A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the...

[Molly Brogan]

Knock, knock. Who’s there? What is humor? What is funny? Why do we
want to laugh? Many researchers believe that the purpose of humor is
related to making and strengthening human connections. "Laughter
occurs when people are comfortable with one another, when they feel
open and free. And the more laughter [there is], the more bonding
[occurs] within the group," says cultural anthropologist Mahadev Apte.
This feedback "loop" of bonding-laughter-more bonding, combined with
the common desire not to be singled out from the group, may be another
reason why laughter is often contagious.

Human beings love to laugh, and the average adult laughs 17 times a
day. Humans love to laugh so much that there are actually industries
built around laughter. Jokes, sitcoms and comedians are all designed
to get us laughing, because laughing feels good. For us it seems so
natural, but the funny thing is that humans are one of the only
species that laughs. Laughter is actually a complex response that
involves many of the same skills used in solving problems.

Research has shown health benefits of laughter ranging from
strengthening the immune system to reducing food cravings to
increasing one's threshold for pain. There's even an emerging
therapeutic field known as humor therapy to help people heal more
quickly, among other things. Humor also has several important stress
relieving benefits.

We know laughter is powerful, because we feel good when we laugh. And
we know it is contagious; when a person laughs, everyone else lightens
up, too. Even when it feels as if your life has spun into chaos, you
can put yourself in another state that connects you with who you are
and what you desire to create. No one can take away your
consciousness. When you know that, you also know you can change your
circumstances. The cloud covering the sun is about to move, as you
remember who you are. Laughter is a quick route to remembrance.

What do YOU think?

[Lee]

Humouris one of the most important things in my life. I love to laugh
and bearing in mind the above maybe that says more about my own phyche
than I'm comfatable revealing.

I find humour in the oddest of places, and inerproprate laughtter and
myself are very good freinds indeed. Ohhh I don't do this out of
choice, I just can't help myself, if something is funny I laugh, if I
realise the sillyness of a situation, I laugh, if I can see that there
really is nothting that I can do about a given situation, thats right,
I'll end up laughing in the face of 'it', just to spite 'it', just to
show 'it' that 'it' won't beat me that way.

Laugh in the face of danger, I'm your man! After all, life is rather
silly overall.

On 30 Jun, 13:19, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[gabbydott]

I know what you mean. You know the kind of laughter that makes people
freeze? Sometimes I forget about the cosy-style-law but I'm sure my
American friends will remind me. :-)

[chazwin]

I think applying a "purpose" to any innate human attribute has to be
arbitrary and speculative, and whatever you chose you will be able to
find factors which directly contradict your findings - so diverse and
complex is human life. eg Laughter can alienate as well as strengthen
human connections, as it can be useful to ridicule and divide and
shun. It all depends.

I think Apte is looking at the positive side and ignoring the
negative.
We all love e good belly laugh but it is not recommended if you have
stitches after colon cancer.



On Jun 30, 1:19 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[Vamadevananda]

Sometimes, which is often enough, we laugh because we are impotent at
whatever we are facing ! That's the fact we do not wish to face up
to, or own up. Genuine mirth arises from the child within us, in the
transactional sense.

But I heard the adult advocating the laughter therapy ... ! ?

On Jun 30, 5:19 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[Molly Brogan]

I find that I really don't laugh any more at pictures of people
falling or being hurt - or jokes meant to belittle or demean. Like
Lee, I do laugh at times and hear "It's not funny," when really I am
laughing at the joy I feel in the absurdity or transparency. Whether
we are laughing with or not, the laugh seems to bring us up a tone.

[ornamentalmind]

I think that some materialists here will present an entirely bio-
chemical ontological view/explanation of laughter and demand that it
is exhaustive and that the rest of the 'choir' drink the kool aid.

On Jun 30, 5:19 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[frantheman]

So that we can all be merry pranksters?

> > What do YOU think?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[ornamentalmind]

"So that we can all be merry pranksters?"

No, one had to be 'on the bus' to be a prankster. To drink kool aid in
this context would require a trip to "The People's Temple"...in
Guyana.

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Molly Brogan]

Not much funny there.

[frantheman]

On Jun 30, 11:11 pm, ornamentalmind <ornamentalm...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "So that we can all be merry pranksters?"

