Autism, Humour & Sarcasm - What You Need to Know

[@MissPlaced84]

I find it interesting that while many autistic people struggle to recognize sarcasm/puns/wordplay and situational dry humour, anecdotally, I've also noticed they are often our favorite types of humour. Similarly, we're often excellent at "deadpan" humour and simultaneously struggle to recognize it at times. One of my favorite jokes kind of sums up all of those things: "You're autistic? That means you take everything literally, right?" "No. That's kleptomaniacs."

[@resourcedragon]

That's brilliant! I love it!

[@leftalone9881]

That’s a really clever joke LOL. I love jokes that make me think “that’s clever”

[@evelynspaghetti4978]

😂😂😂. That was brilliant 😄👏👏👏

[@andrewswanson4819]

Yup, describes me perfectly. This is why _Airplane!_ is one of my favorite comedies (but also maybe one of my favorite movies ever) "This woman needs to be taken to a hospital" "A hospital?? What is it?" "It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now"

[@Macabresque]

@@andrewswanson4819 I really need to get around to watching that movie, I bet I'd love it. 😆 That's totally my kind of humor too! (AuDHD here)

[@melanieoliver302]

I'm in agreement with you, I don't find frightening or distressing children, animals or other people funny either. I just don't find that sort of thing at all humorous.

[@sujammaz]

same. i find it SO disgusting, even though i've learned to mask it relatively well. but i think i get why allistics do: it's about their social games. they tend to look more at how "stupid" an accident looks, because it triggers their need to be cool, to be part of their in-group. that's also why they have such a hard time seeing their own bigotry in this same context. in the most objective terms: laughing about the accidents of people who are more marginalised than themselves, gives them a hightened sense of security in their own (fragile) privilege. that's why it's so often children and animals, and other infantilised groups like white women and queer people, that are the subjects of such "harmless" fun. i genuinely believe this is highly problematic, because it does have real, emotional and lasting effects both on the bullies and everyone else - but on the other hand i know that allistics are just human too, and most often they just don't realise what they are doing. and - like orion said - when i am in a really good mood and feeling secure and bonded to the people around me, i will sometimes surprise myself and laugh at something problematic - because my hyper-empathy for the allistic takes over. which doesn't feel good at all. i always feel way more ashamed for it immediately, than i would ever be angry with them. it's just weird and complicated, like all this human stuff.

[@sharonaumani8827]

Yeah, and the thought of somehow benefitting, by making a profit, off of other's pain really disturbs me [as it should disturb any of us!].

[@theageofgoddess]

💯

[@GullibleTarget]

It's vile. I recently saw this reactor reacting to the video:" tell your kids you got into a fight and you need their help". This reactor was laughing so hard at small children getting scared, crying and saying stupid things 'they ain't about that life' when the kids refuse to fight. As of its a bad thing to have a non violent child. All the kids who were recorded saying they were willing to fight, got praise. All the kids that got scared, were soft. I got so angry. My parents used to play pranks on me and they would bring it to the point where I got angry or scared and then was told to 'Shut up! Dont be insolent! We were all joking! Why are you crying?!" Yes but why did you have to push me to the point of distress? And now at 43, they wonder why I'm so resentful.i fcuking hate it when adults make children cry for fun. And take pictures of it. My parents did that. There are a few pictures of my sister and me in tears. Polaroids my parents took so they could show us what 'babies' we could be and how 'ugly'. It worked on my sister. Shame based punishments were motivation for her. It just made me feel bad and I'd regress.

[@sujammaz]

@@GullibleTarget i'm so sorry about that 💜

[@resourcedragon]

Oh, I'm _so_ glad to hear someone say that cruelty is *NOT* funny. There were some KZbin channels that were almost entirely based on the idea of the parents "pranking" the children. Or there was the shit Ruby Franke did to her kids, like letting them think they might get a present and then denying it. I hate seeing that sort of thing - children should not be subjected to cruelty - and that includes psychological cruelty.

[@sharonaumani8827]

That is emotionally abusive!

[@fraktaalimuoto]

Yeah it is hard to me to understand why people find cruelty funny. As a hyperempathetic person, seeing pain is just pain. Always.

[@tijgeke87]

well she is facing jailtime for abuse heavy abuse just saying (the gift-thing was a very minor thing compared to having police having to free the sibling of those that where ducktaped/imprissoned etc)

[@nalijapetek6271]

My "rule of thumb" is: if the "target" of a joke finds it funny - then it was a good joke. If they didn't find it funny - it was a bad joke and you should apologise or it.

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

Agreed I refuse to watch those shows. Its sick. People getting hurt is NOT funny

[@worryworm]

I am autistic, and I love linguistics, multiple entendre. I love wordplay, irony, and sarcasm, and have learned to use intonation to convey what I mean. Because I was too straight faced, and sounded too serious whilst being utterly sarcastic.

[@resourcedragon]

I do get into trouble from time to time with my really straight faced, deadpan sarcasm. People have said that they don't know when I'm joking and when I'm being serious.

