Bucky is just scrolling through his Facebook feed. Just like any other day. He sees a post from a group he's in that he really likes, it's an autism group for people like him. Everyone there is kind and supportive and it's fun to feel a part of something and fit in.
Post/Facebook.com
《 TW: puzzle piece
The other day I saw an ad here on FB for these shoes. It took a lot of spoons for me but I messaged the company directly and suggested they do some research and consider changing the logo, as the majority of the autism community finds it offensive. They wrote back (see below) and then blocked me. Just wanted to bring it to everyone’s attention. 》
Below these words are a screenshot of a website showing white shoes with a puzzle piece pattern all over them, and the title "autism awareness shoe" priced at $89. Next is a screenshot of a messenger conversation, where the poster politely explains that autistic people do not like this symbol and that they would be interested in buying shoes with the infinity symbol instead if they have those. The company responds that there is nothing wrong with the puzzle and that real autistic people don't mind it after being polled.
That response really irks Bucky. Bucky doesn't really understand why the puzzle piece is bad, but it's always good to grow and learn. There are some links in the comments with info about how this symbol is tied to a hate group, and how the proper symbol is the infinity symbol. Well that makes sense, now he knows. He doesn't understand why the company was so rude.
He continues to read comments.
《 I'd love to see who these polls went to. Willing to bet the mommy groups. 》
《 "we know you hate it, but this makes us money" 🙄🙄🙄 》
《 I'm sure they asked the general public and not just autistic people lol 》
《 100% of people I just polled say "F this company" so there's that... 》
《 I bet ZERO dollars goes to autistic led non profits. 》
《 I commented on this post 2 months ago. It was deleted and I was blocked. The company is showing extreme ableism and silencing 》
《 By not listening to and blocking autistic folks it seems they don’t really care about “the cause” - just their bottom line. 》
《 I saw this add a few months ago and contacted them directly and the same exact thing was done to me 》
There are a lot of comments so he can't read all of them, but the majority is people saying they were blocked from this company's page and silenced by having their comments deleted. This seems really weird to Bucky. Surely a company that claims to support autistic people wouldn't treat the autistic community like this?
One of the comments is a link to a site called trustpilot. It's the company's profile where people can leave reviews. He opens the link. There are only 4 or 5 reviews, a couple of which were posted today and saying how this company is silencing and blocking autistic people.
Another user comments a link to the company's Better Business Bureau profile, where it's stated that they have an f rating for false claims of donating profits to charity. The BBB has reached out to the company requesting proof of donation and names of charities donated to 3 years prior and states that the company never responded, resulting in the f. Okay, so that's pretty messed up. Why would they lie about donating to charity? Who does that?
Bucky is pretty annoyed about all this. He puts down his phoen and decides to eat lunch. But when he is done and opens Facebook again, he has notifications of a lot more comments on the post.
People are now posting screenshots of the company calling them names, calling autistic people a disgrace and scum, and someone has posted a screenshot of the company's Facebook page where they tell their followers to go flood them with positive reviews and report the negative ones.
Trustpilot.com
Review ★☆☆☆☆
《 They blocked anyone Autistic telling them that their shoe is using a hate symbol. They're literally silencing Autistics. They aren't donating a single cent to autistics. They're just making money off of them. 》
Reply from My MyBrand Cause:
《 That's because you're Bullies and a disgrace.
