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Hat. Cat in an N95😷

@jpaskaruk ableism is the OPPOSITE of helpful.

so called Theory of mind is straight up hate for ND people.

12 comments
JimmyChezPants

@CatHat

I had not heard that the term is considered problematic, but I'd be happy to read a document that explains what makes it so.

What I'm referring to is the ability to understand that other people's minds contain different thoughts and ideas than one's own.

I was very confused about that myself, when I was younger.

Hat. Cat in an N95😷

@jpaskaruk something which cats can do.
And bluejays.
And SQUIRRELS.
The idea is that autistic people have no theory of mind
And it works out eventually to ND people aren't sentient .

"that other entity has a mind and it might see me" is something MICE need to know.

It usually doesn't go that far but its roughly the same idea that's behind ABA.

That autistic people don't have an internal reality

@jpaskaruk something which cats can do.
And bluejays.
And SQUIRRELS.
The idea is that autistic people have no theory of mind
And it works out eventually to ND people aren't sentient .

"that other entity has a mind and it might see me" is something MICE need to know.

It usually doesn't go that far but its roughly the same idea that's behind ABA.

JimmyChezPants

@CatHat

Shoot me some links if you want to. I don't see what you're describing, and as I said, I have found the concept useful in explaining some of my early social experiences.

Whatever the case, I was referring to a different class of mind entirely - that of a child who is never held to account, and who holds incredible power over all of us.

Part of my understanding of how psychology thinks of it is that [all] children need to develop it, and some people struggle, and some never do.

Hat. Cat in an N95😷

@jpaskaruk im telling you as someone autistic that using psychological terms as a way to denigrate people

Is ableist
CHILDREN ARE NOT ADULTS.
And ADULTS do not have minds LIKE CHILDREN.
Im done with this conversation.

JimmyChezPants replied to Hat. Cat in an N95😷

@CatHat

I'm telling you as someone autistic that you don't own autism.

:David Campey replied to JimmyChezPants

@jpaskaruk @CatHat to hazard a toe dip into a difficult conversation. It seems:
- you both know what theory of mind is, but that you have experienced it differently.
- Both being autistic, you have encountered the phrase.

But that experience has been different. For one the term comes with a belittling judgement of the autistic mind.

I guess using the term brings with it baggage of context of the diagnosis. Perhaps saying "lacking empathy" might make the same point and avoid trauma.

Peace ☯️

@jpaskaruk @CatHat to hazard a toe dip into a difficult conversation. It seems:
- you both know what theory of mind is, but that you have experienced it differently.
- Both being autistic, you have encountered the phrase.

But that experience has been different. For one the term comes with a belittling judgement of the autistic mind.

JimmyChezPants replied to :David

@davidcampey

Not tagging the other person cause they're done they said.

There's an assumption that I was applying a moral judgement. I actually was not. I see the ruling class as a bunch of very sick people who need to be taken to the woods and made to do things like chop their own wood, cook their own food, carry their own water, for at least a year. Because they are sick, and that will likely heal them.

Of course we need to take their power away first. Nonviolently ideally, but...

JimmyChezPants replied to JimmyChezPants

@davidcampey

My oldest friend exhibits symptoms of narcissism and borderline and so forth, and we actually ceased contact not too long ago because he is harming people and sees it as the other people's fault; any other action I could take would only make it worse. He accused me of some pretty heinous stuff as I walked away.

I still see him as sick, not evil, and while I doubt he will, I hope he finds help that works. I hope the failsons who have never been held to account for anything also.

:David Campey replied to JimmyChezPants

@jpaskaruk On the point of the assumption, I personally didn't assume your l were making a moral judgement, but rather using a term that had meaning for you.

However it was received in a different context overloaded with other meanings, and so sparked ire.

The use of the term is, I think what was initially objected to. Given that it might have implications to others beyond your intent, it might be worth reconsidering choice of term for more effective communication in a crucial conversation.

JimmyChezPants replied to :David

@davidcampey

I don't think empathy is what they lack, though - I think they are living in a bubble of unreality and surrounded by yes people who do not make them listen to, for instance, the actually-knowledgeable scientists and tech workers who understand the world that they have the option to not need to live in.

A sociopath lacks empathy - if I have to armchair diagnose, I prefer to diagnose them with having distorted vision, rather than being fundamentally evil.

JimmyChezPants replied to JimmyChezPants

@davidcampey

I have also lived in a bubble of unreality because the people around me either could not or would not force me to see certain things in more than abstract terms. There was family affluence involved, but not just that, and more importantly, reality did finally assert itself to me in various ways I could not discount.

Someone who was born into more privilege, and never faced the mildly-difficult choices that made me see, has a disease, but it's not necessarily evil.

JimmyChezPants replied to JimmyChezPants

@davidcampey

My original comment was essentially, "they know not what they do," and that is what I think is at play here. It is very easy to create paper bogeymen and say things are easy; I decline to do so, even if it is very clear that those holding power right now have no connection to reality.

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