In 1979, a historian named Christopher Lasch, who had no psychiatric credentials, wrote a book arguing that modern American culture was increasing the prevalence of a particular psychiatric disorder in the general population.
The book gained a lot of cultural traction, especially among people who call themselves pop psychologists, but whose actual job is writing scam self-help books. They started using this disorder in their books as a bogeyman. They said people with this disorder are living among us, stealing our energy and resources and making us weak. Basically just a reskinned version of the antisemitic conspiracy theory.
These narratives became so popular that people started using the slur for a person who has the disorder without even knowing they were talking about a disorder. They thought it was just a word for a certain kind of bad person. Like how kids in the 90s used the R word.
You heard that word and didn’t realise it was a slur, and you used it to describe your parents.
I mean, I’m autistic, and I’m pretty sure I can outdo you on how autism (and aspergers) was literally invented by literal Nazis, to literally torture, ostracize, maim, and murder Jewish children, and others who would not conform to their worldview.
… but …
Words exist and their meanings change over time.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a thing.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a thing.
They have APA definitions, they’re defined in the DSM.
Are these definitions perfect?
No.
… Do they still mean things though, convey a general concept, maybe a specific diagnostic one, in more technical contexts?
Yes.
I’m not gonna stop using the word narcissist because you think it’s antisemitic, that its a racist slur.
Because it isn’t.
That you think it is, that’s rather strange.
Is there some other word we should use to denote… very self-centered, very egoistic, very egotistical, unable to take criticism or admit mistake, constantly neg everyone around them, have obviously hypocritical standards and demands and needs, need constant adulation and attention, are very grandiose, lack empathy despite constantly demanding it?
In case you are unfamilair with the concept, beyond simply only Lasch:
So you’re saying autism and narcissism (autism spectrum disorder and narcissistic personality disorder) are similar enough that you are certain you can relate to the struggles of people with NPD and you know they shouldn’t be concerned about having a slur used?
Suppose someone who hated Elon Musk called him a nasty word like “emotionless autist” or “robot sperg”, as examples of anti-autism slurs based on shortening the name of the diagnosis. I think this would be the same as calling your parents the slur you used. If you can honestly say you’d be completely fine having an anti-autism slur used on a bad person, then I’ll accept your use of an anti-narcissism slur on bad people. But if you think one of those two very similar situations would be ableist and would hurt disabled people, then please accept that they’re both ableist and they both hurt disabled people.
I like the cut of your jib, thinking creatively and logically, providing some solid solutions that might actually work.
Perk of growing up with control freak narcissist parents: You learn how to lie well, when necessary.
Downsides: CPTSD, fundamental inability to really trust anyone, ever.
Are you using that word as an ableist slur or as a reference to that Greek kid who was killed for being asexual?
…what?
I have literally no idea what you are talking about.
What is the word that you think is either an ableist slur, or a reference to something I have not heard of?
In 1979, a historian named Christopher Lasch, who had no psychiatric credentials, wrote a book arguing that modern American culture was increasing the prevalence of a particular psychiatric disorder in the general population.
The book gained a lot of cultural traction, especially among people who call themselves pop psychologists, but whose actual job is writing scam self-help books. They started using this disorder in their books as a bogeyman. They said people with this disorder are living among us, stealing our energy and resources and making us weak. Basically just a reskinned version of the antisemitic conspiracy theory.
These narratives became so popular that people started using the slur for a person who has the disorder without even knowing they were talking about a disorder. They thought it was just a word for a certain kind of bad person. Like how kids in the 90s used the R word.
You heard that word and didn’t realise it was a slur, and you used it to describe your parents.
The word is “n*rcisisst”
I mean, I’m autistic, and I’m pretty sure I can outdo you on how autism (and aspergers) was literally invented by literal Nazis, to literally torture, ostracize, maim, and murder Jewish children, and others who would not conform to their worldview.
… but …
Words exist and their meanings change over time.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a thing.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a thing.
They have APA definitions, they’re defined in the DSM.
Are these definitions perfect?
No.
… Do they still mean things though, convey a general concept, maybe a specific diagnostic one, in more technical contexts?
Yes.
I’m not gonna stop using the word narcissist because you think it’s antisemitic, that its a racist slur.
Because it isn’t.
That you think it is, that’s rather strange.
Is there some other word we should use to denote… very self-centered, very egoistic, very egotistical, unable to take criticism or admit mistake, constantly neg everyone around them, have obviously hypocritical standards and demands and needs, need constant adulation and attention, are very grandiose, lack empathy despite constantly demanding it?
In case you are unfamilair with the concept, beyond simply only Lasch:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662
Unless you’re going to tell me you know my parents better than I do: Trust me, they are narcissists.
If you are going to tell me you know my parents better than I do: Kindly fuck right off with your impossibly presumptuous bullshit.
Boy this thread is the strangest thing I’ve seen in a minute. hope you aren’t letting this gaslighting weirdo get to you
So you’re saying autism and narcissism (autism spectrum disorder and narcissistic personality disorder) are similar enough that you are certain you can relate to the struggles of people with NPD and you know they shouldn’t be concerned about having a slur used?
Suppose someone who hated Elon Musk called him a nasty word like “emotionless autist” or “robot sperg”, as examples of anti-autism slurs based on shortening the name of the diagnosis. I think this would be the same as calling your parents the slur you used. If you can honestly say you’d be completely fine having an anti-autism slur used on a bad person, then I’ll accept your use of an anti-narcissism slur on bad people. But if you think one of those two very similar situations would be ableist and would hurt disabled people, then please accept that they’re both ableist and they both hurt disabled people.