Sunday, 20 November 2011

Funny Jokes And Humor Are One Of The Free Perks Of Life!

By Norman Tuker


Humor can come from unexpected sources. I work in the medical field and while you might not think that would be a hotbed of comedic material, it truly can be. Health care workers and patients alike are surrounded by illness and death and need the natural outlet and stress relief provided by laughter.

Finding jokes and remembering funny sayings are ways that a person can use humor to do a great number of things. While not everyone is able to throw out quick-witted remarks, anyone can remember simple jokes and sayings that can lighten the mood in a situation. Jokes, from one liners to fifteen minute stories, can be used to reach out to a variety of people.

The first time I witnessed an exhibition of gallows humor, I was horrified. A patient, who had just had a tumor removed, was meeting with her physician. They were discussing reconstructive surgery, which seemed frightening and I could see no humor in the matter. When I passed the room, I was stunned to see her juggling the implant samples, which looks like sacks of clear gel, that the physician brought for their discussion. She threw one implant high up in the air then snatched it out while throwing another. Eventually she had three going of various sizes and weights.

Humor must be elegant. I know it is kind of old fashioned, but just watch the episodes of "All in the Family" or "Wings", or in the modern day TV, "Seinfeld" or "What's my Line" or the British sitcoms, "Keeping up Appearances" and "As Time Flies By"and you will understand what I mean. None of these shows used vulgarity, or referred to gross bodily functions or made indecent innuendos to drive home their humor. Even racial jokes were elegant and decorous. Now watch some of the comedians. They frequently use four-letter words. This should be your first clue that they are not very smart comedians. Usually people use profanity when they run out of ideas.

This was my first exposure to gallows humor, but not my last. This type of display continued when I worked in the physicians office and after a while, I would usually laugh along rather than be shocked by patients' actions. One day in the office I walked back to the treatment room where the patients received their chemotherapy. I stopped in the doorway, stunned at the sight before me.

Lastly, the internet is a great resource for finding jokes. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of websites devoted to humor.

Humor should be subtle. Unfortunately, our comedians think they need to be in your face. Bob Hope used to deliver the best jokes because when he finished his punch line, you had to think for a couple of seconds. Take his line about city of Tuskaloosa. Here is what he said---"when my agent first called me to book me there, I said, "that sounds like an elephant with a toothache---are you sure that is a city?"




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