A poll to feel out a personal observation regarding those with actual diagnosed (not just self-identified) ADHD. Answers based on your experience as one with such a diagnosis or based on observations of family or close friends of such. Comments welcome.
Those with ADHD are
I said we’re better at making jokes, and my only rationale is you have to have a sense of humor about yourself to live with this disorder, or else you will go insane.
So my sense of humor tends heavily toward the self-deprecating.
With maybe a tiny bit of a creativity bonus. Creative people tend to be faster with jokes, I think. Some of the dialogue I write is pretty funny, but it often seems like it’s funnier than I am. Maybe my subconscious is funnier than my conscious mind.
I understand jokes just fine, so I said neutral.
So my own observations are that those with ADHD are in fact often funnier people, very much tied to that creativity bit. But not much in the way of data on it. Most is more focused on some difficulty with getting some jokes, especially ones focused on irony, due to the executive function requirements of comprehension of irony. Not a big n in our poll but results seem consistent with this.
Clear distinction apparently with ASD individuals as a whole, for whom in humor deficiencies are apparently more common, especially comprehension of sarcastic humor. Which makes sense.
In my experience, better at making jokes but worse at getting them.
I understand irony just fine but if a joke goes on too long I’m not gonna get it. I don’t have the attention span for that.
Yet I really like comedians who do the full-circle storytelling thing, like Mike Burbiglia. So I’m capable of paying attention in some cases.
I never really thought about people with ADHD as having a better sense of humor, just one I found more relatable.
This man clearly has severe ADHD and I think he’s hilarious.
Somehow we always find each other. I swear to God I know so many women with ADHD. We gravitate. And the gist of our conversations is “I feel like a fucking idiot!” “I know, right? Ha ha ha!” We have to find some way to be okay with how we are, and humor is a way to do it.
I’m suspicious about the autism stereotype. My son has a good sense of humor. He’s a little out there, but the best comedians are.