[@condor727me]

@@resourcedragon same here...i think 90% of times i can make the joke work [in the.."are you joking or not?" response] but...when people miss the joke and start to get upset, i don't really recognize the error until way too late....

[@Taoscape]

-"Leaning empathy from autistic people, they have none of that..." -"YOU'RE WRONG!" Now that was funny! I got a good chuckle from it :) On a serious note, yeah I agree with the issue of putting people in distress. One of the things I notice about ASD, which also isn't really recognized and given as much credit as it should get, is that autistic people are an amazing moral compass for society. They are much more in tune with the human experience, and what society should be than neurotypicals. And that is quite ironic, considering their struggles trying to fit in with society.

[@s1nningjezus207]

When Autistic people DO understand the context they LOVE making and getting PUNS though. My son and I have bonded heavily in our language learning journey over making and sharing simple puns. ❤

[@asellus.aquaticus6238]

I'm autistic, and I suspect that my niece is too, though she is so far not diagnosed. I love jokes and irony and sarcasm. So does she, and we have been making some complex jokes since she was very little. Now she is 14 and she is hilarious. We both like making far too long jokes and pretend like we are having a very deep and serious discussion. We joke a lot about making literal interpretations. The other day there was a sign, that in our language said something like ""We bring the best things for your pet on the internet". So, I pretended to be offended and started ranting about how I take a firm stance against keeping pets on the internet, how the internet is a very lonely place for a pet, and so on. That evolved into a joke discussion about mistreatment of tamagotchis, about how buying uncomfortable sleeves for tamagotchis should be a criminal and that the schools need to intervene. We make it a game to make silly arguments based on misunderstandings and my sister, her mother, can't keep up at all most of the time, and that just makes it more fun. I think it's a very valuable skill and 'm glad I've shared it with her since she was a small child. To laugh at things that don't make sense, and to make jokes about things by having dumb conversations. It's a very fun game.

[@anniewho4655]

“Stars of Orion.” Love that!

[@WHISTLEPEG]

The Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, Home Alone, and the worst is Americas Funniest Videos etc etc etc are very distressing for me and I avoid them. I agree with you Orion. People hurting each other, physically or emotionally, or hurting and embarrasing themselves is not only unfunny it makes me want to cry. I don't get it. I'm a 70 yr old self-diagnosed woman. Thank you for your videos. They help me feel validated as do the comments from your Orionites 😊 ❤

[@christinechapman9764]

I had a terror of the three stooges as a child.

[@harrisondorn7091]

OMG I thought I was totally alone in seeing Home Alone as a horror movie haha.

[@johnbillings5260]

I'm literal and analytical, but I love double or hidden meanings especially when paradoxical.

[@Vanity0666]

I'm big on wordplay

[@knrdvmmlbkkn]

@@Vanity0666 Hello, big on wordplay.

[@Pete_1972]

Am I even autistic although diagnosed eight months ago? Am I an imposter? That’s how I feel most of the time when it comes to this subject. I understand and find sarcasm, puns an even “naughty jokes” funny. It feels like I’m stuck between the NT and neurodivergent worlds. I suppose we are all different though.

[@dubuyajay9964]

There are degrees of autism. You might be on the "lighter" end of the scale.

[@joan.nao1246]

Same. Not so much until my 30s though 🤔

[@WillowTree-ux5qy]

I also understand and enjoy these. I was brought up by people who had an interest in puns and the workings of the English language so these things are explained to me when I asked as a child. That's what I might put it down to anyway

[@WillowTree-ux5qy]

I can however be caught out by less well-known sayings though. A few weeks ago I thought someone was actually covered in wotsit cheese powder. It wasn't until later in the conversation that I realised the person telling me about the "wotsit powder" covered person was actually saying they had badly done fake tan on! Oops haha N.B. Wotsits are a cheese flavoured maize snack in the UK

[@katiemaier2782]

Yeah I get punny jokes. I realized recently that I only get sarcasm from people I know extremely well. There's been so many times at work where customers are being sarcastic and my boss has to explain it to me. Like this guy asked if I could turn the temperature down so I said sure... But he was making a joke about how insanely hot it is outside here 😅

[@victoriadolbeare3147]

I think you are spot on when you say it is like processing a different language. One evening, I was at a dinner with mostly French people, and someone asked if they could take my plate. Trying to fit in, and with my limited French ability, I said, "Oui. Je suis fini." They all laughed heartily. I had no idea why until one kind person explained that they were laughing because I had just said that I was done for and that the correct expression is, "J'ai fini." This is what it feels like to me.

[@tracyasposito488]

That is why we understand each other and click when we meet. Some people are cool enough to understand both nt and non-nt. But that is pretty special.

[@gerardlewis-fitzgerald7757]

As someone who also learned French, I love that. The closest thing in my experience to that was listening to a fellow student of French back in 1972 when we were both 17, in a practice oral exam, say: "Je suis chaud" ("I'm horny") when he ought to have said "J'ai chaud".😅😅

[@MartinMCade]

A life lesson for me was learning not to copy other people's humor, especially if it's the snarky or sarcastic type. I've known a few people who just have the personality and body language that everyone understands they're joking, and they can be the life of the party. But whenever I tried copying them it fell flat - I think I even offended a few people years ago. I learned to just let it go and be myself rather than trying to copy anyone else.

