A Growing Trend on TF2 Servers

[Insomnia Princess]

Maybe this isn't new but because I mainly only play on eGO servers, it's just making its way to us but I am seeing a growing trend in players using autism and Asperger's as an insult. Pretty much every play session I have, I hear this now on our servers.

Because I have personal experience with this and also have worked with many autism spectrum kids as a youth coach, I'd like to say a few things.

First, I don't think that anyone from our community is doing this but if you are, stop right now. It's horribly offensive and you're making yourself look ignorant.

So on that note... when people use this as an insult, it doesn't even make any sense. Nearly all autistic people are very electronically savvy and most are very adept at computers. In fact, computers are a major tool in autism symptom treatment and some people with ASD who are non-verbal (can't speak) use computers to communicate.

My autistic son has a genius level IQ, insane hand-eye coordination and savant skills at beating video games. He goes through games like people go through underwear because he beats them/ grows bored with them so quickly. Pretty much every autistic person under the age of 25 I have ever met has been insanely good at video games.

So saying "It's really Aspergery in here tonight" or "This server is so full of autism" as an insult is just about as ignorant as one can get.

In fact, it's so dumb, I'm not even offended by it. But I see this trend growing like whoever decided to bring back the use of the word "scrub" (hey, the 90s called; they want their word back) so I just thought I'd say something since I know not everyone has experience with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The more you know and all that...

This concludes your PSA for the day. I now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcasting.

 

[CrashRIT]

As admins, we're here to stop any of this -isms and this would definitely count. Feel free to use pub-admin chat to contact us (# in team chat followed by a message). Chat is logged here too: http://edgegamers.gameme.com/chat/tf -- a screenshot can be sent to leadership for review. As admins too, we can always "keep an eye out" (not seek, just if we run into the person, keep a closer eye on chat).

For scrub, theres multiple meanings. Gaming has their own term with that word... It's just... gaming (im so eloquent, yea?) http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=scrub&defid=3583277

 

[Insomnia Princess]

As admins, we're here to stop any of this -isms and this would definitely count. Feel free to use pub-admin chat to contact us (# in team chat followed by a message). Chat is logged here too: http://edgegamers.gameme.com/chat/tf -- a screenshot can be sent to leadership for review. As admins too, we can always "keep an eye out" (not seek, just if we run into the person, keep a closer eye on chat).

Thanks! I think most people who do it don't know any better. They're just repeating something they heard someone else say, as it typically goes.

For scrub, theres multiple meanings. Gaming has their own term with that word... It's just... gaming (im so eloquent, yea?) http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=scrub&defid=3583277

I didn't know that about Street Fighter II. Interesting... When I heard people using it, I thought I should be on a skating rink someplace singing along to TLC. (Is anyone here even old enough to know what I'm talking about? hehe)

See? The more you know...

 

[UnderCoverSpy16]

Wow, thanx for taking the time to write this, i was never aware that people used these expressions or what they meant. But I am definitely going to keep an eye out. Really surprises me how disrespectful and stupid people can get in this community, and by community i don't mean only eGO but all gamers.Thanx again for writing this
Also this might be random but i just watched frozen.... And OMG such a beautiful movie Loved it.. Can't stop thinking about it :|

 

[Fullmetal]

Crash said it perfectly. If you see someone using disabilities as an insult, please take a screenshot or get the chat logs and either drop box it or post a ban request. Something like that is not acceptable in any way, shape or form.

 

[Ledzo]

Thanks Princess for pointing out this, this hasn't been new unfortunately.
I'm just amazed that people know about Asperger, as it is what I'm studying in Physioneurology!

 

[Tokiw]

I actually have a minor case of Asperger's syndrome. It doesn't really bother me, personally, when people insult others using that word though, mostly because I know how uninformed they are. If I see it again though, I'll certainly take a screenie and send it to one of y'all

 

[Insomnia Princess]

Thanks everyone. It was really just kind of a vent/observation since it seems like I am seeing it used more frequently now but it's good to know that others feel the same as me. And if anyone was reading this who didn't know better, then maybe they learned something. No malice intended with that at all. It's a condition that's getting way more spotlight today than it did say, 15 years ago, but many people still don't really understand what it is. So if people don't talk about it... well then how will people learn?

I'm just amazed that people know about Asperger, as it is what I'm studying in Physioneurology!

It is pretty interesting stuff, isn't it? Spectrum disorders fascinate me because of the wide variations you can get on symptoms/behaviors. In fact, all of the human brain fascinates me.

I actually have a minor case of Asperger's syndrome. It doesn't really bother me, personally, when people insult others using that word though, mostly because I know how uninformed they are.

That's spot-on with what I was saying. I didn't really feel offended; more confused that people think it's an insult when it's not characteristic of the condition. But I would feel bad if someone came on who it did bother. I wouldn't want them to feel unwelcome.

