Many people claim that Aspies do not have a sense of humour. NOT TRUE!!!
We certainly do enjoy humour. Some of us naturally find some things funny, others need to learn the rules of humour – but we certainly enjoy it.
In my never-humble opinion, teaching kids with Aspergers the rules of humour may be helpful with overall social skill development. I have done this, and seen the improvement in their ability to interact with their peers and the resultant increased comfort level with themselves.
Here is how I might go about ‘explaining humour’:
There are several things that constitute ‘humour’ and different people will find different things funny – so there is no need to feel bad when you understand a joke, without thinking it is funny. Some people think that anything to do with bodily functions is funny – and they will laugh when someone farts, or of they burp. Other people think this is gross and not at all funny. So, it is normal that not everyone finds every joke funny.
Many poeple laugh when they find themselves in situations which either do not go as expected, or when some danger is lifted. This is done to release tension which people experience in such situations, and which is unpleasant. It demonstrates to others that either the danger has passed, or that even though things are unexpected, the new course of actions is acceptable.
Perhaps that is why so many jokes are ‘funny’ because of an ‘unexpected’ or surprising ending. It might even tie in with why ‘strange’ or ‘different’ or ‘unexpected’ is sometimes called ‘funny – but not as in ha-ha’. Puns are an excellent example: the correct (or correctly sounding) word is used, but in with an unexpected meaning.
It is not easy for Aspie kids that many cartoons rely on facial expressions to convey humour. That is why I was so entertained when I came across this (not aimed at kids) comic, XKCD. To me, it screams ‘Aspie Humour’!
And since along with a sense of humour, many people incorrectly describe Aspies as lacking feelings or empathy, I have selected, for your viewing pleasure, these few XKCD comics:
We like to spend time with our loved ones.
Passion reaches new levels for us!
Of course, we may have a hard time remembering names…. Nothing personal!
Yet, we can be very particular in whom we select as potential mates:
Personally, I could not date someone who did not thing ‘Ender’s Shadow’ was the best book in this series. Ok, if he were cute, I might settle for ‘Shadow of the Hegemon’. But ‘Xenocide’??? Really!
And ‘pillow talk’ is much easier if both of you are Aspies….
And many of us fully appreciate the advantages of online interactions with others (my husband claims this ‘has to be’ taken from one of my online comments….):
Here is a good example of how not everyone ‘gets’ every joke. For example, in the following one, I do not understand why the characters are implying this practice is unusual. Surely, it is the norm! (See my posts on Old Men in the Bible)
But we all enjoy good quality entertainment! (And no, this is NOT just a cheap ploy to get ‘Papyrus font’ onto my blog! Though, who could resist the allures or ‘Papyrus Font’??? It’s even better intelic…)
EVERYONE loves River Tam!!!
Xanthippa's Chamberpot 
May 6, 2008 at 20:13
Loved this post.
I gave up on the Sarah Connor Chronicles after four or five episodes. Big disappointment, but even Summer couldn’t make it worthwhile. It was boooring.
May 7, 2008 at 00:41
Sarah Connor Chronicles? I’m afraid I’ve never watched that show.
The River Tam referred to here is from the series ‘Firefly’: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series). Though, there was a minor character on this show whose name was ‘Summer’, so the confusion is natural.
River Tam is a young genius, who had been the subject of prolonged experiments by the ‘alliance’ scientists. As a result, as her brother, the physician said, her ‘amygdala had been stripped’ – in other words, so badly scarred as to approximate an amygdala whose cells had been undifferentiated. Thus, she appears strange and her explosive and potent energy cannot be usefully harnessed … and becomes very negative and potentially fatal.
On a different level, I think she represents the archetypal goddess, Shakti. She is a goddess of chaos and female chaotic energy – not evil, just indiscriminantly destructive (like an over-flown river). Her negative aspects are easily apparent, but her positive aspects cannot be harnessed until the god Vishnu ‘captures her in his hair’ and thus tames her. Could her brother, the physician, be representative of this archetype?
Curiously enough, her ‘stripped amygdala’ has VERY similar physiological effects as the ‘undifferentiated cells of the amygdala’, which is the ‘latest’ diagnostic definition for Aspergers syndrome. (Or, if you prefer, a properly developed amygdala, in opposition to the grossly overdeveloped amygdala present in the ‘Neurotypicals’.) :0)
Perhaps that is why so many of us identify with her perception of, and reaction to, ‘stuff’….
By the way, Catana, did you enjoy the xkcd comic strip?
May 7, 2008 at 12:12
hahaha. funny comics. i especially like the ‘summer glau’ one.
May 7, 2008 at 18:16
Hey there – great post!
Catana was referencing Sarah Connor chronicles because Summer Glau played River on Firefly and the “terminator” in the Chronicles. I haven’t watched it but I have the firefly series and love it, as i do most things by Joss Whedon. I think your analysis of River in Firefly is dead on.
I have friends with a son that they think has aspergers, he’s only five and it seems “mild” but i think they will appreciate this blog.
Oh yeah, XKCD is a favorite!
July 1, 2008 at 08:00
*snicker snicker*
Where are these comics from?
July 1, 2008 at 08:11
Wait, I found them.
July 13, 2008 at 05:38
The Spinning Counterclockwise one is my xkcd fav. Once I meet the girl who does that, I’ll know when it’s time to marry 🙂
April 11, 2009 at 15:13
Hi there,
Just thought I’d let you know about a comic that my partner, who has Asperger’s, and I created. Check it out if you get a moment: http://lbnuke.com/2009/04/09/bee-in-aspieland/
Take care,
K
June 9, 2009 at 19:40
[…] xkcd – Aspie Humour 09/06/2009 at 20:40 | In Asperger Syndrome, Humour | No Comments Tags: Asperger Syndrome, Humour, xkcd REPOSTED FROM Xanthippa’s Chamberpot: […]
June 30, 2010 at 06:51
I’m probably dumb, but I can’t seem to find your RSS button to subscribe to? Or is there even one? Sorry I’m pretty new at this stuff!
Xanthippa says:
Thanks for pointing out that, somewhere over time, my RSS button got lost. Fixed it! It is now at the bottom of the left sidebar.
July 29, 2011 at 02:01
“neurotypical” feels like an insult, you ass-burger. At least have the gorram balls to insult me to my face, awake, and armed!
December 5, 2011 at 23:34
An old man had written an autobiography that was to be made into a movie. He hired a woman to find well known actors to play him. She went all around Hollywood telling actors about the movie and came back to him and said “Great news! I got Keanu Reeves to play you as a young man, Michael Palin to play you in your middle years and Woody Allen for your old age.” The man became furious and fired her on the spot. Stunned, she asked why. He said “You’ve been going around town casting Aspergians on my character!”
Xanthippa says:
Groan, groan, groan, groan!
December 6, 2011 at 00:44
Thank you. The louder the groan, or in this case, the more of them, tha better.
Xanthippa says:
Oh, you like ‘groaners’?
Try these on for size:
http://blog.xanthippas.com/2008/10/08/island-of-merzy-part-1/
http://blog.xanthippas.com/2008/10/11/island-of-merzy-part-2/