character interviews of friends and family).

2. The flow from self diagnosis to professional assessment is that *if* you choose to have a professional assessment, you pursue one. A professional diagnosis can open doors to some legal assistance and protections, but it can also be a bad thing (look at the US government currently making a registry of autistic individuals and requesting all their personal medical histories for an example). I quote the UW Autism Center in my writing, as they specifically state that self-diagnosis is valid and a formal diagnosis isn't necessarily more accurate. You won't get laughed out the door if you seek a clinical diagnosis (or if you do, then you should report that clinic, because they're not supposed to do that). Going to a private practice is usually the most direct route, but it can be prohibitively expensive. Most clinics won't do adult diagnoses though, so check first.

3. I link to resources throughout the paper, and it has been peer-reviewed by two psychologists who specialize in autism diagnosis (including one who has written two books on the topic).

Hopefully that helps 💝

Cheers!
—Alice 💜
"""

Bonus observation: The message doesn't read as particularly neurotypical, and the blunt criticisms could be indicative of autistic social traits...or it could be indicative of PUA negging. I'm going to assume it's the former.

The project:
https://codeberg.org/alicewatson/asd-self-dx

#ActuallyAutistic #Autism #SelfDx

Dudes complain about "why post about bad online behavior? Not a big deal. It's trolling get over it"

Matthew Falder sent creepy messages to you girls and women online. One of his victims posted the interaction. It helped the police link him to one of the biggest paedo rings on the web.