I see that you're not even a customer with us, and have never been. I also see that you've been reported multiple times on Facebook for Bullying others who LOVE THE PUZZLE PIECE. Just because you have a different view on something doesn't mean you go around trying to bully brands and people by giving them FRAUDULENT 1-STAR REVIEWS...You are the lowest kind of scum and truly dishonest people who are swayed so easily. Your dishonest and immorality will catch up to you very soon. We are a brand that is doing GREAT THINGS and decent and good things in the world, meanwhile, there's people like you out there, which we were warned about, who thrive on being a bully and an NOT an INCLUSIVE individual, but an EXCLUSIVE one. Good luck in life! 》
Review ★☆☆☆☆
《 They hate the people they claim to support. Countless autistic people have voiced concerns over the puzzle piece shoes on social media only to have their comments deleted and be blocked by the page. You cannot silence all of us. Our voices will be heard. This company only cares about the $$$, not the cause. #actuallyautistic 》
Reply from MyBrand Cause:
《 That's because you're Bullies and a disgrace. I see that you're not even a customer with us, and have never been. I also see that you've been reported multiple times on Facebook for Bullying others who LOVE THE PUZZLE PIECE. Just because you have a different view on something doesn't mean you go around trying to bully brands and people by giving them FRAUDULENT 1-STAR REVIEWS...You are the lowest kind of scum and truly dishonest people who are swayed so easily. Your dishonest and immorality will catch up to you very soon. We are a brand that is doing GREAT THINGS and decent and good things in the world, meanwhile, there's people like you out there, which we were warned about, who thrive on being a bully and an NOT an INCLUSIVE individual, but an EXCLUSIVE one. Good luck in life! 》
Oh. So apparently they're just copying and pasting the same response to all the negative reviews. There are several more that have the same response.
Review ★☆☆☆☆
《 I reached out to this company on multiple platforms with concerns about the way they chose to represent Autistic individuals, like myself, with their product. From the way they explain Autism in their ribbon explanation section on their website, to the product itself, much of it is problematic. Instead of open dialogue, I was not only ignored, but blocked. At least 20-30 other Autistic Individuals have had the same experience with the company. This company has made it very clear their need to appease others and profit take precedent over the voices of those who are actually Autistic.
Edit- I have not been reported multiple times for bullying. I also believe my review was well articulated, based off actual interactions with your company, and in no way “fraudulent”. Your response however, does nothing other than reinforce the basis of my claim. Calling me scum, insinuating I can’t think for myself (easily swayed), and once again being dismissive. 》
Review ★☆☆☆☆
《 Didn’t end up purchasing.
Was going to buy some cancer shoes, but when I went to the page the first thing I saw was drama about autistic “bullies”. Asking their following to put fake 5* reviews on here to raise their average.
When I looked into it further I discovered they were selling puzzle piece shoes and when an autistic individual reached out to let them know it was harmful, they reacted by deleting their comment and continued to call the other autistics trying to communicate with him “bullies” and “scum.”
That doesn’t sound like someone whose actually interested in helping autistic people at all. That sounds like someone who is only concerned about their bottom dollar and cares more about selling shoes to autistic children’s PARENTS than he cares about actually helping AUTISTIC people.
Reply says it all. Believing a group founded for the belief of fighting for autistic inclusivity is bullying you over being out rightly rude to autistic individuals when you are trying to sell products and promote autistic acceptance is laughable.
I actually found your groups through a cancer page and the first thing I saw was your post calling your followers to action to give you 5* reviews to counter the bad reviews you’ve received from autistic individuals who are actually affected by your obtuse manor. I am not autistic, but I do stand up for their freedoms. Unlike someone literally making profit off of their disability. 》
The company once again responds with the same copied and pasted replies. Bucky wonders if they're actually reading these, or if they just see a 1 star and hit paste?
There are several more reviews saying similar things, all with the same pasted response. He sees 1 review in particular that catches his attention, because not only is it the only one with a unique response, but the person edited their review after the response which then led to the company editing as well.
Review ★☆☆☆☆
《 I was intending on actually buying a pair and suggesting a few that need support.
However I have recently actually messaged the company about an issue with another product they sell only to be ignored. And see that they are now bullying people with a disability they claim to support. Being ignored and then seeing bullying from a company is highly unprofessional. Maybe in the future if they can be a bit more professional I will buy a pair. These would have been lovely after my knee surgery.
Given their reply I'm glad I made the choice. I intended on buying yellow ones for endometriosis awareness. A group didn't sway my ideas you did actually. I think for myself maybe if ypu had replied to my message you would have known this. Instead of going off on me. Your cognitive distortion and attempt at gaslighting saying I wasn't going to buy is a serious problem.