> No, one had to be 'on the bus' to be a prankster. To drink kool aid in
> this context would require a trip to "The People's Temple"...in
> Guyana.
>

Oops. Right. Feel a shiver going up and down my spine. Molly's right,
not funny at all.

Francis

[ornamentalmind]

True, there is little humor here.

There does appear to be a lot of irony though when it comes to the
"Peoples Temple Agricultural Project". The connection with 'The
Disciples of Christ' is of note too as is the goal of being "safe from
nuclear fallout if there were a nuclear attack on the United States".
Jones' anti-communist stance, moving towards socialist is interesting
to me too. His use of money 'to protect the First Ammendment' when he
handed it to the print media is worth a look too.

He promised a paradise yet "According to the New York Times, copious
amounts of drugs such as Thorazine, sodium pentathol, chloral hydrate,
Demerol and Valium were administered to Jonestown residents, with
detailed records being kept of each person’s drug regimen; Jonestown
residents claimed the drugs were administered to control their
behavior."

"According to some, meals for the members consisted of nothing more
than rice and beans while Jones dined on eggs, meat, fruit, salads,
and soft drinks from a private refrigerator, separate from the
others."

"Various forms of punishment were used against members considered to
be serious disciplinary problems. Methods included imprisonment in a
6x4x3-foot (1.8 x 1.2 x 0.9 m) plywood box and forcing children to
spend a night at the bottom of a well, sometimes upside-down. Members
who attempted to run away were drugged to the point of incapacitation.
Armed guards patrolled the compound day and night to enforce obedience
to Jones."

So, yes there is a lot of irony when it comes to an ideal and how it
in fact manifested. Perhaps a cautionary tale for others. Further, it
does point out how, when it comes to issues of 'right/wrong', torture
can be a result of such fanaticism.

The vast majority of today's "spiritual leaders" in fact, are not. It
is all too easy to project one's own confusion and ignorance out upon
those who rely upon and merely have faith. This is how it is easy to
conclude that whether it be a materialist or a spiritual 'leader', one
does need to get to a point where one knows what is.

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Jonestown

[Molly Brogan]

Sorry, but I don't look at tragedy when I go looking for a laugh.
Silly me.

[Lee]

Indeed, did any of our Brits here see the documentary on that very
thing a while back? Truly chilling.

On 30 Jun, 23:21, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[Molly Brogan]

I suppose this really speaks to individuality and what makes us
laugh. We are all different. There is the Don Rickles humor that
strikes at ridicule and cruelty and there is an audience for it. He
played Vegas successfully for many years. In terms of deconstructive
humor I prefer the post modern approach of Family Guy or the Simpsons,
which is somehow more palatable yet still pokes fun at the human
race. But there are times when this cannot bring a laugh for me, it
all seems so sad instead of funny.

Perhaps humor is more a reflection of who we are in the moment.

[ornamentalmind]

Molly, forgive me my hamartia, as I forgive those who hamartia against
me.

On Jun 30, 5:04 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

> > > Francis- Hide quoted text -

[Molly Brogan]

how tempting

[FallingLeaves]

I can't imagine a world without laughters and humour... how dull and
pointless will that be! I enjoy satirical/ironical humours more than
anything else and cannot find humour in tragedy as well :). I laugh at
the way a particular politician talks, the clothes people are wearing,
and the ridiculous speeches they sometimes make...

If any of you have been to Taiwan, you'd have seen a celebrity show
that basically has all the actors dress up as particular politicians
and they'd have a gathering, debating about everything... some of the
best shows I've ever watched! I've always wished that they'd do a
similar show in other countries... I wonder what it will be like if
all the candidates of this year's American election have a gathering
and discuss their plans for America TOGETHER... gosh, that will be the
best entertainment of the year. Especially if they try to add a few
reporters and critics.

On 7月1日, 上午12時19分, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[nominal9]

Hello Orn, et al....