[@dambigfoot6844]

Copying anyone when you are Autistic never really works. We have to be self aware that we can’t “read” people like neurotypical people can. It’s happened to me where I offended someone who constantly joked and used sarcasm. I said something clearly sarcastic but they got angry. What you say, the voice you say it in, the fact that you are the one saying it, your relationship with that person, and how you say it non verbally all come into play.

[@cyniful]

I cried watching this because I'm late diagnosed and always had trouble with jokes. You were able to articulate it so well. I always felt dumb for not getting jokes or sarcasm, etc. Great video!!

[@JUNKYJESUS89]

I consider myself fortunate because humor is one of my absolute favorite things.

[@heathergrahame9647]

I'm not autistic but I completely agree with you in terms of disliking "funny" videos where someone is upset or hurt. I have never found those funny, and if someone else does find them funny, I think they have a psychological problem. That is, I think they're a sadist - they get pleasure from seeing other people hurting or upset. If lots of other people think those videos are funny, then, to me, there's a lot of screwed-up sadists in society.

[@Jae-by3hf]

This is how I feel too!

[@carolschiffler6271]

Just found you last night. I'm a late diagnosis person also. I binge-watched about half a dozen of your videos and subbed. This channel is the first one I've found that captures my reality and what goes on in my brain without trying to wrap the whole thing in psycho-babble bubble-wrap. Thank you - these videos are perfect.

[@toshaobrien4280]

My special interests include language and social justice. Puns and subtle sarcasm are my favorite. I do not get them until they are explained, but then it’s funny. I think it is super funny to miss them, and my puns are so abstract that people do not get them which makes them even more funny to me… usually just me. I have found joy in the explaining my jokes and people still not understanding is so funny to me.

[@Kiersin]

I used to read a book series called Xanth where everything was rather literal. You would have to catch your fruit before it flew away. It helped me with puns since it had so many of them.

[@ChantalM3]

My brother had Xanth books that I loved reading! I'm self-suspecting, and sometimes I really wonder if he's autistic, too. Interesting.

[@matiosmi137]

And there's the reverse problem: autistic jokes, or at least mine, are often so elaborate and niche that no one gets them and I'm left chuckling at my own jokes when everyone else stares awkwardly XD

[@Lyandra01]

Lol! “Isn’t it Ironic?” is my favorite song to sing when I’m at karaoke, but it has always bothered me that I couldn’t find the irony in any of the situations. Thank you for giving it an alternative title: “Isn’t it Unlucky?”! 😂❤

[@NoxDracoria]

the irony IMO is that nothing in her song is actually ironic just unlucky or bummer situations... so the fact that a song about irony has no examples of irony I think is actually ironic

[@Lyandra01]

@@NoxDracoria Lol! I like this answer, too!

[@BPLdenver]

@@NoxDracoria Before that album, in the 1990s, I liked Alanis Morrissette. When that track was released, I immediately dismissed her as an idiot for not knowing what the word ironic meant. A sign of the autistic hyper-empahy to apathy?

[@sheila3348]

I use puns a lot because sometimes I lose track of the conversation because I’m focusing so hard on masking, but if I can hear one key word in what other’s are saying and respond with a pun, then I have the appearance of being invested in the conversation.

[@zeratir7873]

Even butter flies. Honestly what even is up with butterflies what a strange name, and it gets weirder we call them Sommerfugl (Summer Birds) here in Denmark, and in Germany they call them Schmetterlinge which conjures images of something being smashed to pieces, and thus I've concluded that German butterflies are very metal. My humor is mostly related to my literal thinking, as I'll often pick up on things that others don't, that could be funny if worded the right way. Because while I managed to learn sarcasm and to not take everything literally (I mean, I can't exactly fit it all in my pockets), I notice that my brain still has some lag, it takes a moment to realise that it's not meant to be literal.

[@melanieoliver302]

I call butterflies "flutter-by's" because it makes more sense to me.

[@resourcedragon]

I believe the older (and more logical name as @melanieoliver302 point out) for butterflies is "flutter by-s". (I'm a little unsure of the exact spelling of the plural and spellcheck doesn't recognise "flutterby" as a word.)

[@isabelladominici2075]

This is the best thought I have read today, cause I also speak German and I love it

[@stephenie44]

Some AFV videos are actually funny. Some are only funny if you don’t have empathy (can completely ignore the real distress the subject is in). And others are only funny if you’re a bully (mean pranks, making someone look like a fool, humiliating).

[@jameegrace4918]

So true!! I remember as a child needing people to explain why something was funny or that something was a joke. After 50 years I get it most of the time but I still miss it at times.

[@stephenie44]

My masked self learned how to identify a punchline (whether I understood it or not) and laugh 😂 Later, I realized punchlines aren’t always ACTUALLY funny. They can be mean or based on discrimination. It took a lot of effort to train myself not to laugh until I evaluated the quality of a joke.