Oh and here are my suggestions
Infant loss awareness
DiGeorge Awarness
Prostate cancer awareness
Like I said better professionalism and I will buy.
I don't have a group and ypu going on about the puzzle piece is ridiculous.
I won't buy or have anyone buy from you because you are rude and disrespectful. Not a damn puzzle piece. You ignored my message that I'm assuming you have no idea what I'm talking about. You copy and pasted a cuss out message instead of talk to me.
Forget a puzzle piece that you are stuck on.
Rude disrespectful and disgraceful. That's why I won't suggest people to buy. I buy from companies that sell thw puzzle piece.
Keep on with your cognitive distortions and cussing out potential customers for your own short falling though I guess.
What rating would you give a company that ignores you? Goes off on you? Cussed you out?
And says to f off? 1 star seems generous given my experience.
I hope that you find peace you seem very angry.
I did message you yesterday and I do have proof I intended to buy from you. I'm sorry you think this is a false review. But I've not lied once. 》
Reply from MyBrand Cause
《 2nd Update: Your review will soon be deleted because you have never had, and truly never had interactions or business with us. You are part of the internet bullying group that hides behind screens and tries to take down people who LOVE the puzzle piece.
UPDATED: Let me be clear. We DO NOT want YOUR business. You can keep the change. You people are a bullying group that hides behind a manipulative narrative of "Puzzle Piece" phobia.
NOT TRUE. You never intended on buying anything, lets get that clear. You're a part of the same group of people throwing a tantrum about the Puzzle Piece. We've found you out, and your "softer" tone doesn't offer you a veil to hide behind "JR". Lets get something clear right here; I DO NOT REPRESENT YOU. You, along with your little buddies are internet, hide behind the screen, bullies....You ran into a brick wall here. Instead of being nice, and considerate of others feelings and likes, you took it upon yourself to try and manipulate the argument that your thoughts and beliefs are better and right; NOT TRUE. WE, that being MILLIONS of us, LOVE THE PUZZLE PIECE. It will stay, it will stand strong, and it IS the UNIVERSAL EMBLEM OF REAL AUTISITIC COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO RECOGNIZE IT AS SUCH. Move on, there's no food for you here. Oh, BTW, F your "claim"....It's not my problem you got swayed and swindled by some other bully that got you to believe a farce. I won't be swayed. You ran into a buzzsaw here kid. 》
Bucky finds this company's behavior coming off as very aggressive and hostile for no reason. This is how they treat people they "support"? You people. We don't represent you. Disgrace. Lowest kind of scum. Is this what they really think of the autistic community?
He checks the positive reviews, which are suddenly flooding in, with over 100 new reviews now even though there was only 4 or 5 a few hours ago. Most aren't bad, just people talking about how the shoes are supposedly good quality or whatever and how they like this company and some about not listening to negative reviews because they're from bullies "pretending to have autism" and blah blah blah. But the ones that catch his attention the most make him feel sick.
Review ★★★★★
《 Just wanted to say how much I love your discrimination collection! The puzzle piece to make fun of autism is hilarious! I'm wondering if in the future you plan to make more hate symbol shoes? You should totally make a pair with swastikas for holocaust awareness, or maybe a noose or a cotton plant or something for black history awareness. I'd love to buy those. 》
Okay, so that one is probably supposed to be sarcasm but is still in very poor taste. But he does notice how the company has not responded to this review, but has made the mean responses to autistic people's reviews that were posted after this one? Did they see no problem with this review? He sees it has one like. He can't check who liked it, but he wonders if it was the company...
He really should have logged off then, because the next couple reviews were disgusting.
Review ★★★★★
《 The anti-autism shoes are amazing. Autistic people are a drain on society and our countries resources and they should be eradicated. I know this is an unpopular opinion and it's nice to finally find a group of people that also hate those retards. They truly are disgraceful scum, couldn't have put it better myself! 》
Okay...that one, that one must be sarcasm too, right? Just very poor taste sarcasm? Nobody actually thinks that, right? right? But the company has let that one stay up and it also has a like on it. The negative reviews are disappearing more every time he refreshes the page, because people from the group said the company is flagging them. But why haven't they flagged this? Or even said something?