Laughter, is founded on a situation consisting of someone's ignorance
as comparaed to someone else's knowledge with regarding a situation in
question. The "smart" person laughs at the "dumb" person... whether
laughter is really funny or not is a personal question, depending to
some extent upon whether one is the "laugher" or the "laughee".
Someone spoke of "irony" above... Irony (literary device) is "funny"
because the contrary "thing" or happening occurs to what was expected
by some person (or character).... the audience or the standers-by
"laugh" at the poor sucker who's expectations were totally reversed.
Satire is the other sort of "literary device" cause for laughter. It
too is founded upon the "ignorance" of some character as compared to
the others... visual Satire is the more obvious, I suppose. Consider
Charlie Chaplin as his tramp character. What is so funny about his
looks, say? Well his hat is "too small" on his head... His coat is
"too small" on his body... but his Pantaloons are much "too big" and
sometimes, so are his shoes "too big" for his feet. Satire works on
either "excess" or "diminution" as compared to what is "seen" to be
actually required by a "knowing" other person.
So... is it really a "kind" thing to do to laugh at another's
"ignorance"?.... kind or not.... that's the way it goes, more often
than not...
nominal9

On Jul 1, 2:35 pm, ornamentalmind <ornamentalm...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Molly Brogan]

I don't think that everyone feels the need to be superior and so not
everyone will laugh at such humor. Irony and satire can either unite
or divide depending on the involvement of judgment in the humor. You
can have humor of the unexpected without demeaning. There is irony
that leads to an embrace of paradox that brings joy and thus, a
laugh. Satire, also, can unite if we are taking a gentle look at
ourselves and accepting our limitations together. But quite right,
there is a market for divisive humor - as there are many folks with
the need to feel superior.

[ornamentalmind]

"... I've always wished that they'd do a similar show in other

countries... I wonder what it will be like if all the candidates of
this year's American election have a gathering and discuss their plans
for America TOGETHER... "

This has been happening in the US for quite a while. See:

http://www.capsteps.com/

> > What do YOU think?- Hide quoted text -

[ornamentalmind]

"...So... is it really a "kind" thing to do to laugh at another's

"ignorance"?.... kind or not.... that's the way it goes, more often

than not.." - nominal9

Nom, of course, the best and most effective laughter is at ones self.
Thus, the action of being has a reaction of a differeing view,
transformed by the function of self observation resulting in greater
clarity and unity.

[ornamentalmind]

"But quite right, there is a market for divisive humor - as there are
many folks with

the need to feel superior." - MB

The dichotomy of superior/inferior is found within 'mind' itself.
While it often is of the subconscious, nevertheless, the area of
interest of our psyche which is called hierarchies, is universal.

On Jul 2, 12:28 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

[Molly Brogan]

Hierarchies may be universal, as in the nested holograms of being -
yet they do not need to be value based, and either does humor. Once
we bring in that judgment of superiority, the humor becomes divisive.

[gabbydott]

No, Molly. I didn’t remain silent on OM’s provocation to hear you
doing the background blubber-bubble. There ain’t no such thing as
universal hierarchies, but shared values across anything per- and
conceivable. Across is the key word here.

On 3 Jul., 16:11, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[Molly Brogan]

I simply meant that there are hierarchies that exist for everyone.

[gabbydott]

Yes, yes. I'm sorry.

On 3 Jul., 18:44, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

[ornamentalmind]

Molly, perhaps you use 'value based' in some sort of moral analysis?
Otherwise, I clearly state that we all know the natural hierarchy of
all things. Case in point, I would never seek brain surgery by a 3
year old. I use a clear evaluation in all such things. Another
example, I do my best to not eat rotten food. I base my choice of
books, movies, entertainment in general, meditations, teachers,
philosophy all upon a clear evaluation.
If you meant something associated with morals, the issue is less clear
to me as to what you mean.

On Jul 3, 7:11 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[Molly Brogan]

We are speaking in terms of humor. Humor that relies on superiority is
divisive humor. Your statement that hierarchies rely on superiority
of one to another is what I challenged. For instance, in the
hierarchy of human maturity - birth to death - an infant has no less
value than an adult even though it is at the beginning of the
hierarchy. I think that humor can unify and does not need to rely on
statements of superiority to make a point or be funny. But people who
enjoy exploring separation and superiority will enjoy this type of
humor.

[ornamentalmind]

On Jul 3, 1:23 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

> We are speaking in terms of humor. Humor that relies on superiority is
> divisive humor.  

Geezzz, Molly. I'm sure that, based on ALL of my posts you are clear
on where I am on this topic. So, I wonder why you continue in this
line. The above is what you had claimed early in the discussion. NO
PLACE did I disagree with it.

>Your statement that hierarchies rely on superiority
> of one to another is what I challenged.  

