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> there has also been a decent amount of research about the calming effect of weighted blankets, which can weigh up to 30 pounds. Studies indicate that they can
by helzinia 5mo ago
> there has also been a decent amount of research about the calming effect of weighted blankets, which can weigh up to 30 pounds. Studies indicate that they can curb anxiety and even be used in the treatment of autism.
What odd phrasing, "the treatment of autism". Wouldn't it suffice to say a lot of autistic people find them comforting? This may just be my bugbear, but I notice a lot of these depersonalising statements in anthropology, psychology, etc when an author wants to hold up some supporting example about a group of people they are not experts on.
- eudamoniac 5mo agoAutism is a disorder with symptoms that can be treated. If you find that concept depersonalizing, I'm sorry about that, but it isn't.
- xboxnolifes 5mo agoSure, but it's like writing "Weighted blankets can be used as a treatment for tiredness". It's reads awkwardly.
- port11 5mo agoHmm, if we conceive of some states as ideal for humans, then states which aren’t ideal are those we might want to treat. We don’t have to cure them, nor be cruel in our handling of people. But we also don’t have to pretend that autism is the most ideal state to thrive in human society. Language needs to define terms, and at some measure of sensitivity they are going to sound insensitive. Again, we don’t have to be cruel. But we can help, or treat, or alleviate, or accommodate for the symptoms of autism. You pick the word that’s less depersonalising, keeping in mind that any word here is arbitrary. Autism isn’t a brilliant condition and we can all hope to make the lives of others better. If that means using softer language, I’m all for it; yet, some language has to be used. And, perhaps, if we could treat autism itself, we might want to give people that option.