Humor and splitting

[monotonic]

I notice sometimes there is contention on whether it's acceptable to think something is funny or not. I think there is a distinction between subjective humor and objective humor. I've found that sometimes I find something funny while at the same time wondering whether my humor is in bad taste or not. I've discovered recently that if I find something funny for no obvious reasons, that it will be a mechanical, subjective kind of humor. It reminds me of cognitive dissonance and splitting. At the same time what emotion should replace the feeling of humor? I had the spontaneous thought that maybe what was really funny was my reaction to what I thought was funny. Seeing it this way helps me to look at myself and acknowledge the thoughts I try to obliterate with laughter. It's also a new way to experience humor.

 

[Leonarda]

Apart of what you said I have read time ago that your first/mother language also influences the kind of humor you have and the things you find funny :)

 

[Muxel]

ISOTM:

"Laughter is also directly connected with accumulators. But laughter is the opposite function to yawning. It is not pumping in, but pumping out, that is, the pumping out and the discarding of superfluous energy collected in the accumulators. Laughter does not exist in all centers, but only in centers divided into two halves—positive and negative. If I have not yet spoken of this in detail, I shall do so when we come to a more detailed study of the centers. At present we shall take only the intellectual center. There can be impressions which fall at once on two halves of the center and produce at once a sharp 'yes' and 'no.' Such a simultaneous 'yes' and 'no' produces a kind of convulsion in the center and, being unable to harmonize and digest these two opposite impressions of one fact, the center begins to throw out in the form of laughter the energy which flows into it from the accumulator whose turn it is to supply it. In another instance it happens that in the accumulator there has collected too much energy which the center cannot manage to use up. Then every, the most ordinary, impression can be received as double, that is, it may fall at once on the two halves of the center and produce laughter, that is, the discarding of energy.

"You must understand that I am only giving you an outline. You must remember that both yawning and laughter are very contagious. This shows that they are essentially functions of the instinctive and the moving centers."

"Why is laughter so pleasant?" asked someone.

"Because," G. answered, "laughter relieves us of superfluous energy, which, if it remained unused, might become negative, that is, poison. We always have plenty of this poison in us. Laughter is the antidote. But this antidote is necessary only so long as we are unable to use all the energy for useful work. It is said of Christ that he never laughed. And indeed you will find in the Gospels no indication or mention of the fact that at any time Christ laughed. But there are different ways of not laughing. There are people who do not laugh because they are completely immersed in negative emotions, in malice, in fear, in hatred, in suspicion. And there may be others who do not laugh because they cannot have negative emotions. Understand one thing. In the higher centers there can be no laughter, because in higher centers there is no division, and no 'yes' and 'no.'"

Bringers of the Dawn:

This is our intention - that you come to a higher ground where you can create a new order of identity courageously, with humor, and with confidence.

We call them the Lizzies because we like to make things a little less emotional and a little humorous so that you don't take them so seriously and get so upset. We are not here to frighten you - we are here to inform you.

(on crop circles)

There is also a joke behind them. You must understand that some beings, as they become very evolved, develop a tremendous sense of humor. They see the humor in all things.

I think our sense of humor grows and develops as we ourselves grow and develop. Or that, with age, we've been around more, seen more, "heard that one before," known more sorrow, become more wise, and our sense of humor takes a quantum leap and we don't laugh at the same things that we did when we were giddy children. I think we are prone to being "tickled" (for instance, nervous laughter) when faced with something new.

Cracking up for long periods of time leaves me drained and exhausted, and if I do it (which is almost never), it might be that (a) it's my first time coming across such material, (b) some "immature" circuits are being activated, or (c) something else.

I like to "take in" everything I can about what I see and maintain a "big picture" awareness, which amounts to the sum of my knowledge at any given time. So that, for me it's not just the joke, it's the setting, context, characters, costumes, what else draws my attention, etc.

I do think there is "objective humor" in that, someone who is laughing hysterically at a table is probably being "subjectively humorous." Then again, you haven't heard his reason for it!

As for concerns about humor being in bad taste: I just want to say that we live in the realm of πονηρός, evil, STS, etc. And the STS hierarchy means that those at the lower echelons have the same characteristics of the "dominators" only to a lesser degree. Thus we have a "imma troll you for lulz" culture, a psychopathic playing-"games"-to-win culture, ... Humor is part of their arsenal. :/

 

[Lisa Guliani]

Humor has been invaluable to me in my life. It's helped me navigate through the darkest situations, it helps to diffuse anger, it uplifts me when I'm sad, and it can reduce a perceived 'threat' level back into perspective when I amplify something in my mind more than necessary due to worry.

I think it's one of our greatest tools in life. There are things that are simply not funny and to laugh at someone else's expense is one of those things, imo. Murder is one of those things that isn't funny, or when someone has been harmed. Humor has been very helpful to me when I've had to deal with petty tyrants.

