Has Autism vs Autistic: A Quick Comparison of Person-First and Identity-First Languages

@RainbowTrie I consider the term autistic best as being autistic is like being on a different operating system, a big part of me that intertwined with everything I say or do. It's part of my humanity. So I don't like the human first condition later, because it attempts to separate me from a huge part of who I am

@MissNonTypical

I understand what you mean and I actually agree with you as I am autistic myself and prefer identity first language. I wanted to write this post in a nonbiased way to give some clarification and information about why people aren't always in agreement about this topic.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

@RainbowTrie

This is an awesome read. There seems to be a debate with using the correct terminology, and I found this post to be really informative.

Thank you <3

@RainbowTrie - Thank you for this - it's really helpful! In other areas I've focused on, for instance eating disorders, there is a big push for person-first, which makes a lot of sense to me (as being called an anorexic or a bulimic was way more offensive to me than a person with anorexia / with bulimia), so I applied that more broadly, but it's helpful for me to understand that it's not always the preference. Will definitely make a better effort going forward!

I personally like to think of video games in this situation.

I can't run playstation(nt) games because I'm an xbox. and i like to be called an xbox, not a "console that runs xbox games"

but in the end, you do you with what you like to be called.

@peachkitty

great analogy!!

@RainbowTrie - THANK YOU!

Honestly I did not read your whole post here yet, but I want to say thanks for bringing up this subject. People-first Language is HUGE in my book. I am very glad to see it here, somewhere!, at 7cups - even if the post was from like 4-5 yrs ago! If I could (or knew how to), I would highlight this post or have everyone who wants to be in the group chat rooms read this first - or put it at the top of this subcommunity - or something. There are so many times I catch this (hearing not person first language) from others IRL. I hope to not be around if anyone is using it about me :\ I am a person. I struggle with bipolar disorder, true. But first I am a person - same as you ... and that gives us both immense value. Then, yes, I deal with mental illness and medications every day and such ... but I'm sure you deal with *something* every day. Something you love or hate or have no opinion about but just has to be done. I wish we could get closer to understanding that:

We are all human beings,

we all have struggles problems and things we wish we didn't have to deal with, but

that is what makes us unique and

THAT is what makes us each wonderful! :)

Thank you for writing this, Rainbow. <3 Platy

@RainbowTrie

Thank you for the information