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Asperger's makes stand-up easier than office work | Asperger's makes stand-up easier than office work |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A man with Asperger's syndrome finds being a professional stand-up comic easier than any office job. Why? | |
Robert White had 67 jobs in seven years and kept getting fired due to his often very literal interpretation of life, born of having Asperger's syndrome. | Robert White had 67 jobs in seven years and kept getting fired due to his often very literal interpretation of life, born of having Asperger's syndrome. |
"A team leader in one call-centre where I worked had a list of rules on everything," he says. "It didn't specifically say that I was not allowed to wear a Gareth Gates' mask. So I made one from a magazine and wore it for three hours." He was asked to leave. | "A team leader in one call-centre where I worked had a list of rules on everything," he says. "It didn't specifically say that I was not allowed to wear a Gareth Gates' mask. So I made one from a magazine and wore it for three hours." He was asked to leave. |
Now a stand-up comedian, White is happier and says it's far easier to understand than an average office situation. He says: "On stage, I can make jokes in the context of making jokes. Saying the same things at work was perceived as a misunderstanding of the social situation and seen as inappropriate." | Now a stand-up comedian, White is happier and says it's far easier to understand than an average office situation. He says: "On stage, I can make jokes in the context of making jokes. Saying the same things at work was perceived as a misunderstanding of the social situation and seen as inappropriate." |
In promotional material, White calls himself an Asperger's, gay, dyslexic, cross-lateral, web-toed, ex-con, musical comedian. "Cross-lateral" means that unusually, his dominant eye is on the opposite side of his body to his dominant hand. | In promotional material, White calls himself an Asperger's, gay, dyslexic, cross-lateral, web-toed, ex-con, musical comedian. "Cross-lateral" means that unusually, his dominant eye is on the opposite side of his body to his dominant hand. |
White's new Edinburgh Fringe show, The Curious Incident of the Gag and the Gun-Crime, is a play on the title of the popular book about a teenager with Asperger's but also refers to an incident that landed him in prison for three months. | White's new Edinburgh Fringe show, The Curious Incident of the Gag and the Gun-Crime, is a play on the title of the popular book about a teenager with Asperger's but also refers to an incident that landed him in prison for three months. |
The explanation of how he found himself in prison is characteristically complicated. When a relationship ended he admits his actions were not standard ones. "A normal person would get very drunk but, because I have Asperger's, I decided to play a practical joke which got misconstrued by the police..." | The explanation of how he found himself in prison is characteristically complicated. When a relationship ended he admits his actions were not standard ones. "A normal person would get very drunk but, because I have Asperger's, I decided to play a practical joke which got misconstrued by the police..." |
He won't go into detail about what happened for fear of giving away too much about his Fringe show but says: "Prison was easier for me than for a lot of people because I'm someone who exists in my head, while many people [in prison] are very physically active." | He won't go into detail about what happened for fear of giving away too much about his Fringe show but says: "Prison was easier for me than for a lot of people because I'm someone who exists in my head, while many people [in prison] are very physically active." |
While on remand, White became depressed and composed music in his mind to "heal" himself. "There wasn't any proper paper and pens to write it down with, so I started spreading toothpaste over newspapers and pulled my fingers through it to write notes," he says. This led to a spell in the psychiatric wing and the assessment which gave him the belated Asperger's diagnosis. | While on remand, White became depressed and composed music in his mind to "heal" himself. "There wasn't any proper paper and pens to write it down with, so I started spreading toothpaste over newspapers and pulled my fingers through it to write notes," he says. This led to a spell in the psychiatric wing and the assessment which gave him the belated Asperger's diagnosis. |
White's comedy is an energetic and unpredictable mix of audience participation, improvised songs with keyboard accompaniment, and groan-worthy one-liners with wordplay such as: "My present boyfriend is unusual, because it is unusual to get a partner as a gift." | White's comedy is an energetic and unpredictable mix of audience participation, improvised songs with keyboard accompaniment, and groan-worthy one-liners with wordplay such as: "My present boyfriend is unusual, because it is unusual to get a partner as a gift." |
Before each show he prepares himself to counteract the natural Asperger's syndrome responses he might have when on stage. | Before each show he prepares himself to counteract the natural Asperger's syndrome responses he might have when on stage. |
"I write things on my hand to remind myself how I should be - to program in aspects of social interactions," White says. "On one finger I put, 'just do, keep on', because it is very tempting to melt down or even shut down if something difficult occurs. | "I write things on my hand to remind myself how I should be - to program in aspects of social interactions," White says. "On one finger I put, 'just do, keep on', because it is very tempting to melt down or even shut down if something difficult occurs. |
"On another finger I write 'groan' to remind myself that the audience groaning is not always a negative thing. They might be doing the pantomime thing and actually enjoying it." | "On another finger I write 'groan' to remind myself that the audience groaning is not always a negative thing. They might be doing the pantomime thing and actually enjoying it." |
*Robert White's the Curious Incident of the Gag and the Gun-Crime… Plus More Stuff! is at Heroes at the Hive as part of the Festival Fringe in Edinburgh. | *Robert White's the Curious Incident of the Gag and the Gun-Crime… Plus More Stuff! is at Heroes at the Hive as part of the Festival Fringe in Edinburgh. |
Follow @BBCOuch on Twitter and on Facebook, and listen to our monthly talk show | Follow @BBCOuch on Twitter and on Facebook, and listen to our monthly talk show |
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