[@jaosandv]

Yet again you have made a Video I can understand. You help me explain my self to others. Thank you very much.! 🤩👏🤔😎

[@howlroseXI]

Orion you are all of ours Autistic Daddy. 😆 Your videos are concise and even when you do the raw unedited versions there is always many things to take from it. One of my things I fixate on is tonality and out of everyone I’ve watched that does videos on Autism you’re the male voice I continue to watch religiously. For the women who speak on this I very much enjoy Mom on the Spectrum. You get it and your examples always bring to mind my own for myself and my father and younger brother who are undiagnosed. Thank you from Oklahoma 💚

[@AlwaysAutistic]

I love being referred to as a Star of Orion ❤

[@ebwarg]

I understand sarcasm a lot more than I did when I was younger, when my teacher didn’t understand why I wasn’t doing my schoolwork despite her frequently saying things like “You did such a GREAT job!” She also “punished” me by making me read (the quotes are on my end, because I neither felt it was a punishment nor knew that it was supposed to be). Nowadays I understand sarcasm, but only when it’s delivered in a sarcastically sarcastic voice that is sarcastic. Straight delivery is taken literally, and is therefore a lie.

[@janewarnock8855]

I have found that at work where there is a lot of 'banter', it feels mostly cruel to me and verges on an excuse for bullying. This rolls over into bullying if they realise that you don't get it /take it literally. I am so anxious whenever work colleagues start using that kind of humour... Constantly watching to gauge my response and afraid that they are laughing at me 😕

[@BPLdenver]

Most ppl do not understand my humor, much of which is word association. After decades of either getting into trouble or simply shrugged off as a weirdo, I now recognize that I need to code switch when in neurotypical spaces (like work.) Thanks to videos like this, I sucessfully stopped myself from adding my joke to the office supply whiteboard. Someone had written "Scotch tape" and it took all.I.had not to write "Irish Spring" next to it.

[@somesauce]

@@BPLdenver 🤣🤣🤣 that's exactly something I'd do! Most people don't find it funny. How is it not funny to highlight absurdity with parallel wordplay??

[@happysauce.]

Well done! Great points. Yes, I get about 50% of tic toc vids. Some just don't come across funny. Sometimes I get a good laugh when talking with people though half the time I don't know why? 😂 4:39

[@looplop]

I'm 49 late diagnosed, enjoying your content since a couple of years and this again was top-notch on spot touching down a super bowl a hyper fly tool. * i say, hi *droolin fun*

[@RickyMaveety]

I’m 71 and REALLY late diagnosed.

[@looplop]

@@RickyMaveety that is late! I wish you have joy in assimilating this awareness.

[@Aduah]

I was just having this conversation with my boyfriend. I dont find videos of people/animals getting hurt to be funny. I said than it just distresses me and give me anxiety and that I empathized. He thought that was strange and asked why. I couldnt answer. Im glad I'm not alone in feeling this way.

[@hackidreemurr]

The "fruit flies" part of this video really brought back memories lmao from when I was in elementary school. In German, there's a way of saying, if a students gets suspended from school, it literally translates into "flying from school", e.g.: "You will fly (off) from school if you did something really bad". And well, as an elementary student, I always found that way of saying really amusing, as I always imagined the students actually flying from school in the sense of being cartoonishly thrown off the school campus xD Even more amusing if I imagined that with my former bullies, as those were also troublemakers and tend to get suspended

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

I am so literal but I am also hilarious

[@UNKLELUKE86]

Are you the only one laughing at your jokes?

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

@@UNKLELUKE86 nope

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

OMG I didnt understand the fruit flies like bananas until u explained it hahahahahahahaha

[@stlouisramseys]

I still don't get it!

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

@@stlouisramseys OK I had to listen again lol twice hahahahahaha. So he says Fruit flies like bananas. What WE hear is fruit flies like bananas like to fly. We'll bananas do NOT fly. What the joke means is fruit flies enjoy being around bananas. NOT fruit flies like bananas like to fly in the sky. Does that explain it or did I make it worse?

[@Vegcrafttt]

Diagnosed level 2 here. Nearly none of these are an issue for me. It just goes to show how differently we all present

[@MarkieMark229]

It's still surprising when you describe my brain, but I'm grateful and happy to hear that others think like me. The NT world can be so exhausting sometimes. Thanks Orion, your channel has helped me immensely since my diagnosis. Cheers mate 👍

[@probably_notbob5794]

This reminds me so much of my son. Might be looking into getting him assessed once I am through with my assessment

[@dambigfoot6844]

I constantly giggle at even unfunny things only when I am in a social situation. There’s a difference for me between giggling/nervous laughter in a social environment and laughing because I find something funny when I’m alone. I overuse sarcasm and sometimes assume that people are being sarcastic with me even when they aren’t.

[@dankdreamz]

For me humor was incredibly helpful. I was able to understand humor because it follows clear steps. As I learned about what makes a joke funny I realized there are simple rules that govern comedy. It's quite formulaic. I also found so much freedom and acceptance when I started to be funny on purpose. I was able to gain acceptance by making jokes and being funny. It's wild for me I am at my funniest when I know people well enough to know that they will laugh. It also backfires where I am tailoring jokes to specific people 's sense of humor. So when other people hear it they're not laughing but my target audience is. Learning the fundamentals of humor and becoming funny really helped me pass in this allistic world. Almost too well because people go towards but you're funny and you understand jokes. Then I get to explain in depth how comedy is formulaic and most people can be funny if they apply themselves.

