STOP CLAPPING!

My sister has an autistic step son. He loves pantos and claps.

This is being commented on at the moment on the radio. Someone who works with people with autism ( sorry missed who he actually was) said it was better for people to integrate than for the majority to change. There are coping strategies that can be taught and ear defenders if necessary.

If people are not clapping in time or maybe ff when perhaps the occasion might only merit a mf, it might cause extreme pain to the very musical. There should be lessons in applauding before every performance to make sure the audience gets it right. Those who can't clap in time should be forced to wear oven gloves. Well that might be one solution!

I don't have a problem with people trying to be inclusive and accommodating. Though on the radio earlier someone made the point "what about visually impaired people who can't see the jazz hands and might not realise people are applauding?" I have to say though I think jazz hand is on balance a better way, especially since as we get older and get fragile blood vessels and arthritis, waving a hand is less damaging than thwacking it repeatedly against another hand!

"lessons in applauding"

I can see your point that if people are clapping along to music it can annoy some if people are not clapping in time.
I don't understand why you think applause should be an organised event. Surely that would sound like disaproval i.e. a slow hand clap.

Travelsafar did you ever watch the black and white minstrels in ‘ the old days’ remember how they used to come on with their hands that’s Jazzhands
Bxxxdy stupid idea

Oh dear! I'm going to be unpopular!

First, I think the ban must have come from a proposal somewhere in the University because of people being badly affected by the noise.

I have worked with both Autistic people and people suffering with Tinnitus. I did research into both at Post Graduate level. I am thinking that the Uni of Manchester must have had a proposal on behalf of sufferers from loud noise asking for an alternative to clapping. I think they are trying to be kind, thoughtful, decent and fair and help a minority who do suffer very badly when a sudden loud noise like a big room full of people clapping, suddenly erupts. It's only being aware of another disability, after all.

Most people do not know about this disability. It can come on as we get older, in fact, and sometimes is related to going deaf, when the recruitment of sound becomes more difficult. It is as if we turn up our receiver volume in order to hear and then a loud noise is like an explosion. For people with noise recruitment problems, and many of these are Autistic, loud sounds actually hurt them and can throw them into a panic attack.

The university is only enabling access to meetings to more people by doing this, because people with such a disability would most likely avoid a large meeting where many people congregate and are likely to burst into clapping.

If we can become aware of such disorders and treat people gently, not with too much wrapping in cotton wool, but certainly avoiding unnecessary suffering, then I think we should. We build ramps for wheelchairs, put in induction loops for hearing aids, why not acknowledge this disability?
It is about education of the public in general. This is a hidden disability and people do not appreciate how distressing it can be.

If the President or person interviewed was not very articulate in explaining why this measure had been adopted, I understand. Not many young people who are not long out of school, have come across this disability. It is not very easy to explain.
But it is very real, very unpleasant and impossible to tolerate by most sufferers, who then become avoidant of situations where they might suffer sudden noise. This means their lives are severely curtailed and they cannot participate in normal social activities or even some things they need to do such as attendance at Conferences.

I am glad this has been raised as it does reveal how few people understand this disability. We need to start educating the public.

Exactly sodapop and chaos I have an autistic DGS and he will have to face many things including loud noises.
The more he goes to theatre, panto, events, the better he gets, and after being in a play himself enjoyed the applause.
The minority must adjust to the majority......jazz hands indeed, what rubbish.Loony student union ideas abound these days.

One word Tilly.......earplugs!

innishowen yes, we must hope there isn’t a war!

I don't see why in this day and age we even have to be stuffing hundreds of bodies into a room after shifting them miles in polluting vehicles then subjecting them to each other's unwanted noise and BO. Why not just stream these events online? Then everyone can adjust their volume as they require.

I think jazz hands would make me a lot more anxious than clapping does

We mustn't forget the people who have no sense of humour. Others laughing and having fun might make them uncomfortable so let's ban it. In fact, we should ban all group activities. In fact, we should ban university education. In fact, children and young people should remain isolated from all anxiety provoking situations by staying at home and learning on remote computer terminals with no human interface. They should be fed only on plant based foods through a hatch and drink only water.

