There are three types of areas in my university library:
1) Social/group spaces – all talking, videos etc is fine
2) Quiet spaces – occasional whispers, music from headphones, can faintly hear social spaces in adjacent rooms in the background
3) Silent spaces. No sound except typing and clicking. None. Shh.
This autistic lad uses the silent room every day. So do I. I’m fairly sure he needs to be in a silent space to concentrate. So do I. But… he mutters. Constantly. Just quietly, under his breath. But it is constant. If a couple of people were in there whispering at the same volume as his muttering, I would go over and ask them to either be quiet or move to a ‘quiet’ space instead of the ‘silent’ space (and have done, many times).
I’m not actually going to ask him to be quiet even in you all say I wouldn’t be the arsehole, because I would *feel* like an arsehole. But I’m really frustrated, and I want to know whether it would be a dick move.
Just tell him that he needs to be quiet. If the area is meant to be kept silent, then that applies to everyone. He doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s autistic.
I’m autistic and fully agree. I’m one who mutters to myself, I’d fully expect to be asked to be silent in a silent room. I get that the silent room is probably more comfortable for him, they are for me as well, but if he will be in there, he also needs to respect the silence.
Contrary to the rest of the people in the comments, NTA. If he is in the SILENT space then it’s for silence. Totally understandable that he cant control the muttering under his breath, no judgement there, but thats what for the quiet space that you described is for. There is a chance that there is other autistic people there that also want to work in a silent space, and his muttering could also affect them. Chances are he doesnt realise that hes doing it, and he means no harm, but also I can see if from your perspective aswell
NTA
It’s a *silent* space. Not a “silent UNLESS you are autistic” space.
If he can’t help but mutter, the quiet space is more appropriate for him.
100%
An autism diagnosis is not an excuse for the rules to not apply to you.
So what’s your question? You want to know if you’d be the ah for asking another student to be silent in the silent space…. and yet you say you’re not GOING to take any steps.
Letting him know that his talking is happening and it’s a distraction is NTA.
Asking him – does he know he’s still talking under his breath and that everyone can hear him – NTA
Asking the nearest librarian what to do – that there’s another student in the silent space who is not being silent and it’s a distraction – NTA
Advocating for both you and the other student to the librarian – hey this autistic student clearly needs the silent space for studying AND his murmuring is a distraction to other students also studying. Is there another room that could Also be a silent study space? — NTA.
NTA. You have a right to quiet enjoyment and use of the spaces. If he is not capable of following the rules, then he must adjust for his own disability and inhabit another space.
You could speak to a staff member and allow them to handle it, since it’s to do with library expectations and procedures.
This. NTA but ask library staff to handle it. I’ve had to do the same for a gentleman using the silent room appropriately but nodding off every 5 minutes and snoring Ike a chainsaw. Sir, no one here wants to witness your sleep apnea.
I did that at my uni a week ago as theres a sensory space and these 2 girls were filming tiktoks loudly so i found someone to talk to cuz like? sensory space? why tf you filming videos in there.
Because they want everyone else to be quiet. They thought they’re special.
NTA or maybe NAH. The silent room is the silent room, and he is not the only person who needs silence to study properly. If he needs a silent space to study but also NEEDS to make sounds while he does so, then maybe he should be accommodated (by the school), but not at the expense of other students’ ability to study.
NTA. He doesn’t get a free pass because he is autistic.
Please discuss this with a librarian. Do NOT take it upon yourself to talk to him.
Edit: word.