I did clearly state the entirely obvious that the very NATURE of
hierarchies has to do with the apparent dichotomy of superior on one
end and inferior on the other end. This is inate in the term/concept/
word. You may have read more than this truth into my post. I meant
nothing more. Perhaps you would like to either reread the posts and/or
explain what you are challenging exactly? I see nothing to challenge.
I stated what the word means...period.

>For instance, in the
> hierarchy of human maturity - birth to death - an infant has no less
> value than an adult even though it is at the beginning of the
> hierarchy.

And, of couorse, I mentioned nothing about an infant having more/less
'value'. I DID say that a youth had less ability when it comes to
brain surgery than an adult so trained. NOTHING more was implied.
Again, you appear to continue to misread my posts...I know not why.

>I think that humor can unify and does not need to rely on
> statements of superiority to make a point or be funny.

I agree with this. And NOWHERE made any other claim.

>But  people who
> enjoy exploring separation and superiority will enjoy this type of
> humor.
>

Molly, perhaps it is me who is reading stuff into your posts. I don't
see how any of this has anything to do with my posts. IF this is true,
just ignore the rest, OK?

I will say that your first claim above about ". Humor that relies on
superiority is
divisive humor. " may very well be something you believe. I hold no
view either way about it. I neither know it to be true nor know it not
to be true.

I hope that at the worst we are just talking 'past' each other here.
Overall I see you as a kindred spirit.

[demonchaste]

hi everyone, appropriate topic for my initial post, lol, just kidding,
rofl, but seriously, i sometimes find it necessary to alleviate the
build up of so much absurdity that I've had to tolerate without the
advantage of being able to point out to the absurderer that I find
myself laughing to the point of tears, with maybe a little hysteria in
there, a type of breakdown, when my absurdity threshold gets maxed
out. I think that what you see as crazily absurd, pointless, futile,
irrelevant, and life is too short why are you wasting our valuable
time you idiot? These absurdities are relative to the individual who
deems them so, but are the types of things that can lead you to an
assortment of mental health issues, maybe even contributing to say one
working mail "going postal"...When i see a comedian or someone else
singling out a particular segment of the population representing a
chunk of absurdity that has gotten to me, the laughter that comes from
the deep recesses of my soul seems to "free" me up a bit, loosening up
cells on a molecular level that where a bit stuck threatening atrophy,
It's some kinda release, for me, though absurd to another, don't take
yourself too seriously, but shirley, you jest. ~bob

[nominal9]

Hello Molly Brogan,
Have we met before? Just asking because I do not always remember
people I have talked with in the past.
Sorry that it took me a while to get back here.... Independence
Day.... as good an excuse as any for being a bit lax, I suppose,
right?
I don't want to start an arguement (or maybe I do, depending on what
you think.... all in a good way.... the advancement of "constructive
differences of opinion" leading to "knowledge" on somebody's part)
what did you have in mind whan you said....[Irony and satire can

either unite or divide depending on the involvement of judgment in the

humor]? I am keying in on your word "judgment".... this begs the
question.... what "judgment" and who's "judgment".... let me put it
this way... Some High Court Judge or Justice said.... "I know
pornography when I see it"... and, on this "innate" judgment of his he
proceeded to Censor all sorts of expression as "pornographic". Now,
let me be clear, I am not defending "pornography".... but all I am
saying is that a lot of fairly important "expression" has actually
been censored due to someone or other's personal "judgment" when there
was not any true cause (in other people's opinion...). What if your
"judgment" and my own "judgment" do not cooincide on some isssue or
matter? What then? Paradox... that's another word that you use in your
post... I have thought about "paradoxes", myself... coincidently,
concerning this whole issue of "deception" as in regards humour or
laughter.... I would be interested to hear you explain or give some
examples of paradoxes as they affect humour.
Nice to meet you, or to meet you again, if we have spoken before...
nominal9

On Jul 2, 3:28 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

> > > On Jun 30, 5:04 pm,MollyBrogan<mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

[nominal9]

Nom, of course, the best and most effective laughter is at ones self.
Thus, the action of being has a reaction of a differeing view,
transformed by the function of self observation resulting in greater

clarity and unity./ Ornamentalmind....

