Swedish man gets disability for his addiction...

[Skanky Vamp]

to heavy metal music.

Roger Tullgren, 42, a heavily tattooed metal head who works as a dishwasher in southern Sweden, said he consulted three psychologists to receive statements testifying to the extent of his heavy metal music dependency, reports the Local, a Swedish news website.

“I have been trying for 10 years to get this classified as a handicap,” he told the Local."I spoke to three psychologists and they finally agreed that I needed this to avoid being discriminated against."

Tullgren, who is described as having long black hair, tattoos and a collection of skull and crossbones jewelry, said his heavy metal addiction caused him to attend nearly 300 concerts last year that left him unable to hold down a job, and forced to go on welfare.

His new part-time job as a dishwasher at a restaurant in the city of Hassleholm will be supplemented by disability benefits. "I signed a form saying: 'Roger feels compelled to show his heavy metal style. This puts him in a difficult situation on the labor 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," Tullgren said.

Tullgren’s new boss has agreed to give him time off to see concerts, and lets him dress how he wants and play heavy metal music while washing dishes, provided it is not too loud when there are guests at the restaurant.

 

[Blaze]

I can't decide if this is legit and I'm being an insensitive prick, or if he's the one being an insensitive prick that abuses the system.

But if this is true, then there is some underlying issue and he should be seen by a psychiatrist. You can't just say that you have a problem cause you're addicted to music. But being addicted to music could be a symptom of a deeper mental issue, that I can understand, and I hope he gets the help he needs. But just ignoring the issue and letting him go to his concerts while being on welfare is not good enough, if it's this extreme he needs therapy and they need to try and solve the problem.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

I'm not sure psychiatric intervention would help in this case. Addiction to a heavy, pounding bass line may be the symptom of neurological damage of some sort. But as @Blaze suggested, it seems like this guy just doesn't want to work and is just gaming the system.

 

[thetopher]

The guy just needs to show some gorram self-discipline.

It seems that in a lot of today's society people get 'addicted' to stuff way too easily and consequently have to be 'helped' off of it.
People hopelessly addicted to their cell phones/gadgets/online lives? They need to be some how helped off it by state intervention.
People getting more and more addicted to easy credit, then its totally the banks fault and not at all theirs for having half a dozen credit cards in their name.
Growing obseity epidemic in Western countries (specifically US and UK)? Then advertisers need to be penalised and food producers need to stop putting so much salt/fat/sugar in the food.
God forbid that people exercise some actual personal responsibility. 🙄

 

[Skanky Vamp]

food producers need to stop putting so much salt/fat/sugar in the food

I understand the point of the post, but that above is an actual real concern. What with genetically altered corn and carrots, pink slime, etc, THIS is something valid that needs to happen which, other than growing what they eat, the consumer has little means to control.

Some guy getting disability because he doesnt want to cut his hair and wear different clothes is an entirely nother matter.

 

[The Bronze]

food producers need to stop putting so much salt/fat/sugar in the food.

This does need to happen. Everything is loaded with crap. I was watching a program the other day and it showed that a regular jar of pasta sauce has something like 10 spoonful's of sugar or something equally ridiculous.

 

[thetopher]

I understand the point of the post, but that above is an actual real concern. What with genetically altered corn and carrots, pink slime, etc, THIS is something valid that needs to happen which, other than growing what they eat, the consumer has little means to control.[QUOTE][/QUOTE]



Still, if a fat kid gets fat, then it's the parent's fault, not the fault of the advertisers/food manufacturers. There are plenty of ways to eat healthily by simply controlling your life style.
Other things like unnessesary food adatives and such is a separate issue that perhaps does need addressing.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

There's a line between sensitivity and gullibility. The Swedish government has tripped over that line and done a YouTube-worthy faceplant.

 

[thetopher]

Everything is loaded with crap. I was watching a program the other day and it showed that a regular jar of pasta sauce has something like 10 spoonful's of sugar or something equally ridiculous.

Not to stray too far from the point but simple solution here is to make your own pasta sauce. It ain't that hard- fresh tomatoe's, a few herbs and a bit of olive oil. Not only is it healthier and tastier its a hell of a lot cheaper than buying the ready-made crap.
A general rule is, where you can you stick with fresh produce instead of all the processed stuff, then your sugar intake will drop off the charts.

 

[The Bronze]

Not to stray too far from the point but simple solution here is to make your own pasta sauce. It ain't that hard- fresh tomatoe's, a few herbs and a bit of olive oil. Not only is it healthier and tastier its a hell of a lot cheaper than buying the ready-made crap.
A general rule is, where you can you stick with fresh produce instead of all the processed stuff, then your sugar intake will drop off the charts.

I know that is a good way around it but even so I think there should be tighter regulation in the area. There's simply no need for things like that to be loaded with sugar. If you buy sweets and chocolate etc. then you expect high sugar. I don't think you should just accept everything off the shelf is high sugar though.