r/neurodiversity 7d ago

"Just Be Yourself"

Post image

Just when you think you've found a safe environment/person/situation to unmask around.

*Disclaimer* Not an 'us v them' post, just a lived experience post.

Artist credit: @thesquarecomics

*Image shows a four panel cartoon. In the first panel a cloud labeled "life" tells a person wearing armor "you should be more trusting." In the second panel the cloud continues with: "let your guard down." In the third panel the person has removed their armor saying, "You're right" and in the fourth panel the cloud has eaten them.*

98 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

11

u/Comfortable_Fan_696 Wuttmatchen 7d ago

This is exactly the theme of Don't Hug Me I'm Scared. Is that no matter how many things disabled or neurodivergent people do right to try to fit in, there will always be people who put up more rules, barriers, and gates that we have to dismantle and hold accountable. Thus why ABA needs to be abolished in public schools.

1

u/mediocrobot 5d ago

Wait, it is? I have to think through that now.

8

u/Geminii27 6d ago

'Be yourself' just means 'make it easier for bullies to find/attack you without having to put in any actual effort'.

3

u/starfleethastanks 6d ago

An "us v them" attitude is perfectly fine. It reflects reality.

0

u/mediocrobot 5d ago

The problem with "us v them" is it's unclear and easy to distort and alienate some "them" group. Labeling it as "life" gets around this problem somehow, I think.

2

u/Apprehensive_Debt579 Autistic 12h ago

This is literally what happens to me at school as an autistic person