Why do some people think that calling another person "autistic" is an insult of some kind?

[Pet68]

Oh dear. I feel sorry for you 'normal' people.

People who have autism (or related conditions like Asperger's Syndrome) aren't in any way, shape or form mentally handicapped; just the opposite in fact. The ones who are truly handicapped are those who couldn't be honest if their lives depended on it, who talk in riddles, who don't mean what they say and don't say what they mean, who insist upon eye contact and stupidly think that anyone who doesn't make eye contact is being dishonest, who need 'body language' (no such thing) cues in order to help them figure out what someone is saying, and who are constantly searching for silly things like 'subtext' in a message. The future belongs to those who have an 'eye for detail', who can relate to machines better than other people, and who are clear-headed, logical, supremely rational (one of the many reasons why religion is dying out is due to the increasing incidence of autism), and who see and accept things as they actually are.

To all those who are merely ordinary, because they haven't been blessed with the superior intellect that autism bestows, I can only say "Seig...", I mean, "My heart goes out to you". :)

[CheeseMonster]

Bullshit. Autism is not a superpower, and it can absolutely be a handicap—especially in a society built for allisitic brains. Being autistic doesn't make you a genius any more than it makes you stupid, nor does it make you morally "pure" or morally oblivious. It doesn't prevent you from being a bad or good person. I hope you know that and this is just a troll post...

[Pet68]

Did I say it was a "superpower"? All I did here was correct a few mistaken assumptions about the condition.

[Pet68]

"A society built for allistic brains" - Well, that's something we're going to have to change, because it's a very big reason why society is so dysfunctional.

[CheeseMonster]

What would you call "just the opposite" of handicapped? If, as you say, allistic people are like handicapped people compared to autistic people, that means you think autistic people are somehow extra- or super-abled. This is not true. I agree that society should change and be more open to different ways different people actually think and operate, but if it were to change to cater only to autistic people and leave allistics out (like a total reverse) that would be just as bad too. Because being autistic does not make people better or more capable of running or influencing society.

[Pet68]

The opposite of handicapped is capable, or able-bodied, or without disadvantage. In many ways yes, "allistic" (hate that term) people actually ARE handicapped, and I list a few of the reasons why in my original post. There's no sense in being in denial about it.

[CheeseMonster]

So you're just switching them, and pretending like 90+% of the world is handicapped? Sorry man that still makes the <10% who are more capable than everyone else into "super" capable. Even if you don't call it that. If you don't think it's true, then you should stop saying it. If you don't like the label allistic, then use some other adjective instead.

[msg321]

Because they are immature.

[Nikki1989]

The use of “autistic” as an insult is rooted in ignorance, prejudice, and a lack of empathy.

[strateguy632]

because other people say it as a put down to healthy people, so it is treated like off limits, to say ever.