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STOP CLAPPING!

(241 Posts)
Lyndiloo Wed 03-Oct-18 01:01:55

I heard on the news today that Manchester University Students Union has banned clapping, saying that it makes some students ANXIOUS !!! It asks that students do a 'Jazz-Hands' display instead.

I've never, in my life, heard anything so stupid!

ANXIOUS? Being a soldier at fifteen (as many boys were during the last two world wars), not having enough food or water, finding out that you've got some awful incurable disease, suffering from all the dreadful consequences of a tsunami - all these (and many more) are anxiety-ridden situations. But CLAPPING?

GET REAL!

(Though if I were surrounded by crowds of people all doing 'Jazz-Hands', I might feel a tad uncomfortable!)

notanan2 Wed 03-Oct-18 17:40:16

Oh and people WITH sensory issues are speaking out AGAINST this before you accuse me of not being understanding...

ChaosIncorporated Wed 03-Oct-18 17:40:33

^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^
Precisely sodapop

I discussed this with DD who has ASD, today. She was part of the Cambridge research into autism a few years ago, and is very active supporting others on the spectrum so has a relatively wide perspective.
Her view: "the University would benefit a lot more from offering a course on coping strategies for ASD, than expecting the world to change. Aspies can enable themselves, you know!"

ChaosIncorporated Wed 03-Oct-18 17:41:31

N.B her terminology, not mine!!

notanan2 Wed 03-Oct-18 17:45:27

I read a comment by a man who has extreme sensitivity to noise. Loud noises are amplified and painful. He said that he wears special hearing aids in busy places and doesn't appreciate his differences being highlighted by virtue signallers.

Chewbacca Wed 03-Oct-18 17:48:11

For those who doubt the veracity of this new item:

Delegates at last year’s NUS conference said that students who whoop, cheer and clap should *face consequences*^”. ^Audience members were repeatedly warned that they must cease whooping to express support for a speaker, because it has a “serious impact” on ^the ^accessibility of the conference for disabled students. Source is the Telegraph.

notanan2 Wed 03-Oct-18 17:49:51

& by out of their way to be down with deaf people, who didnt ask for this, there can see clapping, what they probably need is interpretation of what is being clapped(or jazz handed) ABOUT, they are actually making the meeting less accessible to blind people!

MissAdventure Wed 03-Oct-18 17:50:16

What about people who don't like facing consequences though?
Oppositional defiance disorder, anyone?

notanan2 Wed 03-Oct-18 17:52:00

This is going to cumulate in civil unrest!

It is populism.
It is dangerous.

Chewbacca Wed 03-Oct-18 17:55:15

I do a pretty mean dog whistle (fingers in the mouth) that's ear piercing, I could do that MissA?

I went to a sheep dog trial earlier this summer and my OH, who's very hard of hearing, wandered off into the crowd. No amount of calling his name attracted his attention, so I did my whistle. He heard me. And so did the poor confused dog in the field who suddenly didn't know which way he was supposed to go! blush

notanan2 Wed 03-Oct-18 17:56:17

Students will soon be encouraged to "dox" their fellow students who are not woke enough.

It's very worrying. I am glad none of mine are not currently at uni!

Nannarose Wed 03-Oct-18 17:57:06

Thank you Tillybelle.

Chewbacca Wed 03-Oct-18 17:59:15

dox? Whatever is that notanan?

notanan2 Wed 03-Oct-18 18:07:09

It is when you don't think someone is on your "team" politically, and you publish their phone number/address/social media account online for other "right on" "woke" activists to bully

notanan2 Wed 03-Oct-18 18:08:14

Woke = agreeing blindly with every latest populist fad (even if they are contradictory)

sodapop Wed 03-Oct-18 18:15:07

I seem to be way behind with all this terminology thanks for the explanations notanana

Chewbacca Wed 03-Oct-18 18:26:21

You live and learn, thanks notanan!

Tillybelle Wed 03-Oct-18 18:54:12

Chewbacca The sheep-dog worrier!! I'm so shocked!! And you the bearer of the Order of the SCOFF!

notanan2 I can see you painting your banner! Sadly though, I think it'll fade away when the next thing comes along....

The thing is, as I read people's wise words, everything is true, it IS best for people with certain difficulties (ASD etc) to find ways to cope and to not avoid situations where their difficulties are exacerbated, and then on the other end of the scale are those who have extreme and severe problems, problems I only heard about when I was doing research. I can understand that in their case it is not possible to become accustomed to loud noises. Maybe the students have some people with specific problems we do not quite understand, and the students are being especially considerate? To be honest, I don't like a lot of whooping, except at the end when all is done. I hate interruptions that prevent you hearing what is being said and the young lady was targeting that as well as loud noises per se. The quote "it has a “serious impact” on the ^accessibility of the conference for ^disabled students^" I think explains that, people with hearing impairments can't hear when there is extraneous noise - actually in my old age it has affected me.
Now, Chewbacca, where are you taking your DH next? (I may bring my ear-muffs).

Lumarei Wed 03-Oct-18 23:12:23

It reminds me of my friend’s mother in law who had a heart condition and used it to control her family (husband and two sons and families) who tried to avoid upsetting her in case it caused a flare up or “turn”
Wrapped in cotton wool she became more and more tyrannical and unpleasant as everyone did what she wanted.

PECS Wed 03-Oct-18 23:29:02

It is a fine balance between enabling and reinforcing disability.

At work I often had to persuade parents of children with SEND that the support assistant did not have to hover constantly at their child's side as that was creating a dependency.

PECS Wed 03-Oct-18 23:29:47

'Being enabling' I meant to write...

Dockersgirl1955 Thu 04-Oct-18 00:57:50

Never stop clapping my grandson has always been and shown how to clap the sound does not go on forever and if it was to Loud he would cover his ears he may be Autistic he's not stupid

Glamdram Thu 04-Oct-18 03:47:15

I have bad tinnitus......and cannot attend certain concerts,shows etc due to this condition. I do wear customised ear plugs.....clapping does cause me discomfort but Iv now just dealt with it.and either leave just before I know the explosion of hands is about to start or cover my ears with my hands.

I don’t like clapping at funerals...and I do wonder why this is done...usually if the hearse is driving past mourners or crowds if it is someone famous I notice

petra Thu 04-Oct-18 08:15:17

For those of you who thought my use of the word twat was used in the vulgar sense, you are mistaken.
My use of the word was in the ' stupid or obnoxious' sense.
If you are in doubt about my knowledge of these disabilities I had to pay for my grandson to be diagnosed 7 years ago.
Then my daughter and i had to educate the SEN coordinator and his teacher.

Agus Thu 04-Oct-18 09:13:11

Crazy idea. It’s all very well coming up with ideas to help others cope whilst at university however, their ideas don’t take into account this is not how things are in the real world. Something they themselves will have to learn.

They are doing their fellow students no favours as they haven’t thought this through long term.

Tillybelle Thu 04-Oct-18 09:46:00

notanan2 I meant the attention to the issue at hand not your banner that will fade away!! Meanwhile, prepare to march....

Or maybe not....