Autistic brony insult?

[Photon Jet 5,491]

Did you know ponies that have autism are considered special by others? I remember watching a presentation about autistic ponies and how much support they are getting.

 

If only everyone understands what the term "autism" means in our world...

[Barbaloot 198]

Autism as an insult? Sounds like 4chan. Which makes sense because that's where we started from.

[Revy ~ Two Hands 862]

Autistic is just a slightly more modern internet insult, it's interchangeable with faggot, sometimes used in conjuction. It's used as an insult for a lot of people not just bronies I've had trolls used it against me in game review videos and that had nothing to do with MLP since most people aren't aware I'm a fan.

They consider the brony fandom to be one of the most "autistic" fandoms. It's not that they actually sincerely believe that all bronies have actual autism. It's just a slang term they use. Just like how they call each other "faggots" regardless of whether someone is gay or not 

We technically are the most autistic fandom due to sheer size and the rate at which we grew, statistically speaking they are right we are actually the most autistic fandom.

[Deathstroke 1,564]

I play on the ps4 so i don't get hate that much 

[Taviscratch 453]

To be perfectly honest, there does seem to be a lot of bronies who are autistic, suffer from Aspergers or are at least a little OCD. Not only this but it is a pretty common opening line in their introductions. The amount of "Hi, I'm [insert name] and I'm autistic and I love ponies" you see on the welcoming page is startling. This means that the two things that a lot of people use to define themselves is their autism and their love of MLP. It isn't that hard to see where the association comes from. Plus, it's a pretty easy insult and doesn't require too much ingenuity.

 

Moreover, the majority of insults used against bronies are the same ones used against habitual players of WoW. Their insults are just flat-out incorrect; surprising considering how easy a target bronies are. After all, the amount of people who are, quite simply, whiny little cunts who piss and moan about their rotten luck in life while doing nothing at all proactive to fix it is higher in this fandom than any other I've seen. Also, quite a few bronies seem to think that they are owed sex or at least attention from girls just because they were nice to them. It doesn't work like that but the number of times I've seen people complaining about how they can't get a girl no matter how chivalrous they are is astronomical. We, as bronies, are an easy target yet anti-bronies still seem to miss the mark and are insulting a completely different group.

[Sigma 768]

A credible person once said that autistic people are like anthropologists on Mars. You know a lot about the human anatomy which is impressive, but there's not a single human in sight.

 

I personally see autistic people (myself included) as Linux computers in a world of PCs. Although one type of computer is far more numerous than the other, both computers do their jobs reasonably well and have their strong points, but are incompatible with each other. However, since we're humans and not computers, we just have to make fun of the minority and call them stupid for not being compatible.

 

-Autistic doesn't mean incapable, so calling someone 'autistic' isn't much of an insult to begin with.

-Not all bronies are autistic.

-Therefore, you've proven yourself ignorant in not one, but two different ways. Congratulations.

Autistic is just a slightly more modern internet insult, it's interchangeable with faggot, sometimes used in conjuction. It's used as an insult for a lot of people not just bronies I've had trolls used it against me in game review videos and that had nothing to do with MLP since most people aren't aware I'm a fan.

We technically are the most autistic fandom due to sheer size and the rate at which we grew, statistically speaking they are right we are actually the most autistic fandom.

 

I believe it's the percentage of how many bronies are autistic you need to look at, not just how many autistic bronies are out there.

Edited July 14, 2014 by Asterisk Propernoun

[Shanks 10,816]

To be perfectly honest, there does seem to be a lot of bronies who are autistic, suffer from Aspergers or are at least a little OCD.

True, but it is also because a lot of people on the Autism spectrum tend to be more introverted than much of the general population and tend to be fairly likely to invest a lot of time into things like fandoms and some can also exhibit fairly strong, intense often obsessive and narrow interests. So this particular insult could just as easily be used against anime fans for example which also have a high percentage of people on the Autism spectrum but what makes bronies such an easy target is both a combination of the fact that their interest is seen as socially deviant and the multitude of bronies which take the fandom way too seriously. It is still no excuse for it though, it is still a very rotten and dickish move. The Autism insult is a huge bastardization/oversimplification of this stereotype which may have some basis in truth but like I said is an oversimplification in order to apply it as an insult to the brony fandom at large or anyone else they can pin it on.