[@ArtsyMegz_On_Etsy]

I love this topic! One thing that I seem to be sensitive to is picking up on negative tones of voice; or backhanded comments. Mind you, it is possible that I only pick up on condescending tones from people who I know, or have talked to regularly. If I get to know their personality, I can sense whether they are an insensitive person who enjoys belittling others, and if they really don't care about people. If I hear them talking one way to other people, but a different way to me, then I can hear the change in their tone of voice. And oftentimes I have a hard time figuring out if people are just saying something to be nice, or if they really mean it (until enough time goes by and they keep repeating that nice thing towards me). As for humor, sometimes I wonder why people think something's funny when it's a joke that's so common, that you have heard people use it over and over again during different types of situations. This repetitive nature makes me grow tired of a joke, or a "common phrase" if you will. There are often times when I wonder why an entire group is laughing, when I have heard that joke or phrase countless times. It will catch me by surprise, and then I feel rude for being the only one who isn't laughing.

[@cierraallen9288]

I am very fluent in sarcasm or what I think it is and dark humor, but there are some types of jokes that just don't make sense to me. My daughter does not understand many jokes and never sarcasm I have to break down every thing I say. I almost think my PDA aids in my sarcasm because the NO and the opposite of what others wanted to hear is what I say🤷

[@masteringfibromyalgia]

speaking of pranks, The Office character, Jim, had some of the best pranks for Schrute that i thought was hilarious.😂

[@katiemaier2782]

Thanks for making a video about this! I've been SO confused at work recently because people are trying to be sarcastic and I just don't get it

[@Catlily5]

I am highly logical AND highly emotional! I am autistic.

[@alisseat.5576]

I am a self-diagnosed autistic. Couldn't get a formal diagnosis because of the health care system and most of the psychiatrists and psychologists are focused on autism in children that showing obvious signs. I get and use sarcasm often because one of my special interests is proverbs and idioms which include a lot of sarcasm and puns. When I was a child I read a dictionary of proverbs and idioms several times over and over and use them a lot.

[@Grace.allovertheplace]

Hi, 7:00 It’s sounded to me as if you were saying: *”Horton Hears a Who!”* 😂 it’s the first time today I’m actually relaxed & are laughing, so many thanks Orion ✨ Respectfully, Grace 🩰!

[@EmilyFPC]

🙂 Tysm!

[@OwenLeBlanc-l7h]

I do tend to get a lot of word play, but as a kid we watched an enormous amount of comedy. Monty Python and other British comedies, just for laughs, stand up specials, us sitcoms, political comedy. I think all that exposure allowed me to memorize cues.

[@BPLdenver]

Python (Monty) was my first comedy as well. So many great references from them that I continue to use. I knew I landed in a great job (I work in health care) when my co-worker was filling me in on a patient and said, "He's not dead yet."and another chimed in with, "He'll be stone dead on a moment."

[@Shooshie130]

Totally agree about the videos of hurt/upset kids, injured adults and not the least bit autistic.

[@whitneymason406]

I can dish it, but I can't always take it. Great topic! 👍

[@fabiana-dep]

Hi Orion! Always following you from Argentina! GRACIAS

[@BoostedPastime]

Thank you because I have struggled with this so much I didn't even realize that I was struggling with it until other people basically accused me of being a weak soft-skinned person and I didn't think that that was it

[@withheldformyprotection5518]

I was very confused by the Hyper-Bowl section, until you defined the term and I realized that you meant hyperbole (pronounced Hi-Per-Bowl-EE in the U.S.). “Exaggeration for effect and not meant to be taken literally”, like Orion’s comparison to the Super Bowl.

[@Kyaazoi]

THIS. i thought he was mispronouncing it because of the joke theme

[@mirandaivanochko6377]

Thank God I wasn't the only one!

[@GullibleTarget]

It's hyper bolleeee in British English too.

[@BPLdenver]

lol - I was going to comment that, it was really distracting to me. Notice I said I was going to - then I got sidetracked reading other comments, and didn't remember until I read yours! :)

[@yolandazach]

I tend to go the other way, and usually tell jokes that go way over their heads. They don't get the reference 😅

[@kearstinnekenerson6676]

That’s probably why I like jokes like “why did they throw the clock out the window… they wanted to see time fly” because it’s so obvious but I also like to have stuff explained when I don’t get it so I can be in on it

[@siam1885]

In your end o! Love the scrubs reference :)

[@masteringfibromyalgia]

i thoroughly enjoy humor, every once in awhile i don't understand the joke, ask questions for clarification, and therefore ruin the joke...

[@bandoupthebung]

I don't find cruelty or pranks humourous at all because it's laughing at someone's discomfort or ignorance 😢

[@christinechapman9764]

You're right about that song, "isn't it ironic?"It isn't.

