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Emancipating Humor
In light of recent conversations on the death of humor, at work today in the space of about five minutes or so I blurted out some comments that I thought were humorous; sharing these thoughts with some of my customers. I departed from my usual “Welcome. Whatcha lookin’ for today?”
I’d share the specifics except for the fear that they might get back to someone in my company who would be offended, leading to disciplinary action. What I will say is that in response to a customer’s question about how we can sell our farm gates so cheaply, I responded with a non-traditional reply that involved absolving President Trump of any culpability for providing indentured servitude to construct or supply our inventory of gates. Shortly after that, I used another line that is probably safe, which was after a customer asked if we carried mailboxes. I replied, “No, ours are gender neutral.” I’m sure there is a certain amount of “you had to be thereishness” to it for y’all.
After rattling off my one-liners and being self satisfyingly pleased with my wit, delivery and the customers’ reaction to it I felt … energized.
I think the energy comes at least in part from having the opportunity to laugh. Not uproariously, but a bit more than a giggle. It felt liberating. I told some jokes and laughed. I was funny. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt okay with blurting out something. I realized that, however insidiously, what Jon Gabriel and others have talked about has been smothering me.
I just wanted to share the thought that humor is liberating. I enjoy being funny, however good or bad. I really enjoy laughing. I want to continue to say something that skirts good taste and sensibility and allow me a heartily laugh and feel good and hopefully my customers as well.
That’s about it. Thanks for listening.
Published in General
I think the latter one works out well enough; I’d steal it if I thought I’d ever have the chance to use it. I can’t judge the first one without more details.
When you’re smiling ….. The whole world smiles with you!
“Yer looking for Our post-op aisle.”
Our priest (Orthodox) is good at this. Recently he worked into his sermon during the Divine Liturgy a pitch for the children’s classes in which he said one of the youngsters recited a prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us email.”
Another one a while back in a different place (this one, Roman) had for his opening words on Easter Sunday, “Pleased to see all of you here from last year.”
The first one got a laugh; the second one didn’t.
My humor nearly emancipated me out of a job a few times.
Easter, and the priest had some kids up on the dais with him. “And what do we call those little furry creatures who have babies every six months?” – a pause as he seemed to listen to a small child – “No, not Catholics….”
Good for you! Thanks for the chuckles, everyone!
Enjoy it while it is still allowed. The deep state will deal with you, but it has its hands full at the moment.
<self – deleted> Too risqué for lil’ ol’ me.
I’ve never read Mark Steyn but picked up a book at a library sale prophetically written in 2006 called America Alone – the End of the World as we know it. Everything in it has come true all these 12 years later, but what I discovered is his wit – how you can make the events of the day so funny is a gift – I laugh out loud. Imagine Important Breaking News on Fox delivered by a stand up comic….