Also this might be random but i just watched frozen.... And OMG such a beautiful movie Loved it.. Can't stop thinking about it :|

Yes! I went to the theater not even knowing what it was going to be about and I was pleasantly surprised. I even got teary-eyed a few times and I never cry at movies. It's really a fantastic movie in so many ways. And the soundtrack is fabulous!

 

[Nix]

Yes, I do notice this becoming a trend, and I don't like it.

Like Toki I've found that some of the smartest people I've ever met on the internet have been born with Autism or Asperger's. My best friend irl has Asperger's, and I can never beat him at his games. It's just so ironic that people use these terms without knowing that that one guy they just can't seem to kill might be silently autistic.

Like many other words, it's starting to become more and more acceptable to use, and I don't like that.


(Frozen made me want to high five Disney)

 

[The Sloth]

Unfortunately trends like this have, and will be, part of the internet for probably eternity. Just as calling someone "gay" or other things of that nature were what the kids were doing back when I was in high school/middle school. Usually it's kids trying to insult others without the correct knowledge of what they're actually calling someone, or just them being daft.

I totally agree with your point of view though, I've worked with children and adults with a multitude of intellectual disabilities all throughout college, usually I try to just ignore it but now I'll try and do my best to eradicate this style of talk/thinking.

 

[Rawburt]

Even "Retard" is unfortunately a widely misused word that we hear and some of us use everyday on and off the Internet.

To be honest, any misuse of a word referring to a physical/mental characteristic really really irritates me. They all just make the user look ignorant and quite frankly unintelligent.

 

[Maserati]

Things have changed a lot now, what was for lack of better words "common internet language" before and ppl probably just having fun, can have devastating affects to some people and can be outright as disrespectful as using the N-word to some, I believe it falls under cyber-bulling which is not allowed.

To that end, if someones creed, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities or any other types of degrading remarks are made or ppl are being attacked we should be addressing the issue and these ppl are certainly not welcomed here. GameMe has a chat log recorder so if you can get the players' name and im sure we can get the right people to handle any necessary banning if needed.

Im sad to hear this is happening as I do also have a brother with Aspergers, although he doesn't live at home with us. People with the syndrome do have very high IQs, just social things can be challenging for them, my brother hates people touching the tv and will demand others to let him watch what he wants and he cant control it, in a positive light, he can teach you about writing code probably and tell you the history of computing. He recently was certified in A+ i think which is some sort of IBM training.. i dont know how those certifications work. lol

 

[Mitsune]

Maybe this isn't new but because I mainly only play on eGO servers, it's just making its way to us but I am seeing a growing trend in players using autism and Asperger's as an insult. Pretty much every play session I have, I hear this now on our servers.

As a person with Aspergers, I'm glad you made a point about the insults. I wish some newspaper make an article about this issue.

Pretty much every autistic person under the age of 25 I have ever met has been insanely good at video games.

Well I'm not that good at video games haha

 

[Maserati]

Mitsu too pro lol

 

[Soupy]

I am a diagnosed Bipolar person, and I hate it when people throw out terms like they must be Bipolar. I also hate when people use the excuse, well I'm bipolar give me a break. My response is "Really so am I, would you like my psychatrist number?" If I see or hear any type of discriminatory or stereotypic comments I w/k/b.

 

[Sanctified Aberration]

I am a diagnosed Bipolar person, and I hate it when people throw out terms like they must be Bipolar. I also hate when people use the excuse, well I'm bipolar give me a break. My response is "Really so am I, would you like my psychatrist number?" If I see or hear any type of discriminatory or stereotypic comments I w/k/b.

Foolish people who have no idea about mental issues try and use this as a means of getting themselves off the hook when they can't keep their lids on.
'Oh I am just bi-polar lol.' Unless these folks got a certified diagnosis, they need to just keep their traps shut or better yet, apologize after losing face rather than make up hokey excuses. Comments like that cheapen the difficulties that truly bi-polar people face.

 

[Insomnia Princess]

I am a diagnosed Bipolar person, and I hate it when people throw out terms like they must be Bipolar. I also hate when people use the excuse, well I'm bipolar give me a break. My response is "Really so am I, would you like my psychatrist number?" If I see or hear any type of discriminatory or stereotypic comments I w/k/b.

That's how I feel about OCD. I cringe when I hear people go, "I organize my closet by color. I am SO OCD."

I wish some newspaper make an article about this issue.

Actually, that's probably something I could help you with.

 

[Idol]

If I see or hear any type of discriminatory or stereotypic comments I w/k/b.

THIS^

or in my case, b/b/b

 

[Mr. Monday]

or in my case, b/b/b

Why do you need three bans? Shouldn't one be enough?

 

[Nix]

Why do you need three bans? Shouldn't one be enough?

There can never be enough bans!