[@sandraoxford883]

100% agree with you on not finding it funny when kids and animals being frightened while the person with the phone isn’t comforting said kid or animal. It is sad and I think it’s a different type of human that finds that stuff funny..

[@georgespiese7388]

You are a great friend to me! I just wish you’d listen more! Bazinga

[@sharonaumani8827]

This is an interesting topic to me because I love puns, "dry humor", and pointing out ironies in life, to the extent that it is hard for me to learn to undue that, and speak more literally in the autistic community. At the same time, it helps me to understand why I have always been "slow" to understand things....points, plots, etc. partly because of my slow processing, I am sure. But, for me, I will know a poem or song is saying something profound, but i may need to have it explained the first time around [which is why I also understand the refrigerator running example, for your son]. And, even though I truly am on the autistic spectrum, with a multitude of sensory sensitivities that have distressed me my whole life, I totally understand the "language" of voice tone, expression, etc. and how to use it. And I am good at eye contact [though my eyeglasses help to act as a barrier] and it feels natural to me in "normal" circumstances, but not if I am really upset, or trying to focus intently, etc. A STRONG sense of justice, yes! Also, "constantly processing"....I may not struggle as much in this particular area, but I definitely struggle with this. I love the idea of "building that muscle", listening and learning through watching comedians deliver humor.

[@Jefff72]

I love humor and most of my favorite movies are comedies. But, I also have a problem with telling an inappropriate joke at the wrong moment. I remember watching people in the military who could just let go, be free and funny. I wished that I could do that too. Then when I did, I said the wrong things.

[@DreaAbercrombie]

I definitely can relate to the point that some autistic people get pretty heated at something that doesn't fit our moral compass, injustice etc. My boyfriend is always telling me that I can get too "riled up" when I see someone being victimized or just plainly treated poorly. I admit that I do get angry when I see bullying or anything else that is abusive. But I don't think I need to change the fact that I am affected by those things and feel like I should stand up for the person who is being mistreated, but I do agree that maybe I go too far sometimes and I probably put myself in the danger zone, so to speak 😅 and I recognize that I need to make sure that I have all the facts about a situation before I decide to get involved.

[@blueviolets2022]

SAME feelings about these people getting hurt videos. WTH is wrong with these people who think it's funny?! Great video, you're awesome.

[@baileycaywood8719]

The song you mentioned uses situational irony, which is different from verbal irony. It is an event that mocks its circumstances such as a police station getting robbed.

[@fainepeony7390]

I LOVE puns! Probably because language is one of my special interests.

[@andrewc9902]

How does one deal with being ‘invisible’ ? I have spent years experimenting in situations (in public or at work), proving that I’m being ignored or avoided… I’ve even demonstrated it to other people …of course they just say I’m being overly sensitive. I have gone through many depressing phases where I was worried my clothes or myself smell bad or bad breath etc….or my body language was offputting. Somehow now I realize it’s an autistic ‘vibe ‘ that people inherently avoid. They won’t sit next to me , they won’t talk to me , sales people aren’t even interested in interacting with me. I am continuously and have always been forgotten off of lists, invites, recognitions, etc… ( the exception being When something goes wrong or not according to plan, and other people are looking to Dodge responsibility …then it’s pretty amazing how quickly I can be held responsible for things that I was not even involved with …but that’s another fun topic to get into how people are so quick to blame the loner…but I digress) . Now in my middle-aged years, I’ve come to just expect and accept poor customer service, being mischarged for things I didn’t purchase, and every situation is going to be more difficult than it should be. on the topic of not being seen or being avoided, in some cases, I’ve even started to get very angry at people, but I realize now I guess I shouldn’t blame them. They’re just avoiding my vibe but how do I deal with this on a personal level? email interactions help at first…. Additionally, there has to be someway that this unfortunate trait can be turned to an advantage ?? instead of it always working to a disadvantage (i.e. other people getting bonuses and promotions based on my work, @@and that can of angry worms. ) I am totally new to this type of diagnosis, and only recently came to this realization by randomly, reading some comments in a video that perfectly aligned with my experiences for the past few decades.

[@kristinludlowUX]

Oh my god, the bananas and fruit fly scenario!!! Yes!!!!!! I was at a funeral once and someone said " I love the blue carnations." And I just sat there, confused, wondering what nation has nothing but blue cars. My friend was truly amused by that. And I do it all the time. Everything is literal in my mind, but I've lived long enough to understand the nuances in language. But it still gets stuck on weird idioms. Thankfully I grew up in a family of comedians, some who've done actual standup, and I learned how to tell jokes fairly young, I enjoyed people laughing. Still do.

[@BPLdenver]

So many pieces are fitting now that I see my autism. Once when I was in high school, I was on the phone with my aunt, who was telling me about this new fabric she bought. "It has two cans on it!" I was like, two cans?? She kept trying to explain, but was getting mad at me for not understanding. She was wearing the skirt she made at the next family gathering. It was a pretty color, with a colorful toucan birds design. OOOOOH.