Hi Ornamentalmind
I don't know how much of this I understand or how much of it I "buy".
On the one hand.... How far outside of one's own head can anyone
really get? I mean, as a function of "memory" I suppose we can all
look back, in hindsight, and say something or other about our own
previous actions or states of mind. Such as.... Man was I lame or what
when I passed up that lost opportunity? Or what was I thinking when I
did such and such on the basis of my "belief" or my "allegieance" to
such and such a lame notion?
But then, at the time, I think you will probably concur that, in your
then frame of mind, the decision that you (or I, or anyone) took
definitely seemed the right one. So, who is to say that some decision
that you take today will not, in hindsight, appear to be just as ill-
founded? The point being that.... you cannot actually GET OUT OF YOUR
OWN PRESENT-TIME MIND.
Then also.... this whole thing about self-observation still makes me
think of the old, stock put-down.... What are you doing, contemplating
your own navel?
nominal9

> > > On Jun 30, 5:04 pm,MollyBrogan<mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

[Molly Brogan]

Nom,

You have jumped right into this thread and asked three different
people many different questions all requiring some depth of response
on many different topics. It seems to me that would throw all
coherency of this thread to the wind, if all were to respond to
everything you have just posted. I suppose we could follow the acid
trip logic of it all and find the humor in it. But why?

[Slip Disc]

Great Thread Molly!
It started out really well but somehow became overly analytical. The
humor aspect has lost it's sheen. What I found most interesting was
that humans seem to be the only species that engage in laughter. I do
sometimes notice that when I'm in play with one my dogs and she
realizes that I fooled her with a trick, she has this look on her face
as if she would laugh if she could. I suspect that internally she is
experiencing laughter without the external display of it. As with
their other obvious emotions animals must somehow understand
laughter. Personally I find laughter to be essential in my everyday
world and will avoid people and situations that are otherwise.
Peace, Love and Joy!
Slip

[Molly Brogan]

Q: What do whales like to chew?
A: Blubber gum!

[Slip Disc]

That's funny Molly!
During the Great Depression there was a poor man vending apples on the
street for 5 cents each.
Every single day a man would walk by and drop 5 cents into the can and
walk away without taking an apple.
Six months later the poor apple seller finally stopped the man.
"Excuse me, why all this time you put 5 cents in my can and never take
an apple?" he asked.
The gentleman responded "Well I am employed and make good money and
thought that I would help you out during these hard times, but tell
me, why in all this time did you not asked me about it?"
The poor apple seller told him simply "I just wanted to let you know
the apples are 10 cents now".



On Jul 5, 7:46 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[nominal9]

Howdy ornamentalmind,
Good points , those that you made in the referenced post.The
difference between Ethics and Ontology. Ethics, of course has to do
with "value judgments" of Good vs. Bad whereas Ontology has to do with
"value judgments" of Fact vs. Fiction. By definition, Ontology is
"verifiable", by oneself and by others , through "emopirical
experience" of the objective reality of things or actual qualities(?).
But Ethics is at best a question of personal (or some generalized,
social) subjective opinion as to the "advisability" of some actual
physical thing (or performed action) or "felt" quality (?).

Now I do not want to sound all-inclusive or "exhaustive" in my
statements... I just want to give my broad notion of the distinction
between Ethics and Ontology.My point being.... in Ontology, the base
question is "only" can such and such a thing be done or does something
exist... that's all.. if yes, it is factual, if no it is fictional. In
Ethics however, the base question is that among "all" things that can
be done or among everything that exists... which are Good to do and
which are Bad to do. The thing about Ethics is that different People
have different opinions or "valure judgments" as to what is Good or
Bad, be it on an individual level or at the level of different
societies or "cultures".... and those different opinions,they are all
doable.

This seems more or less a given of common sense, to me. Peoples and
countries fight or go to war over "Ethical" questions.... Very rarely
or never do they quarrel over simple Ontological questions....there is
no point to it.

So, ontologically, I would concur that, all things being as expected
(i.e., we aren't talking about a child prodigy super genius kid)I
wouild definitely have the brain surgery done by the Thirty or so year
old trained doctor. But consider the other question....Ethically,
which would you tend to believe to be more "good" the thirty year old
doctor or the three year old child? Innocence has a lot to do with our
"notions" of ethical Good or Bad, doesn't it? As per expectations...
the "innocent" child would probably be more ethically Good because the
child 1) has not yet learned all the ways to be Bad and 2) also
because the child has not had the same amount of time to put his/her
Bad learning into effect....

