As someone with #Autism, I find the term #NeuroDivergent to be simplistically judgemental.
What is being deviated from? A trait or whole nature of autistic and non-autistic people?
And what of divergence along other dimensions? How about extroverts as divergent as they cannot tolerate time alone very well.
I've heard others say that too.
I personally don't find "divergent" to imply judgement. I am different from the majority. I'm freaky and weird! So it doesn't bother me. There's no default, but there is difference
@Zumbador Understand that. But divergent is hardly supportive terminology ...
I too am weird.
There is no normal - hence my question about what it is I diverge from.
@NicelyManifest I like to think of the different paths botanical entities, biological organisms, and humans take evolutionarily and apply similarly (and quite possibly exactly!?) to neurology and the term divergent...
@VenusianMars Very much so. Evolution into different species and bloodlines within species is divergence. So calling Autism divergent seems just silly to me. We are all divergent - depends on the criteria.
@NicelyManifest I understand your point of view.
Sep 7, 2026, 4:28 PMMy own personal observation (and I'll make generalizations that might trigger some): I think neurotypicals are more powerfully governed by pack-dynamics, similar to a pack of dogs, or wolves. They feel emotionally secure when they feel they are conforming with a group, such that they gain protection from "the tribe". They have an understandable need for emotional safety.
What confuses autistics is that this need for emotional safety usually trumps honesty, or ideals. Facts are only very selectively divulged by neurotypicals, conforming to a narrative of some sort, which eventuates in some personally gainful advantage (and it's less so about "the truth" as some sort of higher ideal). They - neurotypicals - have a fluidity in conforming to group expectations so as to fit into the group. A flexibility in changing roles, and reading the room. Even if the dynamics call for lowered morality. Conformance is more important than morality, I've observed. This conformance has its rewards: more money, more opportunities, more access to mates, more biological success - propagation of their genes. They are understandably doing exactly what their genes would have them do. Genes care nothing about morality at the end of the day; only biological success.
Autistics have one set of ideals that they more inflexibly cling to. Honesty is the best policy for an Autistic, owing to reduced theory of mind, and reduced flexibility when it comes to switching roles, and reading the room.
In contrast, honesty *isn't* the best policy, when it's biological success that neurotypicals are actually optimizing for.
@d1 @NicelyManifest @autistics
I think at a population level, though, there are benefits to having some people who don't go with the flow so easily. Some eggs outside of any given basket. If diversity weren't an evolutionary advantage, we'd all reproduce by parthenogenisis.
@marymessall @d1 @autistics Absolutely.
Eccentric is seen as negative - yet small proportion of eccentric people are needed.
Sep 8, 2026, 11:51 AM@NicelyManifest @marymessall @d1 @autistics I have no issue with the term neurodivergence in its actual meaning but there's a problem when it is used not just as a basic characteristic but something that holds value.
The one value that it holds for me is that it is a label we can use to understand ourselves and connect. In some cases find support. This is a positive in my opinion.
Socially it often has another value and it depends on who you ask. Something that is lesser or needs to be corrected or whatever. Obviously this is ridiculous and should be rejected.
I do think that's a different fight though.
And look throughout history - it are the eccentrics that make the change. Whether that's because they are neurodivergent hold other traits. It would be nice if we could recognise this beforehand though, instead of chastising them (us).