[@Superpooch97]

6:24 looks like your having a Jerry Seinfeld moment. “What’s the deal with fruit flys” in my best Jerry Seinfeld impression as the Seinfeld theme song intensifies in the background

[@kearstinnekenerson6676]

The worst part is rainy days in the summer are the only days I can be active sometimes. So those are lovely days for me because for whatever reason my body plays games and I have always hated April fools days

[@Amazology]

Yes, everything does fly. In fact. Through space, all the time. ...Or maybe everything even hurtles and there is no resting state.

[@saffsholistichealth]

Also the moral conpass yes yes absolutely me all the way 😂❤ i just yhink its a waste to not be real honest AND compassionate or considerate

[@grimTales1]

I thought it was well known that nothing in the lyrics of Ironic actually describe irony.... which is in itself ironic

[@pipwhitefeather5768]

Agreed about the people hurting themselves and upset children - awful stuff! I wince and squirm and I just can't do it. Cheers lovely :)

[@Kyaazoi]

the refrigerator joke always got me the other way as a kid. i thought of running literally as only something legs could do and was confused as to how an applicants could be running until i learned that meant something else.

[@angelagregoire6811]

Boyfriend and best friend think I'm crazy saying im autistic and they won't even watch one of your videos! You and I are so much alike and I wish they would watch cause a lot of things that happen they think I'm overreacting or crazy

[@spudmadethis]

How do you hold on to trusted friends?

[@stephanieblahbiddyblah]

The kitchen sink rant will always be one of my Favorite Things

[@angelagregoire6811]

I say oh what a beautiful day all the time when it's wicked crappy out

[@jamdeeder]

Reminds me the song about AFV Weird Al made called "I can't watch this"(parody of MC Hammer. "You can't touch this")

[@nathaliewilborts9869]

I have something to add that I think is definitely part of it (this is how it is for me, so it may not be for others, but still): I struggle with sarcasm in a conversation. That is part of the autism (and very potentially ADHD). Why? Not necessarily because I don't understand it, but because I react too quickly. I learned that, in a conversation, we are kinda obliged to answer quickly (NT people don't like or want 'uncomfortable' silence). However, when I react to the sarcasm, my brain actually hasn't processed WHAT was said. By the time I have reacted, my brain caught up and I feel stupid, because I DO get it, but it seems like I didn't. When I come across sarcasm in a sitcom for example, I get it instantly! Why? I think it is because my brain is just focussing on the show and I am not worrying about masking, the conversation, eye contact, you name it. Nothing is expected from me so I instantly recognise the joke/sarcasm. Not to mention, I am a master in being sarcastic myself! Now, I am not saying the above is applicable to everyone, but since autism is a spectrum, I think/wonder if this might be applicable to others (maybe it happens more when ASD is combined with ADHD). Thought I'd share it.

[@Meredith-ts9xl]

No joke, i had that "ironic" song stuck in my head some day last week, specifically the part about the spoons and a knife and i literally picture silverware in my head and then wonder, well what about forks? Lol i never connected it w her trying 2 find "mr right"😅

[@melissamoore9709]

Hyperbole: high, per, bowl, e (e as in tea, or knee) I adore stand up comedy. Sometimes I don't get the joke (until a few minutes later) but what I have learned from watching standup is the usual rhythm of a joke. I think that's valuable as well for identifying jokes in the wild that you don't get right away! And it's valuable for telling jokes - they're less likely to be misunderstood as serious. I usually don't like the funny videos of distress, but not always. Sometimes they get a weird laugh from me with "aww you're so cute and you don't have to be scared and I want to just hug you and tell you it's okay" vibes - usually that's with the "standard" mild distress scenarios every kid goes through, like "first lemon" or "baby doesn't want to touch grass". Other than that, the only thing that can make it funny is karma. Even if I feel horrible for laughing, I can't help laughing at instant karma. I'm not sure why, now that I think about it.

[@elizabethnekro3503]

I can seriously relate... I know how humour works because I always liked stand up comedy, in the speech I've learned some expressions, but if you ask me to explain their meaning I have no idea, I know only in which context you should use them but why? I take everything literally, for example last month a friend of mine said that "they tryied to cut the legs of a guy", it's a saying in italian when you want to hinder someone's career but in that moment I got upset and I pictured in my mind somebody with a saw. With sarcasm I have troubles too, but in the other way round: I always think people is sarcastic, even when they're giving me compliments. Often people don't understand my sense of humour too. Anyway no clue why people find funny pranks, injuries and whatever is unpleasant....

[@punklesam94]

While my humour has expanded to appreciate any kinds of comedy, I especially enjoy slapstick, crude and dark humour. Everything I described is in your face and literal (with some double meanings here and there), but the only kind of sense of humour I struggle to deal with is when the joke is leaving me to fill out the blanks. I'd rather have someone tell me the joke in a deliberate and clear way without me feeling awkward and frustrated.