I agree with ChaosIncorporated, you can’t accommodate all minorities at the expense of the majority. Where do you draw the line? I do sympathise with anyone suffering any kind of anxiety, I’m sure everyone feels the same as I assume we all suffer anxiety at one time or another, but banning clapping.........that’s ridiculous. As for it affecting the deaf, many older people, including my dh are deaf but wouldn’t entertain anyone being asked to refrain from clapping. If this is the attitude of the up and coming generation heaven help us all.

I wish that some of you would realise that the word 'snowflake' does not refer to the people with a disability but to the twats who advocate these policies.

Oh yes saw that on GMB tv.if theres people who dislike loud noises(the clapping& whooping)theres many who dont-people with autism or ASD issues or hyperacussis(heightened hearing) for example then if theyre putting themselves willingly in such a situation then they could take precaution of using earplugs,or noise generators(for hyperacussis)to cope better- i doubt 'Jazz Hands' will make things better.It will just make them all look stupid,or childish,or both.(if it had been april 1st id have thought it was an april fools joke!

Yes ear defenders also-but they are no good for the hyperacussis condition.

Perhaps it is the X factor screaming and whistling that is hard for sensory and anxious people to cope with that goes with clapping lately.

My youngest son suffers from hyperacussis- but his only 'kicks in' when hes feeling poorly- others suffer from it constantly- but it hurts his ears and gives him pain with loud noises,and he hears EVERYTHING loudly while its affecting him,even normal speaking.BUT EVEN HE THINKS ITS A STUPID IDEA.

After safe spaces et al this is just another ridiculous idea to come from students, all of whom appear to be afraid of anything and everything, or think the rest of them are. Where have they been up to now? Still in a womb it seems.

What next,using 'jazz hands' at the many theatres allover the world,instead of clapping for appreciation of a brilliant performance?Dont think it would go down so well at the Theatre Royal,or Royal Variety Performance?(Her Majesty would not be amused at having to do 'jazz hands' im sure)

Surely the people who are deaf cannot hear the clapping anyway......

From experience I agree with you, lemongrove, gradually getting used to something aversive is a good way forward, most particularly with children. It is sometimes easier to manage the gradual exposure to more noisy places and bigger crowds for children. Some adults and children, some with perhaps a greater degree of Autism, have more difficulty. It is very difficult to know exactly what they experience because there appears to be a difference in the way sounds are recruited. It is measurable by a hearing test. It appears that some people actually experience pain.
I did try ear plugs for my people too, when I was involved with working with various anxieties, but it had mixed results for reasons of which I am not sure. Obviously those with hearing impairment will not benefit. Sudden loud sounds can be a problem for some hearing-impaired people.
Please do not keep saying "My DH/DGS etc. doesn't have trouble and he's..." because one example is just not going to tell you anything! There are many studies on thousands of adults and children with this problem, but as I said, it remains a very little-known disability.

I should say, I currently have no connection with anybody at Manchester University.

I do want to say, publicly, that I deeply respect the Manchester University Students Union's decision.

I think they probably didn't take it lightly and it is good to hear of young people showing concern for a minority with an unpleasant disability.

There are people with this disability who never manage to get used to it. Treatment is to try and gradually become more exposed to noisy places, but some people just cannot manage it. The reasons for this are not understood although the degree of suffering is obvious. We don't really understand everything about hearing and anxiety. When we go to sleep we seem to listen out for danger for longer than when we use our other senses to monitor our environment, for obvious reasons of course, but this may be a link to anxiety and hearing for example.

As I said, I am pleased to see that the Students are brave enough to risk derision in order to try and make life more comfortable for a few. Indeed it warms my heart and I am proud of them.

Jazz hands in a theatre? Oh please! The cast wouldn't be able to see what the Audience was doing!

There's nowt as queer as folk, as they say.