Players with disabilities, represent & share your feels!

[Iscah]

Let's not go that rabbit hole, please... That's a can of worms that I don't think even the devs want to open, which said can of worms is basically Pandora's Box... Let's not project things like that onto our favorite characters...

What can of worms? I'm not saying it needs to be an official thing - even if it wasn't a fantasy setting where the concept of the condition doesn't exist to begin with.

I'm just saying he is clearly within the archetype, and I think it's good to see characters like that being used as an actual integral part of a team, rather than just standing in the background occasionally providing information.

[Paladinleeds]

Let's not go that rabbit hole, please... That's a can of worms that I don't think even the devs want to open, which said can of worms is basically Pandora's Box... Let's not project things like that onto our favorite characters...

I have Asperger's, and Iscah makes a very fair point. Yes, it's basically a Pandora's box. But it is so stereotypically Asperger's... and they are a leading role. When you think about it, this is a role model for autistic people, a chance to show they too can be powerful and successful, and be a great asset to a community. Although I would have thought he'd have fit Scholar better than Astrologian, but guess it just shows to Aspies that they can branch outside of the stereotypes associated with them. I think the devs have considered all this actually, and are using him as a role model.

[Jybril]

This was a fantastic and interesting read from all you wonderful people. Stay strong and try to live your life to your best and fullest! Don't let mean people or evil weigh you down!
Good blessings and vibes to you all. :bless:

[DynnDiablos]

I don't have a disability, but I just wanted to say the beauty of this community on display in this thread is amazing. One thing I love about this game is it brings together people from all walks of life, all with their own individual challenges and puts us in a safe space and even playing field. <3

[Insertcoins]

I don't have a disability, but I just wanted to say the beauty of this community on display in this thread is amazing. One thing I love about this game is it brings together people from all walks of life, all with their own individual challenges and puts us in a safe space and even playing field. <3

Yeah this game has it's moments that is true, but over all people ingame and on the forums are generally good. I also think it helps that the over all look of the game is cute so it brings out people's kiddo side. Least thats what I think. Like people will run up and pat you on the head ingame. That has to account for something.

[Berret_Snow]

I have pretty bad anxiety, PTSD and depression so group stuff is always fun, I always do avoid voice chats for that reason. I already have the constant feeling that i'm messing everything up and any sudden noise can bring up the PTSD stuff.
But I manage, aside from a few bad eggs, this community is pretty supportive.

[Iscah]

Adding to what I said before...

Let's not project things like that onto our favorite characters...

This hadn't clicked the first time I read your post, but are you seeing it as a negative thing to "label him with a disability" and I shouldn't be doing that? Because that wasn't my intention at all.

I have Asperger's, and don't really see it as a disability so much as a trait - it's a label that describes how my brain works. It might not be "normal" but it's an integral part of me as a person, and it comes with positives as well as negatives.

So it's nice to see a character with those traits who's just portrayed as another person on the team, with their own strengths and skills to add, and valued as a friend.

Maybe it's intentional, maybe it's coincidental (but of course it's something of a character archetype anyway) but he fits the description regardless.

Although I would have thought he'd have fit Scholar better than Astrologian, but guess it just shows to Aspies that they can branch outside of the stereotypes associated with them.

Astrologian is all about fortune-telling (and is confirmed to actually work in Eorzea's universe), and his "focus subject" is prophecies so it's not at all suprising that he would have studied it.

Though it might actually be for gameplay purposes, since Alphinaud is classed as a scholar for the trust system now, so Urianger may have only been shifted to astrologian so there would be more character variety. He's certainly previously acted as a healer-arcanist for solo instances.

[Kikoten]

My disability isn't really deep, and I personally don't consider it a disability, but clinically, it is a disability; I'm on the autism spectrum, but I'm what one lady called "fully-functional" -- god, I hate that term. She said that to my mom, years ago, and she was lucky I wasn't there to give her the death glare.

[SturmChurro]

are you seeing it as a negative thing to "label him with a disability"

Yes, having a disability is a negative thing.

[Arixtotle]

I have anxiety. I used to be diagnosed with ADHD but my new therapist thinks that all of the symptoms labeled as such were really just from my anxiety. Seeing my behavior and responses that way was quite a game changer. Socially I do alright because I've learned to "fake it til I make it" but I also spend most of my time at home because I hate social situations. Sometimes my anxiety gets so bad I "turtle" as I call it. I shut down and shut out the world. The only way this effects my gameplay is because I end up never being able to keep up with progression though that's also because I get bored easily.