[@nancyziegler5724]

i despise hearing jokes, i never understand then, then i say " now that is funny' without laughing! i can relate, rarely do i enjoy a joke & re April Fools Day ~ again. despise it. whats the joke? ugh! I do enjoy Stand Up Comedy tho, i find it very entertaining. i LOVE to laugh! This video was especially interesting, Thank you. Ambiguous statements wreck me, now i will tell the person how i feel if a statement to me evokes that feeling in me. again, Thanks

[@alastairboocock3405]

Nearly 20 years ago a bloke at work said to me one morning 'time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana'. I tied myself in knots for the rest of the day (as well as doing my job at the same time 🙃) as you describe in your video, 'why would fruit fly through the air like a banana?! I don't get it!? How does a banana fly anyway (does it spin, flip, a googly or what?! (I was trying to visualise it))'. I was ashamed to ask him to explain it to me although did by the end of the day as i couldn't stand it any longer. I appreciate such phrases these days (20 years later and diagnosed Autism level 1 in late 2021) 🙂👍 Ironically we were living+working in a meditation community at the time i.e. purportedly 'heaven on earth' (according to the brochure), love, peace + harmony etc but was actually bullying+cruel at times (many times sadly) in my opinion and experience (another all that glitters is not gold situation)👎 Paradise is a state of mind not a destination (even Australia 🫠), it turns out 😶‍🌫️

[@nalijapetek6271]

About Ikea reference. In 2013 people found horsemeat in the pork and beef meatballs sold by Ikea. People talked about it worldwide and it became a sort of a meme. It also increased the interest in horsemeat as people got curious about horsemeat taste.

[@resourcedragon]

Meat substitution has been going on in Australia since forever. My favourite story comes, if I remember correctly, from New Zealand where a dogfood company was on trial over the use of horsemeat in food described as "rabbit meat". The defendant was asked what the ratio of horse to rabbit was and he said, "fifty - fifty". The judge asked for clarification and said, "Is that 1 pound of horse meat to one pound of rabbit meat?" "No, your honour. One horse to one rabbit."

[@necordektox879]

I'm good at picking up sarcasm if the other person emphasizes their words, but not so good when they play it straight. My FIL does this all the time and I often fell for it early on. He's also the kind of person to say really mean things (not about me but other people...or if he says mean things about me not to my face) but in a very casual and pleasant tone so it's hard to tell when he's being serious or joking. This may be TMI but also have any autistic people had difficulty with sexual phrases too? I get so grossed out when people refer to eating each other, or comparing genitals to food like meats and stuff. I don't know what's supposed to be sexy about that.

[@resourcedragon]

I have more difficulties with phrases like, "Netflix and chill." I've read recently that it is an invitation to sexual activity, if I'd not read that I wouldn't know. Also, if I say "yes" to "Netflix and chill" that is literally "Netflix and chill" *_only._* There is NO implied consent to sexual activity. Actually I'm probably going to say "no" to N & c because, I'm well, not really into being with people more than I have to!

[@necordektox879]

​@@resourcedragon Yeah! I had the same experience when learning about that meme. Like, sex is nice and all but I thought we were going to watch something together! If I didn't have the context of the joke beforehand I would for sure be rocking up with a popcorn bowl and a blanket ready for movie night 😆

[@TheRawChuck]

Although I'm Autistic I could laugh all day at humor poking fun at Autism.

[@TheCriminalViolin]

I'm definitely a complete mix with this. All over the place. Depends heavily on my day, how I'm feeling, where I'm at, how well I slept, etc. That said, the part I LOVE THE MOST is where you say Hyperbole as "Hyper-Bowl". I have always said it the EXACT same way, because THAT'S HOW IT IS SPELLED! Yet as you'd expect, I always get so much crap for it, as "it's hy-per-bul-lee!" they scream. Like what? In what universe does that even begin to make any sense? Language/words really can set me off for sure. And yes, for me, the more dysregulated I am, the far easier I am set off. I can get into a meltdown/blow up so so easily whenever I have dysregulation from the most simple things.

[@isabellesmama10]

Every time i watch one of your videos, you are explaining my 6 year old. I got her tested for autism so she could get more help in school with her overstimulation and educational needs. Unfortunately, i was told she's likely just emotionally immature and needed more socializing and therapy. She said my daughter internalized and problem solved in her head and that she was extremely intelligent, which could be why she's not meeting the Autistic check list. Anyway. I often forget i can not joke around with my daughter. She takes everything very literally, and that triggers meltdowns. She will tell us she doesn't like it when people joke with her because it's not funny, it's mean. She says only she can do the joking. 🤷‍♀️ hard to remember

[@actipton80]

There are lot of jokes I have managed to work out logically, but I will never think they are funny. I've been on the butt end of so much teasing that I don't care if they are doing it because they like me. I will never understand the thought process of people who want to show how much they like me by insulting, hurting, or humiliating me, when people who hate me do the exact same thing.

[@DangerAngelous]

Oohh one time in English class my teacher was telling a story about someone on the news reading something that I thought was going to be funny so I amped it up in my head as “oh this is going to be hilarious”. What the teacher then said that the news anchor said was very not funny but I laughed for 0.3 of a second and caught myself

[@stephenie44]

Everyone list any autistic comedians you know!: - Hannah Gadsby - Fern Brady

[@simonmcglary]

Joe Wells Mark Grimshaw

[@LunarWind99]

Michael McCreary