 

I myself have struggled for quite a number of years balancing my own often struggle with balancing out my often very intense interests with my life in general. What these trolls fail to understand is that people on the Autism spectrum struggle with this because these sorts of things act as a coping mechanism to a world they often have trouble making sense of. Sensory issues and trouble understanding social cues can make socialization difficult so fantasy worlds because a tempting thing to turn to and of course there is nothing wrong with it so long as it is balanced out.

[Revy ~ Two Hands 862]

 

I believe it's the percentage of how many bronies are autistic you need to look at, not just how many autistic bronies are out there.

 

Both percentages are high.

 

To be perfectly honest, there does seem to be a lot of bronies who are autistic, suffer from Aspergers or are at least a little OCD. Not only this but it is a pretty common opening line in their introductions. The amount of "Hi, I'm [insert name] and I'm autistic and I love ponies" you see on the welcoming page is startling. This means that the two things that a lot of people use to define themselves is their autism and their love of MLP.

 

This is true I can't mention autism on this forum without someone telling me they are autistic.

Edited July 14, 2014 by Gamer Twilight

[-:Fluttershy:- 90]

- My thread on this topic got deleted MERGED, never mind! So I don't know how long this one has to live D: -

 

Yeah, I have autism. It's stupid that these people insult it. Autism dosen't make you a socially awkward weirdo - it just changes the way you view life. Those who insult it are poorly informed.

I have high-functioning autism and I'm not a brony. I don't really care if they call me autistic, because they probably can't think for themselves.

But wait, if you're not a brony - why are you here? Anyway, I also have high-functioning autism - and I agree with you wholesomely.

Not that there's anything wrong with this thread having gone on so long, but I think that the original question was answered correctly on the first page of replies: 4chan. It's very likely that that is where the idea that bronies are "autistic" originated from. They use the term "autistic" to refer to people who act really obsessed with something. Or even if someone's just a little bit obsessed with something, they will be called "autistic." They consider the brony fandom to be one of the most "autistic" fandoms. It's not that they actually sincerely believe that all bronies have actual autism. It's just a slang term they use. Just like how they call each other "faggots" regardless of whether someone is gay or not (since almost everyone posts anonymously, it's impossible to even tell someone's gender unless they state it). They're not being homophobic when they say that, it's just their way of speaking to each other. 

 

So if someone calls you, or the brony fandom, autistic, don't worry about it. Don't take it personally. It's because the person saying it can't comprehend how someone could act so passionately and care so much about a certain thing, especially a thing like My Little Pony, possibly because they themselves would rather act cold and indifferently towards everything. It's just a lack of understanding, that's all.

This thread got merged with my old thread, that revived it just now.

Edited July 14, 2014 by Neighsayer

[CMQuickfireTK 751]

But wait, if you're not a brony - why are you here? Anyway, I also have high-functioning autism - and I agree with you wholesomely.

 

I've been trying to leave for the past 7 months!

[-:Fluttershy:- 90]

I've been trying to leave for the past 7 months!

Why? No offence, of course.

This is exactly my opinion on this matter. As I mentioned in Saberspark's Ponies and Critics: Round 2 video, people who use that excuse don't even know what Autism and Asperger's is. 

As someone who has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism, I get pissed when it's used as another word to mean "stupid." 

If anyone thinks Autism means "stupid," go get your head examined, and I will instantly hate you if you use it as an insult.

I also have aspergers, hooray!

[WunderWaffen_ 165]

This all comes from the /b/ days of 4Chan. When bronies were cast to the random section of 4Chan. People were unforgiving. Bad times. 

[Revy ~ Two Hands 862]

This all comes from the /b/ days of 4Chan. When bronies were cast to the random section of 4Chan. People were unforgiving. Bad times. 

>People unforgiving

>4chan

[..... 40]

This thread got merged with my old thread, that revived it just now.

Ahhh that explains it.

I was wondering why this thing had so many replies out of nowhere XD

 

Thanks for all the responses! 

It helps with my understanding <3

[Washougal_Otaku 1,020]

So during my adventures on xbox and pc multiplayer games, I have noticed that on more than one occasion, haters continuously call me an autistic brony. Of course, brony hating insults don't hurt me but I was confused as per why someone would insult another person with autism and why bronies are insulted to have autism.