On another topic, ornamentalmind.... I totaslly disagree with your own
notions as to "universals'... You and I should have that discussion
some day. Let me broach it this way for you OM... Are you a "theistic"
person.... (I don't think you are)... so is God (or Gods) a
"universal"?

nominal9

[Slip Disc]

I failed to mention that I did think for a moment whether or not you
were being facetious with the joke and just toying with me because I
made comment of the depth of analysis concerning humor. Sure there are
dark sides of humor but I gathered from your original post that you
did not want to go there. Some members responded to the obvious
positive aspects of humor while other entered and began dissecting
it. If the intention of your initial post was to cover every minute
particle then excuse me. I'm fine with it either way.

On Jul 5, 7:46 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[Molly Brogan]

Nah, I don't toy, but do enjoy people. Your post was a good one, I
could almost see your dog next to me, smiling. I had really thought
this thread had gone up for grabs, so thanks for humoring the notion.
Much appreciated.

Molly

[ornamentalmind]

nom, see new thread created for this topic.

> ...
>
> read more »- Hide quoted text -

[Slip Disc]

Well no problem, if you change your mind though about the toying, I'm
your puppet.lol
There are animals that make sounds that mimic laughing and sometimes I
wonder, like the Dolphin which is claimed to be highly intelligent and
of course the Hyena.

Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist at Bowling Green State University
says, "neural circuits for laughter exist in very ancient regions of
the brain, and ancestral forms of play and laughter existed in other
animals eons before we humans came along with our 'ha-ha-has' and
verbal repartee"
She further states that when chimps play and chase each other, they
pant in a manner that is strikingly like human laughter. Also rats
chirp while they play, again in a way that resembles our giggles.
Panksepp found in a previous study that when rats are playfully
tickled, they chirp and bond socially with their human tickler. And
they seem to like it, seeking to be tickled more. Apparently joyful
rats also preferred to hang out with other chirpers.
Also;
In a research study at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, Sibe
Doosje in the Department of Psychology's humor lab has gathered
information on the psychology and health aspects of humor.

So perhaps if anything laughing is not unique to humans but only our
ability to joke and create pranks. I would guess more research is
needed in this area. In the meantime I will continue to laugh as much
as possible. After all maybe life itself is just a big joke.

Here, Have A Good Laugh >>>>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdOjCAtOn9o





On Jul 5, 2:52 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>
wrote:

[Molly Brogan]

I know that for me, laughing provides a kind of release - like from a
good pun that allows me to see something differently or puts things in
an unexpected light. It is also bonding - there is nothing like
laughing yourself into tears with a buddy. With interest, I observe
the more divisive kinds of humor - ethnic jokes - jokes that are
against, or highlight the darker side of society. I remember a rash
of Nichole Simpson jokes during that trial that mesmerized so many. I
feel sadness there, and don't see the humor in it. But I do see that
others do. And recognize that it might just be a release from tension
of our shadow aspects. Like laughing at the horror or absurdity of
life.

[Slip Disc]

I see your point. Sometimes personal tragedies can become fodder for
late night shows only because the object is in the public eye. I too
sometimes feel sad at the occurrence of such humorous floggings. The
release aspect is one that I can identify with as well. There is a
certain feeling that occurs after a good gut wrenching laugh that
results in the expression "ah gee that was good". Even with the tears
and the tightened stomach muscles it is really good. On a daily basis
I engage people in laughter and have been thanked many times by
someone who spends the entire day in the blahs of the boring job. If
I can give a smile to someone it somehow brings me joy as well and
ultimately makes me feel better. When we take life seriously we set
ourselves up for disappointment. I think the funniest thing about
ethnic jokes is that most often the characterizations are accurate.
We sometimes feel remorse for laughing at something we know is true
but probably only because we are living in a more politically correct
society. I get very apprehensive these days laughing at jokes that
are derived from racist slurs. It's just not the same as it was 50
years ago even though I know the pertinence of the joke is still
retains it's relevance.

On Jul 7, 6:13 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

[Molly Brogan]

I know that for me, I stopped enjoying the racial jokes when I could
visibly see their painful effects on people of that race. Empathy
serves well here. But I think we need to reach a point of maturity to
understand - get to that point where we understand that the world is
bigger than me and my group. I worked with high school aged kids for
a couple of years and watched some of them make this transition the
hard way. They would tell a racial joke in a group that included kids
of the race they were mocking. I did not usually have to mediate, and
it was fascinating to watch the discovery unfold. I could look on
with compassion because of my own experience.

