Swedish Man Gets Benefits For Heavy Metal Addiction
fanch75
Posts: 3,734
All the other addictions are self-imposed by personal choice. This man has an addiction that can't be helped, because metal is so awesome. I support this gentleman's cause.
Swedish Man Gets Benefits For Heavy Metal Addiction
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 Hássleholm in southern Sweden has just
got a new job 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."
Roger Tullgren first developed an interest in heavy metal when
his older brother came home with a BLACK SABBATH album in 1971.
Since then little else has mattered for the 42-year-old, who
has long black hair, a collection of tattoos and wears skull and
crossbones jewelry.
The ageing rocker claims to have attended almost three hundred
shows last year, often skipping work in the process.
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.
The manager at his new workplace allows him to go to concerts
as long as he makes up for lost time at a later point. He is
also allowed to dress as he likes and listen to heavy metal while
washing up.
"But not too loud when there are guests," he said.
The Local spoke to an occupational psychologist in Stockolm,
who admitted to being baffled by the decision.
"I think it's extremely strange. Unless there is an underlying
diagnosis it is absolutely unbelievable that the job centre would
pay pay out.
"If somebody has a gambling addiction, we don't send them down
to the racetrack. We try to cure the addiction, not encourage
it," he said.
Henrietta Stein, deputy employment director for the Skáne
region, is also puzzled by the move; "an interest in music" is
not usually sufficient to qualify for wage benefits.
"Certain cases are confidential but in general there is always
a medical reason that is well-documented, " she said.
Tullgren currently plays bass and guitar in two rock bands and
says that he tends to get a lot of positive reactions for daring
to be himself.
"Some might say that I should grow up and learn to listen to
other types of music but I can't. Heavy metal is my lifestyle,"
he said.
Swedish Man Gets Benefits For Heavy Metal Addiction
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 Hássleholm in southern Sweden has just
got a new job 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."
Roger Tullgren first developed an interest in heavy metal when
his older brother came home with a BLACK SABBATH album in 1971.
Since then little else has mattered for the 42-year-old, who
has long black hair, a collection of tattoos and wears skull and
crossbones jewelry.
The ageing rocker claims to have attended almost three hundred
shows last year, often skipping work in the process.
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.
The manager at his new workplace allows him to go to concerts
as long as he makes up for lost time at a later point. He is
also allowed to dress as he likes and listen to heavy metal while
washing up.
"But not too loud when there are guests," he said.
The Local spoke to an occupational psychologist in Stockolm,
who admitted to being baffled by the decision.
"I think it's extremely strange. Unless there is an underlying
diagnosis it is absolutely unbelievable that the job centre would
pay pay out.
"If somebody has a gambling addiction, we don't send them down
to the racetrack. We try to cure the addiction, not encourage
it," he said.
Henrietta Stein, deputy employment director for the Skáne
region, is also puzzled by the move; "an interest in music" is
not usually sufficient to qualify for wage benefits.
"Certain cases are confidential but in general there is always
a medical reason that is well-documented, " she said.
Tullgren currently plays bass and guitar in two rock bands and
says that he tends to get a lot of positive reactions for daring
to be himself.
"Some might say that I should grow up and learn to listen to
other types of music but I can't. Heavy metal is my lifestyle,"
he said.
Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
Can I have a link?
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
I pulled that off a metal board i'm on. No link was given.
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
If Pearl Jam was heroin, id be in big trouble.
Thats how bad the addiction is.
Wheres my benefits??
2005 - 9/15, 9/16, 9/30, 10/1, 10/3
2006 - 5/5, 5/12, 5/13, 5/27, 5/28, 5/30, 6/1, 6/3, 6/23, 7/22, 7/23, 12/2
2007 - 6/27, 8/3
2008 - 6/14, 6/19, 6/20, 6/22, 6/24, 6/25, 6/27, 6/28, 6/30, 7/1
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
-my dad after hearing Not for You for the first time on SNL .
Katowice 2007
London 2007
See These Bones
Possibly most of us had a hard time growing up for liking a different style of music or culture but we grow up and get on with our lives, get new friends and start bands - or whatever.
Sorry if I am the only one who is being serious about this but it has made me angry. - It's not even like he has a job where he has to deal with the public. If he were a qualified doctor who couldn't get a job, then maybe...
...maybe this man is going to be one of these people that will change a small part of history... and people will be judged more by their (merrits) than the way they look... but, nope! I still think he needs to cut his hair if that is the only way he can earn his living. It's better than living on benefits.
I'm interested in Phsycology but I think paid phsycologists are crap. They will always go with whatever is the new fad.
I always thought that the Swedish liked their metal music a lot. Maybe I am wrong. Probably.
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
http://www.thelocal.se/7650/
WOW... Europe is AWESOME... that shit would never fly here.
and still jonesing for another show....
"the waiting drove me mad..."
don't be silly! You're right! It is SHIT!