And I'm thankful for both laughter and for the ability to find humor in a given situation (usually), and for the people who can make me laugh. I like to make others laugh too. It's good to see people smile.
Humor/laughter truly can be and has been some of the best medicine.
I wouldn't want to live in a world without either.

 

[Explorer]

Apparently making light of a dark situation or "laughing it off" is a "mature" defense mechanism, so it can be seen a beneficial. I know for a fact that when I'm strict with my EE I begin to take things less seriously and make jokes more.

 

[Lisa Guliani]

I had a situation once at work in which I was called into a meeting with the administrator, who was a petty tyrant, for a 'talking-to'.
There were several others present at this meeting, and the administrator began to lecture me in a pretty condescending manner. He then came right out and told me that I'm a 'spark plug' and "the spark plug shouldn't ask the oil filter how much oil is in the engine." How condescending is that?

When he said all this to me, my sense of humor kicked in almost immediately.
In my head, as he was talking, I started singing the "I'm a little teapot' song, only I changed the words to "I'm a little spark plug". It was all I could do not to laugh right in front of the guy, but I managed to keep a straight face during the meeting.

In that particular situation, humor really helped me to NOT become angry and say something I'd probably later regret, even though the man deserved to hear it with both barrels.
Humor helped me maintain a calm exterior manner and it reduced the 'threat level' during those moments so I could handle sitting there during the remainder of the diatribe.

The 'reason' I was in trouble was ambiguous to me, and they never did tell me precisely why I was called into that meeting, what it was really about, or what I'd done wrong, but I did advocate for the elderly and it tended to tick the higher ups off at times.

Point here is, humor can really help you get through stressful situations.

 

[Lan8r]

Point here is, humor can really help you get through stressful situations.

I so agree with this. I have, many times in my past, had to find the humor in some seriously stressful situations. If I hadn't, I can't even imagine the dark hole (anger, depression, etc) I might have sunken into. And finding humor in retrospect is very valuable when contemplating going forward! I also find that laughing at myself, finding the humor in my thoughts and sometimes my actions/behavior can help me to keep an even keel. I have been criticized for this by many who tell me that I should think more highly of myself! And that makes me laugh :)

I am not sure of what might be considered 'immature' humor vs. 'mature' humor. When I see a child laugh, to me it is contagious. How can you not be drawn into the joyous laughter of an innocent child?

I guess, maybe it boils down to what exactly one finds 'humorous'. There are many things in this life that are just NOT funny at all. There is also funny Ha ha, funny ironic, satire, facetious humor, etc. And there are so many times in our individual lives where 'If I didn't laugh, I would cry' can mean the difference between wallowing or getting on with it.

Personally, I think that Humor is a valuable survival tool. But like all valuable Tools, it needs to be cared for and used wisely.

 

[Keit]

I am not sure of what might be considered 'immature' humor vs. 'mature' humor. When I see a child laugh, to me it is contagious. How can you not be drawn into the joyous laughter of an innocent child?

I think that maybe in this context words like "immature" or "mature" don't refer to the actual physical age, but more to the age of inner emotional development. For example, an "immature" person may find videos of falling or stumbling people hilarious, while "mature" person may appreciate a more intellectual or dry humor. But there may be no cut and dry distinctions. ;)

There is also this post that talks about levels of laughter according to Dabrowski (Theory of Positive Disintegration). And there is, indeed, also an idea of "mature" people being able to laugh at themselves, while "immature" laugh at others.

 

[Pierre]

He then came right out and told me that I'm a 'spark plug' and "the spark plug shouldn't ask the oil filter how much oil is in the engine."

Well, an engine can run a very long time without an oil filter but without spark plugs it can't even start. So your administration, in addition to being a petty tyran, was pretty ignorant as far as mechanics is concerned and ended up with an analogy that actually gave you the good / important role ;)

 

[SeekinTruth]

He then came right out and told me that I'm a 'spark plug' and "the spark plug shouldn't ask the oil filter how much oil is in the engine."

Well, an engine can run a very long time without an oil filter but without spark plugs it can't even start. So your administration, in addition to being a petty tyran, was pretty ignorant as far as mechanics is concerned and ended up with an analogy that actually gave you the good / important role ;)

Humor in unexpected places, or in all the wrong places from the administrator's point of view!

 

[Lisa Guliani]

He didn't mean it in a good way, is what I got out of it.
He said it with intent to intimidate and embarrass me in front of others, to let me know that I shouldn't be asking questions or approaching anyone there with ideas or suggestions to improve the environment for the elderly residents of the nursing home, and to inform me in no uncertain terms of my very small 'role' in the overall scheme of things.
I was told if I chose not to attend the meeting, then I would be 'written up', but nobody would tell me what I'd be written up FOR. So really, it was a no-win situation, which is why I attended the 'meeting'.

I got the message loud and clear: shut up and do your job or else.