Why is "diversity" automatically seen as being a "good thing"?

@PepsiColaP I mentioned biodiversity and why I can understand why that's important, but this is mainly about other forms of "diversity" (ex. the latest one is "neurodiversity").

@Pambie And what the hell makes you think neurodiversity is considered a good thing? Do you understand what it is at all?

@LordShadowfire Well no, I don't think "neurodiversity" is a good thing, because the very idea is bogus and is being promoted by some very shady online characters (I never hear real people in the real world talk about it).

@Pambie WOW, okay! So you think disorders like autism are fake? I think I'm done with you.

@Pambie Those are mainly genetically driven characteristics wdym

@LordShadowfire No, I didn't say that autism isn't real. I said that the concept of "neurodiversity" is dodgy, and promoted by people with a sinister agenda.

@Pambie I think you need to go back to school 🫂

@LordShadowfire You said it yourself; it's a disorder. Disorders are handicaps, and they shouldn't exist.

@PepsiColaP Wow, how insightful and informative. Um, do you actually have anything useful or sensible to say here?

@Pambie I do ,actually
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature14618

@Pambie does it meet the criteria for a disorder as defined by the DSM or similar?

@PepsiColaP And you need real-life experience away from academia it seems. What is written in a book (or periodical) isn't necessarily true or accurate. Please, don't be so naive.

@Pambie my partner teaches kids with autism and aspergers - many of them are flat out brilliant. Many of the best people I work with (including probably myself) are somewhere on the spectrum.

I consider hiring people with autism and aspergers to be an example of why diversity in the workplace is a good idea.

@jademonkey19 Many parents worry about what will happen to their children when they become adults with autism, because it's not something that a person can grow out of. When there is no one to help them cope with the things that others just take for granted, what then?
That's why I don't like all of this "neurodiversity" nonsense, because I believe it just trivialises the real problems that real people with these conditions have.

@Pambie absolutely agree on some levels - but educating people and workplaces on those needs and helping establish systems in society that can account for the very real challenges many autistic people face. I also think that autism is very definitely a spectrum - witn some people being much higher functioning than others.

Understanding those differences and accounting for them produces a better society. People who need wheelchairs to get around face very real challenges; taking those challenges into account when designing a building or planning a city makes their lives much easier.

Same is true for providing autistic people an environment that doesnt punish them for being autistic. It costs very little and brings tremendous value in the form of employee satisfaction performance, and retention.

@jademonkey19 I see things like this; people in wheelchairs don't need buildings specially designed for them. What they need is a cure or treatment for whatever it was that got them confined to a wheelchair in the first place.
I see autism and other related conditions in the same way. People who are depressed want their depression gone. The same with those with schizophrenia. Why is the word "cure" so taboo these days?
I want a cure for whatever it is I have, whether we call that Asperger's Syndrome or autism. The name doesn't really matter, because this condition truly is a handicap, because it has made my life far more difficult than it ever needed to be. I see others doing all the things that I'd like to do, the things that make life worthwhile, and I'm an outsider looking in. I hate this with a passion!
I want to be normal, and I don't give a rat's rear end about the sensibilities of those who insist we must accept ourselves as we are. They can all go to hell.

@Pambie well, our opinions definitely diverge here. I don't want to be someone else's definition of normal; they haven't the right to impose that on others. I just am whatever I am. Normal is a quirk of the moment; it isn't real. The definition of normal has changed throughout history and will continue to change - which is a pretty good sign that normal is bullshit.

Re: wheelchairs - it would be wonderful if we had a cure; but we don't - so we should build ramps and help ensure places are accessible to them. I'm not sure I think it would be so wonderful if people could "cure" whatever they didn't like about others. That sounds awful.

I like living in a society where diversity is recognized and celebrated. I like the variety of thought, music, culture and appearance.

@Pambie You sound like someone who until recently was a friend of mine. He also wants the entire universe to bend to his will, and gets angry when it doesn't.

@LordShadowfire I'm not like that though. I just want myself to be different, not the world (although that could be improved a lot as well).