Your joke above is a good example of a good poke at humanity - how
often do we overlook the gifts we have been given when we are fixated
on what we don't have but want? If understanding of the common human
flaw comes with the smile, the joke unifies and connects us with
everyone else. If the smile is cynical, and the understanding is that
this poor greedy bastard will never "get it" and the world is full of
"them", then it separates, and allows us to feel our outrage or
condemn our experience, which is what we need in the moment. Same
joke, different take. Still a smile...

[Slip Disc]

I think the hurt starts in the belief implied in the joke. Years ago I
worked with emotionally disturbed children ages 8 through 12 in a
university setting where the ED children were bused from ISD's. The
university psychology students would spend time in the class as part
of their applied curriculum. It was a unique experience and I learned
a great deal from it. Primarily I found that the children were imbued
with a sense of failure as a result of negative bombardment from the
parents. After penetrating their safety net I was able to guide them
to life changing paths. Trust was a huge factor as some had
experienced serious abuses. However, I want to tell you about a
specific example with a child whom I will call TC. Of course I want
to back track as this may be parallel to the example that you
presented about kids telling racial jokes amongst others of that
particular race. Well TC was quite the bulbous individual and would
often come to me with the complaint that someone was making fun of
him because he was fat. I started to realize that he wasn't really
that fat but merely responded to accusation. This conversation
followed;
Slip; Well can I ask you a question? Are your ears green?
TC; (in a jovial way) NO!
Slip; So if someone said your ears were green would you get upset?
TC; No Way.
Slip; You don't get upset because you know the truth is your ears are
not green. Right?
TC; Well yeah
Slip; Well do you think you are fat?
TC; No I don't think I'm fat.
Slip; Well you don't think your ears are green and you don't think you
are fat. You only get upset if someone says you are fat.
Just then at that very moment in time he figured it all out and never
responded to that insulting accusation again. Because he knew his ears
were not green and he knew he wasn't fat, though he was overweight but
he would toss every comment out as if the comment was "your ears are
green".
So racial jokes are hurtful when the recipient has a belief that the
joke relates to their personal assessment.



On Jul 8, 8:17 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

[Molly Brogan]

Wonderful story. And yes, tricky stuff, since we rarely know people's
personal assessment well enough. Yet I'm wondering at the difference
between hurtful humor, what is funny, and what is not funny. Perhaps
it is primarily a matter of personal assessment and conditioning. Yet
I know, that hearing a baby's first laughs I am always compelled to
wonder at the cause - are they universal? Are there aspects of humor
that are universal, and not personal? Or is humor mostly human
because we are consciously individual? Until we're not. Now that's
funny.

[Molly Brogan]

What does a baby computer call his father?
Data.

On Jul 9, 7:22 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

> ...
>
> read more »

[Molly Brogan]

Here is a great example, not only of bonding humor, but of taking a
gentle poke at ourselves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkB4o_J-qPE

On Jul 10, 9:55 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

> ...
>
> rehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkB4o_J-qPEad more »

[Molly Brogan]

Laughter yoga is a global phenom...

http://www.laughteryoga.org/

On Jul 10, 10:04 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

> ...
>
> read more »

[ornamentalmind]

As much as I like things about Dean Martin, I found his 'humor' in the
video to be mean spirited at best.

On Jul 10, 7:04 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

[Molly Brogan]

Knowing that Dean Martin and George Gobel were friends, I'm pretty
sure George took the joke in the gracious spirit of humor when he
found out. But this is what I mean - humor can be so highly
personal. What is mean, what is not funny, what is funny can be
different for everyone. Although I am not sure what that tells us
about human nature or the nature of humor.

[ornamentalmind]

When it comes to behavior, being 'gracious', in most situations, this
one included, the underlying social truth is a lie.

On Jul 10, 2:27 pm, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>

[Molly Brogan]

Do you consider practical jokes to be lies?

> ...
>
> read more »

[ornamentalmind]

I don't have an opinion about practical jokes in general. I do about
the nature of being gracious.

On Jul 11, 4:42 am, Molly Brogan <mbro...@mollybroganenterprises.com>