August 4, 2017
I figured we’d end the week that covered uncertain feelings with something more uplifting – laughter.
The photographs of friends and acquaintances speak for themselves, I hope.
And if you have the energy in this weather to read, here is a short article on research into laughter that you might – perhaps – find funny. And I quote: There is a long, semi-illustrious history of scholarly investigation into the nature of humor, from Freud’s Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, which may well be the least funny book about humor ever written, to a British research group who claimed they had determined the world’s funniest joke. Despite the fact that the researchers sampled a massive international audience in making this judgment, the winning joke revolved around New Jersey residents: A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be breathing; his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency service. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator says: “Take it easy. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is silence, then a shot is heard. The guy’s voice comes back on the line. He says, “OK, now what?”
http://discovermagazine.com/2007/brain/laughter
The winning joke???????
One of the things I learned to my great satisfaction is that I am not the only one who produces my own tears of laughter when telling a joke, to the point of not being able to finish it, in front of my eye-rolling family. (I have long given up trying to tell jokes in public.) Apparently a lot of people think their stuff is funny when others do not. And yet, the laughter often brings on laughter, as a shared social activity rather than via agreement on the intended humor.
Laughter, just like tears, is a social affair after all, helping to bond people together, and to reduce their stress hormones to improve physical well being. It is indeed the case that laughter can heal. It is also true that it is really tricky to study……
https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/jul/10/joke-study-laughter-comedy-scientific
as well as difficult to photograph. Hard to hold the camera still when you are infected by the joy around you.
Steve Tilden
Three Nuns died and are waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. They’re so excited they run up to the front of the line, and ask St. Peter if they can go in right away. He says OK, but they have to pass the test.
The test?
Yes, Sister, your question is ‘Who was the first man?’
‘Oh,’ she says. ‘That’s easy, it was Adam.’
‘Step right in, Sister.’ The Pearly Gates open.
To the second Nun: ‘And who, Sister, was the first woman?’
‘Oh,’ she says, that was Eve.’
‘Step right in, Sister.’ The Pearly Gates open.
The third Nun feels quite confident, the questions have been so easy.
‘And your question, Sister, is what was the first thing Eve ever said to Adam?’
She froze! ‘Oh, that’s hard.’
‘Step right in, Sister.’
Martha Ullman West
I love this post, including the New Jersey joke. As far as I’m concerned, when the day comes that I can’t laugh, please, someone, make sure I’m dead.
Deb Meyer
You made me smile! Thank you for sharing those beautiful pictures of joy!