dont let anyone beat it out of you.
The ultimate test as to whether you possess a sense of humour is your reaction when someone tells you that you don’t.
The great T.S. Elliot once remarked – “Humour is also a way of saying something serious”
What some people find funny, compared to others reactions is very much besides the point, as long as the notion of humour is ascertained, no feelings should be hurt. I am the first to admit that many things I find funny are certainly offensive to others, although I was always raised with a sense of humour as paramount in defining my character, this resulted in my ability to accept and embrace laughter, even if it was at my expense.
I was always taught to laugh with life, otherwise life will be laughing at you, and you will be skulking in the corner like an imbecile with a dunce hat on – and it pains me to see imbeciles in corners with their little hats on, because it is so much easier to laugh than it is to fight. Sure, I am not so naïve to think there aren’t things in this world I wouldn’t find funny, but when that happens, I can generally call upon my upbringing to observe why others may find it hilarious.
It’s a shame when people take themselves so seriously that they think any derogatory remark in the name of humour is directed right towards them, of course, this only leads to people’s feelings getting hurt because the hostile climate of our world encourages self-importance, and humorous impotence.
It’s a trick I have learnt, yet not mastered. When telling a home truth that is quite possibly hurtful towards someone, you will not get an overtly negative reaction if you say it with a smile and a laugh. Laughing is a quality and trait that disarms even the most rigid personality, and I don’t see anything wrong with this at all.
Humour of the written word is substantially more difficult to convey than humour up close and personal, we don’t have the nuances of body language - a splendid benefit. It’s more important to tip toe around issues whereas I would rather dance all over them. Perfecting written humour is like mastering ballet – some people find men in tights performing arabesques quite sickening, but most should enjoy the beauty and expression that is obvious.
Anyone who took offence to Fred Astair dancing across the screen would have their sanity questioned. The ability to laugh at ourself and humanities failings makes us who we are shows that as a people, we are actually learning what is right or wrong. I would die without my sense of humour; I would rather die of laughter. I hope I endure some more abuse at the hands of others, It will help me with a great skill in life - the ability to laugh and shirk it off.