The next one is the worst.
Review ★★★★★
《 Amazing company and amazing products. They tell it like it is. Don't let the worthless 'tards bring you down or keep you from doing what you do! The world would be a much better place if everyone on the spectrum would do us all a favor and just kill themselves. 》
Bucky just stares in shock. One like. No replies. Not flagged. The company is still telling off autistic people but not these people.
He can't read these anymore. He closes the browser and goes back to Facebook. Someone has now posted a link to the company's Facebook group where they are apparently rallying people to try to harass the people leaving 1 star reviews? And a screenshot of a comment made by the company owner
《 This group of autistic people who go around the internet Bullying people and brands if they use the puzzle piece symbol have targeted us for some reason. Lol...They're mostly teenage to 20s age, "bisexual" and want to "Cancel" us. Lol. They want the Infinity Rainbow symbol to be the official autism emblem. YEAH RIGHT. 》
He needs to log off. He should just log off! But for some reason he keeps finding himself diving deeper into this company and it's bullshit.
Someone has shared a post to the group from an apparent autism hate page, who have posted screenshots of people's posts and comments about the company's ableism.
《 ****EDIT:****For you idiots spreading a rumour that I took screenshots from your group - nope.
Someone sent this to me on IG this morning.
I didn’t know it was a private group - but I also don’t care.
You were gearing up for another witch hunt.
You literally Type in ‘puzzle piece’ to see who you can harass.
So…. Nope, I didn’t take the screenshot, but I sure posted it, didn’t I? 😉
-*************************************************
The Clueless Cancel Culture Crusaders are at it again.
These self dx fake ‘ autism is my identity ‘ crowd, want to take down another company, and possible leave someone else unemployed as a result.
Can we all email (businessownersemail) , and let him know that REAL autism families appreciate ANY autism awareness, including the puzzle piece, infinity symbols, WHATEVER.
You can see the poor guy tried to say he has other options, but you see, for these Rebels-Without-A-Clue, that’s doesn’t matter.
They just need something to boycott, something to be angry about.
The power needs to shift from this bullshit, and back to real awareness.
I lost my job because of these misguided witch hunters, so I’m not going to let them do it to someone else.
I’m emailing him right now, who else will? 》
Included in the post are screenshots of the original post and of the poster's name and picture.
Bucky goes to the group comments. Where everyone is saying not to interact with this page because they doxx autistic people. Someone has a screenshot of a deleted post from the page of an autistic person's address, pictures of their home and a comment about how they called cps on this person after finding out they have children.
Bucky is disgusted. He feels sick. Who would doxx someone and put their children at risk just because they have autism?
More comments point out that this page accuses any autistic person that disagrees with them as faking being autistic, demands to see people's personal medical documents as "proof", and blames autistic people for getting them fired, although there are screenshots of them being hateful and unprofessional on their former employer's company page and claiming to be the ceo? So how is that supposed to be autistic people's fault if they did all those things?
This person seems to just be flat out delusional and they need help.
Bucky suddenly realizes just how violently he's rocking, and that he's been chewing on his fingers again. Every noise seems amplified in his ears. The lights are too bright. He is getting too stressed out and he needs to log off before he has a meltdown.
He goes to his bed and gets under his weighted blanket, and chews on his chewy necklace instead of his fingers. But he still feels so stressed out. How are people actually getting away with doing and saying things like that about autistic people, doxxing people, making false reports, all that stuff and still have so many supporters backing them up and assisting them in doing these things? Bucky thought that in 2021 being different was okay.
He should try to take a nap. And maybe he'll feel better when he wakes up. There's no way he'll forget what people apparently really think of people like him though. How did all that hate and toxicity spread from someone asking if a shoe company planned to make infinity symbol shoes? It just doesn't make sense.
It's 2021 and the world is going backwards.