Recent comments in /f/Documentaries

Equivalent_Number546 t1_j87lyrg wrote

Reply to comment by WayyyCleverer in The Invisible Extinction (2022) - How the loss of our internal microbiome may be linked to the rise in obesity, childhood allergies and autism. [01:20:00] by cherrybounce

Others have already, but for my thoughts (since you asked)

First off: I have diagnosed and take meds for narcolepsy, PTSD, and ADHD (same meds conveniently as narcolepsy).

People treat neurodivergence as if it’s a disease. Or even a disorder. Even the term neurodivergent is, in itself, bad and stupid and dumb. Why?

Because it implies there’s this magical normal area. There isn’t. And if there is, who defines it? Why is it normal?

To spare myself typing and you reading: capitalism.

Jobs “require” (they don’t have to but choose to increase suffering massively with tiny profit increase) everyone be within that normal range. Sleep the same, pay attention the same, learn the same, speak the same, etc.

Narcoleptic (me) and need to take random uncontrollable naps sometimes during work hours? Too bad. Can’t do the job. Enjoy unemployment you lazy bum. Go die now.

Severe autism and can’t interact with others in the exact way corporate structure wants? No promotion for you. You’re annoying! Go die now.

It’s all a bullshit made up hierarchy. Yes these conditions exist (I have 3 myself!)!and yes they present different difficulties and obstacles. But to call all of them diseases? To lump autism in with cancer? That’s gross. And it’s never really talked about the fact it happens nor why it happens… which is just greed. The uncaring system has no room for your individual “problems.” You can go die and the system will find a new you that will fit the mold.

Obviously none of this suffering is necessary. We’re all sold this lie of normalcy and within the lie the central lie that capitalism is good, forever growth is good, commodity consumption is good, etc.

Imagine a world… like the world before capitalism… where we didn’t do all this insanity. Just requires an acknowledgment that the systems are dogshit and harming society and people. It requires an acceptance of removing power from individual fascist pieces of shit that stole or inherited businesses and such. No one should hold such power undemocratically. Imagine…

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MC_Pterodactyl t1_j87gxdb wrote

Reply to The Invisible Extinction (2022) - How the loss of our internal microbiome may be linked to the rise in obesity, childhood allergies and autism. [01:20:00] by cherrybounce

I haven’t listened to this documentary, but as someone who works in the field of autism education, no definitive cause has been found. Period. End of sentence.

Be extremely suspicious of ANYONE claiming they can source autism’s cause. There is a known link to gut health with many people with ASD, but there is no understanding or consensus yet on how they interact, where the comorbidity arises from or how exactly they are related. Certainly it is not yet known that one causes the other.

People trying to source the cause of autism have done a GREAT deal of harm to that community, including the crooked Andrew Wakefield who lost his license in his vicious attempt to build panic against a 3 in 1 vaccine to sell his own. He used autism as a scapegoat to pad his pockets.

Without watching the documentary I can’t say more than either this comment title is misleading or the documentary itself contains actual misinformation. So just be wary.

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MC_Pterodactyl t1_j87g65s wrote

Reply to comment by hlessi_newt in The Invisible Extinction (2022) - How the loss of our internal microbiome may be linked to the rise in obesity, childhood allergies and autism. [01:20:00] by cherrybounce

You have the understanding now, the wisdom to be able to accept your mistake and the kindness to want to be part of the solution.

Those are lots of things to be proud of. If I’m going to be out here preaching acceptance, it’s got to acceptance of everyone. So that means mistakes can’t take away the inherent value you have as a person. You matter too in this massive, complex and ongoing conversation on a culture wide scale.

Thank you for being so open to feedback.

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MC_Pterodactyl t1_j87ex92 wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in The Invisible Extinction (2022) - How the loss of our internal microbiome may be linked to the rise in obesity, childhood allergies and autism. [01:20:00] by cherrybounce

I have a longer response, but autism is medically not a disease. At all. It is a disorder. Which as an ADHD adult, a sister diagnosis of neurodivergence, I still think disorder is a shit term for it.

I don’t feel disordered. I feel passionate, clear and empathetic. I have all the typical qualifiers of a stable and successful life, and then my hyper fixations and highly specific hobbies I have invested into deeply.

Neurotypical people often come off as disordered, with some really bizarre priorities that seem to really hurt them badly on a daily basis. Which is one qualification of having a disorder. It’s an unfair moniker in many ways, as most of the tension between neurotypicals and neurodiverse individuals is in each group missing the cues and information given by the other, yet one group gets to assert dominance over the other with labels.

Again, however, not a disease. Disorder is even in the name, it’s what the D is ASD stands for.

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MC_Pterodactyl t1_j87e0fd wrote

Reply to comment by hlessi_newt in The Invisible Extinction (2022) - How the loss of our internal microbiome may be linked to the rise in obesity, childhood allergies and autism. [01:20:00] by cherrybounce

Autism is classified as a disorder, not as a disease or illness.

Diseases and disorders are not classified under the same criteria.

Gout is a disease despite having genetic links because it is a pathophysiological response the body undergoes in response to certain conditions.

Autism is a disorder as it is a base change to the fundamental behavior sets seen as baseline.

Calling autism a disease has negative connotations in multiple ways. For one, diseases are interpreted negatively by many. Secondly, they are often treatable such that symptoms can be managed to almost nothing or simply fully curable.

Autism is a state of being and something that will never go away. It can be partially managed, but it is a change at the basic level of how the mind processes. It is not something to shame, fear or hate, it is just a difference.

Calling it a disease carries potentially harmful subtext to a group of people that are already highly vulnerable and often victimized by multiple facets of society. Being precise and kind with language can make a small difference, and is worth the effort.

We should all strive for acceptance and understanding.

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deja_vuvuzela t1_j8770u8 wrote

Reply to comment by PurpleAntifreeze in The Invisible Extinction (2022) - How the loss of our internal microbiome may be linked to the rise in obesity, childhood allergies and autism. [01:20:00] by cherrybounce

I think the commenter is trying to make two points here: autism is a genetic/developmental thing. The idea that it is acquired by some GI aberration, or maybe vaccines, is a solidly refuted hypothesis. A lot of harm has been done by snake oil salesmen selling enemas, chelation therapy, etc to desperate parents of individuals with autism. Secondly, they are asserting that ASD is only called a disease because parts of the neurodivergent spectrum of humanity have been pathologized by our society. Compare it to homosexuality: also once called a disease and also likely tied to genetic and/or developmental processes, but no longer stigmatized by that medical designation.

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MrAcurite t1_j876ld0 wrote

Reply to comment by PurpleAntifreeze in The Invisible Extinction (2022) - How the loss of our internal microbiome may be linked to the rise in obesity, childhood allergies and autism. [01:20:00] by cherrybounce

Your mom is vacuous and stupid. Autism isn't a disease, it's just that normal people are dicks and can't handle our appreciation for subject matter expertise, our ability to actually listen to the words people say, or our enormous dicks. For evidence regarding that last one, well, as your vacuous and stupid mom.

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