One of my college roommates over a summer once claimed that I was the funniest person he’d ever met.”
Without missing a beat, I quipped back: “You should try meeting more people.”
And he laughed, again.
I’m not that funny.
I’ve just learned to fine tune humor as a coping mechanism to overcome social tension and stress.
Isn’t that why everyone does it? Like, if I were on stage all of a sudden at a comedy club, I’d start telling jokes too to ease that awkward tension.
The problem though, is that some people think I’m fun.
The Life Autistic is a weird amalgam of people perceiving your actions as your attributes, for better or for worse:
“Oh, you use big words – you must be an intelligent showoff.”
“Oh, you remember a lot of details, you must be incredibly smart.”
“Oh, you’re kind of blunt – you must be a mean, critical person.”
“Oh, you have a knack for making people laugh — you must be a fun guy to be around.”
Some of that could be true?
But you’ll find me out pretty quick, even through the jokes — Hunter is usually funny, but rarely fun.
I’m not the life of any party. I’m the last with any good suggestions for a night out, unless it’s “out cold and asleep.” Even on my bravest days I’ll suggest activities, trips, events, all while just taking it in a moment at a time, kinda quiet, hoping that others will bring the energy.
And many of us can be that way too.
Fun is a state of being and manner of expression; funny is a plotted thing, built on experience, tropes, observations, deployments of things we know a normal human would find funny after years of study.
Funny how that works.
The Life Autistic 
I completely get where you come from. When I was young, I looked for activities to make me seem fun (keg guy or DJ) and drunk or whatever too much. These days, if ever somewhere out… especially if there’s no common ground (most often), I look for the dog to hang out with or and count down to the exit.
The funny thing generally are quick one liners and sarcasm (sort of measured), but is tiring after a couple quips.