 

So I'm asking you guys if you have ever been insulted similarly, heard of where the insult originated or if this is just a coincidence. 

Not with that particular one.  For me, it's mainly been about being too old AND a male, which automatically makes me a creepy pedo; of course, it doesn't matter that I have a kid, or that it's a refreshing revival of a nostalgia feeling...  nope, apparently I'm a pedo according to some haters.

[CosmicHooves 2,705]

So I've been going through YouTube lately.

Also I happen to see some ignorant comments targets towards Bronies.

Usually I just try to ignore them.

One particular neurological disorder that some ignorant people seem to be saying all bronies have is autism.

...

Seriously?

What the buck is wrong with people?

Joking about autism is horrible!

It shouldn't even be a stereotype.

Some of you will say "Oh Emerald, just tolerate the haters."

This is where I draw the goddamn line though.

When someone makes fun of a mental or neurological disorder, it's like making fun of someone's death.

Why the hell should I tolerate people tossing around autism like it's your average Brony hater insult?

I don't think I should.

Edited August 8, 2014 by Emerald Starlight

[AlbaTross 1,586]

Autism is a neurological disorder, not a mental disorder, but making fun of people born a certain way isn't cool. The reality is, some people are just jerks. Don't let them get to you. You're just validating their existence as the scum of the earth.

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

People suck. .. If people were all rocks the world would.... Rock.

[WireBound 125]

I entirely agree. throwing around a disorder as a stereotype is AWFUL. I don't however, think you should even TRY to fight back. Those who say things like that are looking for attention. That and they are so horribly ignorant that even ATTEMPTING to change their minds would be a futile effort. 

 

I also want to say, although it may sound in their defense, I did see many people at BronyCon with Autism.

 

That being said, not all bronies, obviously, have Autism. Nor is autism something that should change the way people think of you. Actually, the autistic people that I've met (almost all of them, anyway) are the nicest people around! 

[Null_user 126]

I repect your indignance in this particular regard. I do ignore most hate, but there are some lines I do not tolerate haters crossing, this being one of them. Don't let anyone tell you to water down your convictions.

 

And yet, do not allow them to drag you to their level either. I wish you the best, and a level head, in your Internet endeavors, friend.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Is it wrong? Yes. Are they crossing a line? Yes. Are they ignorant and even other non bronies see it? Yes. Brony haters are frothing at the mouth cause four years later and bronies number in the millions worldwide while they are not only losing supporters, some are even getting converted. They already lost, let them wallow in it.

[Vemillia Nightshade 2,247]

Well this is a topic I've seen before. I've seen most of the trolls calling bronies autistic in clopfic porn sections. Yes I have seen it on YouTube but not as much. People just hate because they don't understand our fandom. They will burn like the rest of this prejudice world.

[ARagY 1,152]

Don't let it bother you too much, There's no real definition for what it actually means. It's a thrown-around term that's interpreted differently based on who you're talking to. Just take it with a grain of salt, when people say that about bronies they don't mean to actually insult autistic people, they mean to call bronies stupid (which to them is synonymous with autistic), and if someone who doesn't know anything about you or what you do outside of ONE particular interest, then so be it. Let them have their fun, they're the stupid ones.

[Null_user 126]

Don't let it bother you too much, There's no real definition for what it actually means. It's a thrown-around term that's interpreted differently based on who you're talking to. Just take it with a grain of salt, when people say that about bronies they don't mean to actually insult autistic people, they mean to call bronies stupid (which to them is synonymous with autistic), and if someone who doesn't know anything about you or what you do outside of ONE particular interest, then so be it. Let them have their fun, they're the stupid ones.

 

This is generally a good attitude to have, but I must say it becomes difficult when you know people with autism, whose friends and families have been deeply affected by it.

 

This is the case for me, so I'm just trying to be fair here.

[Solid 1,327]

Yes, some of us could become autistic, due to the haters and bullies.

 

If they step further over the line (which they maybe did by now) to harm others not only mentally, but also physically, perhaps possibly worse...

 

Edited August 8, 2014 by Solid Scorpion