Heavy Metal is officially a disability in Sweden

[CptStern]

A Swedish heavy metal fan has had his musical preferences officially classified as a disability. The results of a psychological analysis enable the metal lover to supplement his income with state benefits.

Roger Tullgren, 42, from Hässleholm in southern Sweden has just started working part time as a dishwasher at a local restaurant.

Because heavy metal dominates so many aspects of his life, the Employment Service has agreed to pay part of Tullgren's salary. His new boss meanwhile has given him a special dispensation to play loud music at work.

"I have been trying for ten years to get this classified as a handicap," Tullgren told The Local.

"I spoke to three psychologists and they finally agreed that I needed this to avoid being discriminated against."

Eventually his last employer tired of his absences and Tullgren was left jobless and reliant on welfare handouts.

But his sessions with the occupational psychologists led to a solution of sorts: Tullgren signed a piece of paper on which his heavy metal lifestyle was classified as a disability, an assessment that entitles him to a wage supplement from the job centre.

"I signed a form saying: 'Roger feels compelled to show his heavy metal style. This puts him in a difficult situation on the labour market. Therefore he needs extra financial help'. So now I can turn up at a job interview dressed in my normal clothes and just hand the interviewers this piece of paper," he said.

http://www.thelocal.se/7650/20070619/

 

[Ennui]

Oh, Sweden. Without you nobody would think there was such a thing as being TOO liberal

 

[Absinthe]

"Roger feels compelled to show his heavy metal style."

this sentence alone made me lul

 

[Tyguy]

I wonder if I could get a monthly check for my masturbation addiction.

 

[Krynn72]

I wonder if I could get a monthly check for my masturbation addiction.

Maybe, but at the very least you can get the ability to masturbate at work.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/...erra-legally-masturbate-at-work_n_862452.html

In a decision that can only be described as touchy, a Brazilian judge has reportedly ruled that a 36-year-old female accountant can legally masturbate at work and watch porn on her work computer.

 

[Wanted Bob]

Funny, but stupid at the same time.

 

[The Monkey]

Sounds like bullshit to me. Would've made headlines here if it was true, as most of the press are liberal and will cease any opportunity they can to attack the welfare state.

 

[Mr. Djees]

It's not making headlines because the story is 4 years old, Aftonbladet did write about it at the time, though.

 

[The Monkey]

It's not making headlines because the story is 4 years old, Aftonbladet did write about it at the time, though.

Well, he does seem to have some form of mental disorder that makes him so obsessed with heavy metal; that's probably why the social security office classifed him as disabled, rather than the music in itself.

 

[ríomhaire]

That's ****ing retarded. I'm not sure if I mean the guy or the ruling though.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Holy shit dude, real classy there. It says in the OP the guy is actually disabled.

 

[Bad^Hat]

We still have a long way to come. We won't truly be recognised as equal until they let us windmill in the workplace.

 

[Stylo]

That looks like it causes massive brain damage / a slight headache.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Just a headache. The brain damage comes beforehand.

 

[Shem]

I hadn't realized you enjoyed and knew so much about heavy metal, Bad^Hat. However, it doesn't matter if you have brain damage or not. All you have to do is play as loud as you can, scream out words inarticulately, and know how to headbang.

 

[Stylo]

I'm not really into to heavy metal stuff. Though I despise genre fagging ("everything but the genre(s) I like are shit RAWR!") it doesn't appeal to me.

Think the heaviest I go is like System Of A Down or Metallica.

Anyway, this dude. I'm not even sure what to think about this story. It's like... What even?

 

[Shem]

Sometimes I listen to Tool, but that's about it. They used to have a heavy style but evolved over the years to become a progressive metal band. I like them in their current state.

 

[Shift]

Tool if anything have become heavier over time.

 

[Shem]

It's the other way around. Just compare Undertow and 10,000 Days and you'll notice the difference in style between the two albums and how the band has changed to a lighter tone over time. They're ever-evolving.

 

[Shift]

Compare Undertow songs to Parabola, or Vicarious, or The Pot, or Rosetta Stoned. Much heavier songs i think, but yes they have involved over time into quite a formidable band.

 

[Shem]

Compare Right in Two to Bottom or 10,000 Days (the song) to Hooker with a Penis (they're just great with names). But I agree that they have become something worth listening to. A lot of their lyrics convey deeper meanings than we may first perceive, and they're not afraid to get personal with some of their songs.

I feel like we've brought the Music section to the Lounge.

 

[Bad^Hat]

I don't think they've gotten heavier necessarily. They went from grungy alternative metal to a unique brand of progressive with the last couple of albums, but they've just branched out if anything. 10,000 Days contains both softer and heavier tracks than their previous albums.

Also something on topic.

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

I wonder if Speed Metal counts. Not sure if caught on in the people's north euroean socialist republic \m/

p.s., thanks for Opeth, seen them twice, amazing