Has anyone ever been around someone like this?

[Rocker949]

Over the summer, I had to be around someone a lot who was one of the most bizarre people I've ever met. This guy is obsessed with trivial information. His entire life seems to be focused on doing the most meaningless things he can possibly do. For instance, he can sit at his computer for long periods of time and listen to the national anthems of various countries. That's a big deal to him. He likes naming off the capitals of countries around the world. He is fascinated by flags from around the world. He is obsessed with watching Eurovision. However, it's the most obscure acts on Eurovision which get most of his attention, like maybe whoever won third place in 1975. Although 27, he is mostly interested in 70s music, with some exceptions. He mostly likes disco, pop, and folk music. Rock is definitely out. His favorite band is the Kelly family. I've never heard of them, but they're an American-European band that plays pop and folk music. Their biggest hit was "I'm in Love with an Alien." Not an illegal immigrant of course, someone from outer space. In fact, the more that I think about it, the more I wonder if this guy I met is even from Earth himself.

[L-A]

Yes, numerous times. They're called hipsters

[hover]

yup.

www.latfh.com

[Linas]

People have different hobbies/interests. big deal.

[geeza]

Sounds like he might have Asperger's Syndrome to some degree.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by Linas

People have different hobbies/interests. big deal.

+1.

[Relic]

There are a multitude of folks out there who might take an interest in things that you find unusual or boring and for them it's perfectly normal. Ever met someone with let's say, Aspbergers syndrome or a high functioning autistic person maybe? What you may interpret as "odd" or "being obsessed with trivial info" might just be someone simply being who they are. Lighten up a little

[Rocker949]

Originally Posted by geeza

Sounds like he might have Asperger's Syndrome to some degree.

I had heard of that, but didn't know what it was. I think you may be right. He had a job for over a year, the longest he has ever held a job. He got fired for being late so much. He claims that traumatized him, so now he doesn't want to work again. He has been going to a psychologist, but he said his problems were too complex. So now the guy will be seeing a psychiatrist. A good psychiatrist should be able to recognize Asperger's Syndrome, if that is what it is. It appears one of the main characteristics is lack of empathy, as well as focusing on things which seem random. That certainly fits him. Thanks for this info, BTW.

[Rocker949]

Originally Posted by Relic

There are a multitude of folks out there who might take an interest in things that you find unusual or boring and for them it's perfectly normal. Ever met someone with let's say, Aspbergers syndrome or a high functioning autistic person maybe? What you may interpret as "odd" or "being obsessed with trivial info" might just be someone simply being who they are. Lighten up a little

Quite frankly everyone who is around this guy on a regular basis reacts to his behavior the same way I did. No, I have definitely not met anyone with Asperger's Syndrome before. I have been around people with ADD, BPD, and NPD, but not Asperger's. So this was all new to me and I was totally unprepared for it.

[line6man]

Those behaviors sounds a lot like me, and I have Asperger's.

[Rocker949]

Originally Posted by line6man

Those behaviors sounds a lot like me, and I have Asperger's.

I've been reading up on Asperger's since I posted this. Of course there is only so much I can learn about it in a few minutes. The full story on this is that the person who may (or may not have it) was a roommate of a guitarist I was trying to help. I was there on a temporary basis to help him put together a band. We put quite a few songs together over the summer. Eventually, the permanent bassist arrived and began absorbing what we had done. In the meantime, the guitarist's roommate began interfering with some things, such as our recording schedule. He also upset the guitarist with his negative behavior toward the drummer. Eventually, the guitarist and bassist began working on the music so intensely (in the house where this was taking place) that the guitarist's roommate moved out. Of course, this is just speculation that the roommate has Asperger's. Only a psychologist or psychiatrist would be qualified to make that evaluation.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Rocker949

I've been reading up on Asperger's since I posted this. Of course there is only so much I can learn about it in a few minutes. The full story on this is that the person who may (or may not have it) was a roommate of a guitarist I was trying to help. I was there on a temporary basis to help him put together a band. We put quite a few songs together over the summer. Eventually, the permanent bassist arrived and began absorbing what we had done. In the meantime, the guitarist's roommate began interfering with some things, such as our recording schedule. He also upset the guitarist with his negative behavior toward the drummer. Eventually, the guitarist and bassist began working on the music so intensely (in the house where this was taking place) that the guitarist's roommate moved out. Of course, this is just speculation that the roommate has Asperger's. Only a psychologist or psychiatrist would be qualified to make that evaluation.

Why don't you ask the guy if he has AS?
Or are you not in touch with him any longer?

[Rocker949]

Originally Posted by line6man

Why don't you ask the guy if he has AS?
Or are you not in touch with him any longer?

I'm not in touch with him anymore. But maybe I'll eventually figure something out.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Asperger's or possibly Autism. I am a teacher at a school (for children with some form psychological 'difference' the pc term) where many children have Autism. There are varying degrees of Autism and it manifests itself in different ways, but one of the ways is that the person gets obsessed with certain things and are unable to stop the obsession. So though it may seem random to the outsider, it is not.

[MJ5150]

He could be exactly the opposite and be a completely stupid drain on society. Pay attention and maybe you'll learn something from him.

He for sure sounds like the guy you want to be riding with when you step into the Cash Cab.

-Mike

[line6man]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

He could be exactly the opposite and be a completely stupid drain on society. Pay attention and maybe you'll learn something from him.

He for sure sounds like the guy you want to be riding with when you step into the Cash Cab.

-Mike

Btw, was the guy extremely intelligent, or not?

[Simo98]

Some people just like to know things.

Between my grandma's general knowledge, and my grandpa's history knowledge, particularly war history, I don't think their table has ever lost a trivia night, not to mention getting well and truly hosed when you play trivial pursuit.


As for the taste in music, whats so weird about that. I don't persecute people because they listen to thrash metal or hip-hop, even though to me its incomprehensible why someone would listen to it. Different strokes for different folks.

[Absentia]

Nothing wrong with learning something.
But he does sound a bit hipster.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by geeza

Sounds like he might have Asperger's Syndrome to some degree.

+1

The guy I know who resembles, very closely, your post also has the worst social skills and thinks that everyone around him will find all the useless info he espouses just as interesting as he does.
He can get annoying going on about random things, and will always argue against anything that anyone has to say. He's a nice enough guy, but could use some help socially.

[LowDown Hal]

You'll want to be his friend when he wins Jeopardy