Read on Twitter
TW: ableism
My dad and I were talking about Star Trek cuz we both love ST & he mentioned the DS9 ep where the baby changeling dies. And I said I *haaated* that episode (because I do). And he wanted to know why. So I told him.
This does end happily btw.
1/
My dad and I were talking about Star Trek cuz we both love ST & he mentioned the DS9 ep where the baby changeling dies. And I said I *haaated* that episode (because I do). And he wanted to know why. So I told him.
This does end happily btw.
1/
TW: ableism
Look at Data, Odo, Seven, Joe, & kinda T'Pol. What do they all have in common?
They're coded autistic. Now with T'Pol it's b/c she's a Vulcan but the other 3 it's very deliberate and very obvious.
Know what else they got in common?
They lose their kids.
2/
Look at Data, Odo, Seven, Joe, & kinda T'Pol. What do they all have in common?
They're coded autistic. Now with T'Pol it's b/c she's a Vulcan but the other 3 it's very deliberate and very obvious.
Know what else they got in common?
They lose their kids.
2/
TW: ableism
Lal? Dies after an episode-long debate ab whether Data has the right to reproduce, is a fit parent for HIS kid & whether his autistic kid has the right to not be institutionalized.
Changeling baby? Dies. It's a tragic episode despite Odo getting his powers back.
3/
Lal? Dies after an episode-long debate ab whether Data has the right to reproduce, is a fit parent for HIS kid & whether his autistic kid has the right to not be institutionalized.
Changeling baby? Dies. It's a tragic episode despite Odo getting his powers back.
3/
TW: ableism
T'Pol's daughter Elizabeth? Dies.
One, Seven & Joe's autistic-coded bio kid? Dies violently "for the good of the ship."
Mezoti & the twins? Given to strangers b/c those strangers are deemed better parents for autistic-coded kids than an autistic-coded woman.
4/
T'Pol's daughter Elizabeth? Dies.
One, Seven & Joe's autistic-coded bio kid? Dies violently "for the good of the ship."
Mezoti & the twins? Given to strangers b/c those strangers are deemed better parents for autistic-coded kids than an autistic-coded woman.
4/
TW: ableism, murder
Icheb, Seven's sole remaining kid after her 3 other adopted kids are stolen & her bio kid dies? Is kidnapped & vivisected, & she has to kill her autistic-coded kid "for his own good."
The other autistic-coded chars - Reg, Julian, Spock - don't have kids.
5/
Icheb, Seven's sole remaining kid after her 3 other adopted kids are stolen & her bio kid dies? Is kidnapped & vivisected, & she has to kill her autistic-coded kid "for his own good."
The other autistic-coded chars - Reg, Julian, Spock - don't have kids.
5/
Joe's daughter Belle? Dies.
The one main cast exception sort of to this rule is Tuvok, who has children but isn't raising them due to plot and isn't shown as "fish out of water" as T'Pol (probably b/c he's MUCH older). He's "different," but isn't written as autistic-coded.
6/
The one main cast exception sort of to this rule is Tuvok, who has children but isn't raising them due to plot and isn't shown as "fish out of water" as T'Pol (probably b/c he's MUCH older). He's "different," but isn't written as autistic-coded.
6/
Anyway so I was explaining this to my dad.
My dad is Black. My dad is 71 yrs old. This is relevant.
After I managed to stop yelling (b/c the trope is bullshit, not b/c of my dad), he told me this seems like how he used to notice how all the Black people on TV were maids.
7/
My dad is Black. My dad is 71 yrs old. This is relevant.
After I managed to stop yelling (b/c the trope is bullshit, not b/c of my dad), he told me this seems like how he used to notice how all the Black people on TV were maids.
7/
TW: ableism, murder
And I was like, "Yeah, basically. We're almost always shown as either 'shouldn't have' or 'can't have' happy romantic relationships or be good parents, and it's a stigma we deal with IRL."
Then I told him about the murders.
8/
And I was like, "Yeah, basically. We're almost always shown as either 'shouldn't have' or 'can't have' happy romantic relationships or be good parents, and it's a stigma we deal with IRL."
Then I told him about the murders.
8/
TW: ableism, murder, child abuse
Autistic children are at extremely high risk for being abused and/or killed by parents and/or caregivers. Not only that, but when they kill us, they get sympathy from the press, from the judicial system.
9/
Autistic children are at extremely high risk for being abused and/or killed by parents and/or caregivers. Not only that, but when they kill us, they get sympathy from the press, from the judicial system.
9/
TW: ableism, murder
"Oh, the kid is better off. What kind of life could they really have had?"
"You poor parent, you must've been so overwhelmed. No wonder you snapped."
"I would rather die than have an autistic kid. I understand."
"Really, it's better this way."
10/
"Oh, the kid is better off. What kind of life could they really have had?"
"You poor parent, you must've been so overwhelmed. No wonder you snapped."
"I would rather die than have an autistic kid. I understand."
"Really, it's better this way."
10/
My dad didn't know about these cases. He couldn't imagine thinking someone is better off dead than neurodivergent. He also mentioned if anyone ever said that about my cousin Seth - he has Down Syndrome - my dad would be hardpressed not to punch someone.
11/
11/
So basically, to make a long story even longer, I talked to my dad about autism-specific ableism in Star Trek, and despite me yelling a lot, it was a really good talk.
12/
12/
GDI I just realized I forgot to close the thread. 
12+1/12
12+1/12
