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Fandom antis strip the “fiction vs reality” argument of nuance. Decent people know not to copy unhealthy sex taboos.
What about the portrayal of disability?
Why is the autistic community angry about Sia’s movie, “Music”?
Thread
#ActuallyAutistic #AllAutistics
What about the portrayal of disability?
Why is the autistic community angry about Sia’s movie, “Music”?
Thread
#ActuallyAutistic #AllAutistics
Most people have little knowledge of dealing with autistic people unless they’re a caregiver for an autistic person or they’re autistic themselves.
Sia’s movie portrays a dangerous misconception of how to help an autistic person during a meltdown.
Sia’s movie portrays a dangerous misconception of how to help an autistic person during a meltdown.
A meltdown is when an autistic person is so overwhelmed that they lose control of their emotions and sometimes their body. It’s a huge surge of adrenaline. It feels like every emotion I ever felt is happening to me at once and I can’t stop or control them.
Meltdowns are not a choice or a temper tantrum. They are a sign that a stressor the person can’t handle is present. It can be internal (ie upset stomach or toothache), environmental (too warm, noisy, bright or chaotic) or situational (broken routine, changed plans).
// restraints
The message of presume competence is lost because Music is subjected to a dangerous form of restraint during her meltdowns. Being facedown with someone on your back makes it hard or impossible to breathe. People have died from this.
The message of presume competence is lost because Music is subjected to a dangerous form of restraint during her meltdowns. Being facedown with someone on your back makes it hard or impossible to breathe. People have died from this.
And people who do that to autistic people will have their belief that it’s the right course of action reinforced. Meanwhile, Sia’s fans shout down autistic people who are rushing out to say “wait, that’s harmful, that can kill someone.”
So fiction does affect reality, and reality affects fiction, but it’s not a 1:1 equivalence. Certain things are harmful because of ignorance, sometimes it can be harmful out of malice, too. Sia’s reaction to autistic people shows a scary willful ignorance bordering on malice.
I would advise you not to give Music any money, but I can’t expect everyone not to see it. All I ask is that you walk in knowing that way Music is treated during meltdowns is harmful, deadly and abusive. Listen to what autistic people are saying.
// restraints
As an autistic person who can sometimes have violent self-injurious meltdowns, pinning me down would scare me more and we are both likely to end up injured.
As an autistic person who can sometimes have violent self-injurious meltdowns, pinning me down would scare me more and we are both likely to end up injured.
The right way to handle meltdowns varies from person to person. For me, just backing off and letting me “get it out” works the best. Don’t try to stop me unless I’m bashing my head into something that can crack my skull or I’m hitting myself in the face.
Even then, putting something soft between my head and hard things or my fists and my face is enough to soften the blows so I don’t actually hurt myself. I need to make those sharp movements to get the energy out. Stopping me makes it worse.
Self-injurious behavior isn’t a choice I make. My body flails out of my control, and all I can do is try to aim down at my legs instead of up at my face, or try to sit against my bed so I head bang against my mattress instead of the wall.
So again, listen to autistic people. Music does not represent the right way to help an autistic person having a meltdown.
