License to talk

The new know-nothingism.

https://twitter.com/Ka81/status/1708456967629308012

No one should be writing books on autism, which has to mean also that no one should be doing research on autism, who isn’t autistic? What sense does that make? Is it a rule for all such subjects? No writing or research about blindness if you’re not blind? No writing or research about cancer if you don’t have cancer? No writing or research about chronic depression if you’re not chronically depressed? No writing or research about alcoholism if you’re not an alcoholic?

I suppose this is an offshoot of the idea that white people should shut up about racism and listen to black people instead of doing all the talking. I think there’s some truth to that, but I don’t think it should be taken completely literally – I think white people shouldn’t talk over black people, and I think we should listen as much as possible, but I don’t think we should take a vow of silence on the subject.

Also, how is autism comparable to “ethnicity”? Answers on a postcard.

8 Responses to “License to talk”