Hi everyone, I read this thread yesterday and found it quite interesting. It showed me something about my own past behavior that I now find to be embarrassing and quite despicable. I too, at one time thought jokes of this stereotyping kind (and worse) were"funny".
I was thinking that maybe someone, more well versed with the material of the Work than myself, could direct Richard to some of the material of M or G that discuses the reaction of laughter as a "blow off valve"(BOV) of sorts for uncomfortable truths that have not been assimilated into the conscience mind.
My memory is not helping me much here, but I think Jung also covered these reactions as an indication of a disconnect between the conscience and sub-conscience mind .
I have to admit I chuckled a little at some of the joke, but it was not true mirth. IMHO, I have found, (at least in my own slow painful course of development), that if I payed attention to my emotions, it happened that as the chuckle subsided a kind of disgust and a little anger is all that remained when the "joke" was at an others expense, or supported an outright lie. True mirth leaves one with a smile and a joyous feeling.
I too have a pretty "dark" sense of humor, but i think that that kind of gallows humor is of the "BOV" variety that confronts uncomfortable universal truths. When BOV type laughter is generated by jokes about any segregated group, be it race, gender etc, it may seem "funny" but its not true mirth...its not really humorous at all, its just a programed reaction. But it can be a good way to see where one needs to dig if your honest and ruthless about working on yourself.
There was another point, as my awareness grew but before I came here and learned what external consideration was, that I lost more than a few friends and acquaintances because I chastised them for, or flat out asked them not to tell me, their latest racist joke. I was still in a kind of denial about all the little i's we all have...and I guess I just didn't want to see the ugly side of what seemed to be "good people", or worse yet, that they perceived me as someone possessing the same kind of bigotry as them.
....it was a VERY uncomfortable and distressing realization about how others perceived me, and lead to much soul searching.
Now, if I hear some kind of mean or distasteful joke I generally just feel a little disgust and sadness for the one who tells it....though there are still certain situations where the righteous anger overrides the external consideration, and I make the teller aware of how stupid and offensive their "joke" is.
Richard, I hope this helps, and don't be too hard on yourself as you shine the light into the darkness. Its very hard to confront what you'll see, but its well worth the effort.
Thanks, Dave
I was thinking that maybe someone, more well versed with the material of the Work than myself, could direct Richard to some of the material of M or G that discuses the reaction of laughter as a "blow off valve"(BOV) of sorts for uncomfortable truths that have not been assimilated into the conscience mind.
My memory is not helping me much here, but I think Jung also covered these reactions as an indication of a disconnect between the conscience and sub-conscience mind .
I have to admit I chuckled a little at some of the joke, but it was not true mirth. IMHO, I have found, (at least in my own slow painful course of development), that if I payed attention to my emotions, it happened that as the chuckle subsided a kind of disgust and a little anger is all that remained when the "joke" was at an others expense, or supported an outright lie. True mirth leaves one with a smile and a joyous feeling.
I too have a pretty "dark" sense of humor, but i think that that kind of gallows humor is of the "BOV" variety that confronts uncomfortable universal truths. When BOV type laughter is generated by jokes about any segregated group, be it race, gender etc, it may seem "funny" but its not true mirth...its not really humorous at all, its just a programed reaction. But it can be a good way to see where one needs to dig if your honest and ruthless about working on yourself.
There was another point, as my awareness grew but before I came here and learned what external consideration was, that I lost more than a few friends and acquaintances because I chastised them for, or flat out asked them not to tell me, their latest racist joke. I was still in a kind of denial about all the little i's we all have...and I guess I just didn't want to see the ugly side of what seemed to be "good people", or worse yet, that they perceived me as someone possessing the same kind of bigotry as them.
....it was a VERY uncomfortable and distressing realization about how others perceived me, and lead to much soul searching.Now, if I hear some kind of mean or distasteful joke I generally just feel a little disgust and sadness for the one who tells it....though there are still certain situations where the righteous anger overrides the external consideration, and I make the teller aware of how stupid and offensive their "joke" is.
Richard, I hope this helps, and don't be too hard on yourself as you shine the light into the darkness. Its very hard to confront what you'll see, but its well worth the effort.
Thanks, Dave
