The Actuallyautistic Tag: Since there seems to be some confusion
- Here on Tumblr, we have the tag “actuallyautistic”
- This tag, as its name suggests, are for people whom are actually autistic.
- This includes all people whom are on the Spectrum, such as Aspies, Autistics, NVLD, Rett’s, etc. If your spectrum quotient is over 25 or if you are diagnosed on the spectrum, then the actuallyautistic tag is right for you.
- Its purpose is simple: it’s a tag so that people can easily find what people on the Spectrum think about various issues relating to them.
- Posting using the tag “actuallyautistic” if you are not actually autistic is inappropriate, and frankly, a lie. You are not actually autistic. Feel free to use other tags, such as “autism”, “autism speaks”, “asphergers”, etc.
- You do not get an exception if you are the allistic/neurotypical family member or friend of someone on the spectrum, as this does not make you actually autistic. I’m related to men, that does not make me a man or give me the right to go around saying “My dad, one of my closest family members, is a man, so I am qualified to speak about issues facing men!”
- If parents are looking under “actuallyautistic” it’s because they want to hear the testimonies of people whom are actually autistic. If they are smart enough to turn on the computer, they are smart enough to realize that this is the opinion of autistics only. You do not have the duty or the right to invade this tag to try and reach those parents.
- Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Hello Everyone;
I apparently follow a bunch of people on the spectrum, because I’ve seen complaints about tag abuse going around a bunch today. I fully support creating or maintaining a safe space for one’s community (hence my little blog here) and am really upset that this tag is being abused.
When the epilepsy tag filled up with flashing gifs, many people with other disabilities made a point to push down the tags, and make announcements to their followers regarding the proper tagging etiquette.
I know most of my followers are physically disabled, but I’d like to show a little solidarity with our fellow disabled folks. I’ve sent the same message to multiple people who I’ve seen being called out by the users of “actuallyautistic” which is:
Hello, I’m not autistic, but I am disabled, and I find it inappropriate that you would abuse a safe space such as #actuallyautistic. I am confident you are not rude enough to wander into the #epilepsy tags and complain about how annoying it is to care for epileptics, nor would you wander into #wheelchair and tell us to get off our lazy asses and walk; please show the same respect to the people who track and use #actuallyautistic.
And I invite you to Copy Pasta mine, or make up your own, and send at least one ask in solidarity to EvolvingWithAutism or http://josephrose.tumblr.com/
Those of you who like to bitch out rude people in our crippled, gimpy, and disabled tags should have fun with this….
