So I'm working on a character who's mostly mute for disguise benefits. My question is, is it morally wrong for this character to have ""misdiagnosed"" autism? He's definitely on the spectrum, but he was diagnosed with the wrong symptoms. The idea behind it is that he's been infantisted and it's supposed to be like a "this is bad don't treat autistic people like this" kinda message but it feels icky? Idk, what do you think?
If you're portraying bad things to show how bad they are, it's a good message. If you're doing it right, it will feel icky to do. Kinda like playing a Nazi in a WWII movie. It's going to feel bad doing the bad things, but the point is to show exactly how awful these people (or in your case, this kind of thinking and treatment) are. You just have to be sure that the lesson lands how it's supposed to, and that it's fairly obvious. Objectionable (icky) elements only become wrong when they aren't proven and shown to be objectionable.
The lesson isn't a huge part of the story, though, its just a little but of subcontext towards the character. Should it be a bigger theme?
Would a scene like
"Sorry for thinking you're autistic"
"Thats kinda fucked up and imply there's something wrong with being autistic"
Be beneficial?
So I'm working on a character who's mostly mute for disguise benefits. My question is, is it morally wrong for this character to have ""misdiagnosed"" autism? He's definitely on the spectrum, but he was diagnosed with the wrong symptoms. The idea behind it is that he's been infantisted and it's supposed to be like a "this is bad don't treat autistic people like this" kinda message but it feels icky? Idk, what do you think?
As an autistic person I don't see anything wrong with itโin fact I think it's important to point out how sometimes it's hard for people to get an accurate diagnosis due to how society treats autistic people and how stereotyped our portrayals in media are. I also like the way you mentioned pointing out that it's bad to infantilize autistic people since sometimes it feels like people treat us with kid gloves once they know about our diagnosis and it gets really annoying.
The lesson isn't a huge part of the story, though, its just a little but of subcontext towards the character. Should it be a bigger theme?
Would a scene like
"Sorry for thinking you're autistic"
"Thats kinda fucked up and imply there's something wrong with being autistic"
Be beneficial?
Well, as long as the lesson is as big as the insult. For instance, if a character spends 3 whole chapters being rude and problematic, the lesson needs to be big enough to cover that. If the character only does it once, or it's just like a littke sidenote, then the lesson should be that small too. 'Punishment fits the crime' kind of idea.
So I'm working on a character who's mostly mute for disguise benefits. My question is, is it morally wrong for this character to have ""misdiagnosed"" autism? He's definitely on the spectrum, but he was diagnosed with the wrong symptoms. The idea behind it is that he's been infantisted and it's supposed to be like a "this is bad don't treat autistic people like this" kinda message but it feels icky? Idk, what do you think?
As an autistic person I don't see anything wrong with itโin fact I think it's important to point out how sometimes it's hard for people to get an accurate diagnosis due to how society treats autistic people and how stereotyped our portrayals in media are. I also like the way you mentioned pointing out that it's bad to infantilize autistic people since sometimes it feels like people treat us with kid gloves once they know about our diagnosis and it gets really annoying.
yeah. Im autistic too and I thought it was okay but I wanted others' opinions on it. The whole problem is the MC is dressed by his parents and often portrayed with clips in his hair and such, and while he's definitely on the spectrum, he's incredibly independent and can fend for himself, the only reason he's diagnosed with autism is because he's not acting like a "normal" kid would (he's selectively mute and antisocial).
another moral thing for me is the fact that he CAN speak, and he does for most of the story, it's just that pre-story he doesn't speak because he's under an order to be mute in front of his adopted family. Is that weird? could it be seen as "faking" or "pretending?"
The lesson isn't a huge part of the story, though, its just a little but of subcontext towards the character. Should it be a bigger theme?
Would a scene like
"Sorry for thinking you're autistic"
"Thats kinda fucked up and imply there's something wrong with being autistic"
Be beneficial?Well, as long as the lesson is as big as the insult. For instance, if a character spends 3 whole chapters being rude and problematic, the lesson needs to be big enough to cover that. If the character only does it once, or it's just like a littke sidenote, then the lesson should be that small too. 'Punishment fits the crime' kind of idea.
yeah, I get that. I want it to be an important part of his character but at the same time I dont want it to be a huge part of the plot.
(bump?)