I am not autism. I am a human being. I am autistic. The fact that the New York Times would choose this word, leads to one wondering what else are they doing (or preaching) that would lend any light to anything. The only people who employ the word autism are voices from a hideous past. No one uses that word. But the New York Times is stubborn. They do not like new words. So they use all the stupid terms from another age that have never been appropriate. We do not get to write our own narrative. Only “experts” are allowed to define us. The term neurodivergent hits the nail on the head. I have always been someone’s experiment. I have been abused by the very people who get to tell me who and what I am. Just being autistic buys you more examinations that are patently absurd and beneath contempt. The entire field is crowded with sadomasochistic magic tricks. Dr. Asperger experimented on jewish children. Likewise, they stripped me. They put me in hot water. Put me in freezing water. They ask a million questions to which there are no answers. You get xray after xray. You get a barium enema. Open your mouth. Touch your toes. Draw this. Do you have friends. Put the peg in the hole. Stop breathing. You can breathe now. Do you masturbate. What day is it. On and on. I was forced into this as a kid. Early intervention. Where’s my tin foil hat. This business is filled with educated quacks. They do not know what they are doing. Medical science is a big stick. Children always pay the price. – tim barrus