In the modern day I would really avoid using "autism" as a negative descriptor or analogy in published works like this, as much as I may say it in private contexts to friends.
100% agree. I stopped reading when I saw that. What exactly is "Windows autism" exactly? My autistic son would like to know... And I would encourage you not to say it in private contexts with friends either.
I understand your opinion here completely, but personally I feel that among a group a lexicon can be developed whose meanings outside the group are irrelevant, so long as everyone involved understands and appreciates the additional meanings the words hold for others.
I've always been okay with dark humor, never thought any subject (e.g. holocaust, cancer, etc) should ever be taboo matter for humor regardless of how dark it is in reality. I would never presume to tell a comedian "the material you used for that skit, that's really not something to joke about."
To me it's the same principle. I certainly would never mean to mock those with autism or their families who struggle alongside them, and you have my utmost respect for the difficulties involved, but I don't feel that the subject is of such gravity that I can't use the word as hyperbole in a private context.
The point was that I don't believe anyone should act to normalize a behavior, in any context, of using a medical disorder as a metaphor for anything, in this case, software usability concerns.
