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Laughter is a defense mechanism our body uses to relieve stress. It's ok to find humor in tragedy, if only for the sake of getting through it. It's possible to be genuinely empathetic and still find humor in something. It usually seems innappropriate, but it's not. It's just what we do.
Why is it funny that some kid we don't know killed himself over something that didn't justify it? To me it's because he took himself too seriously. To stretch the circumstance a little further, those who find this humorous may feel that killing yourself over a woman is not too far removed from setting yourself on fire because your poptarts taste funny.
Local Internet Company Uses Humor to Cope With Tragedy
http://www.greggore.com/dln110701.htm
Using humor to cope with tragedy is an old concept. We should really cry when we watch The Three Stooges shouldn't we? They're smacking the shit out of each other and each one of them should be dead about 7 times an episode. Instead we almost kill ourselves laughing.
Originally Posted by Irvin S. Cobb
"Humor is merely tragedy standing on its head with its pants torn."
Here's a true story...
Humor In Practice - When Is It OK To Laugh?
The days following my seven year old nephew’s death were a blur of activities. The busy-ness of making funeral arrangements, greeting friends and sharing memories kept us conveniently distracted so that our brains would not stumble into the pockets of grief scattered throughout our mind. We would spend enough time there over the months ahead so the distractions were welcomed.
After two viewings, a memorial service and a graveside service, our family gathered at my parents’ home for a needed meal and some rest. We picked at our dinner, a generously donated gift of the usuals. Chicken Tetrazine, green bean casserole with the little canned onion rings on top, buttery homemade rolls and rich chocolate brownies made from scratch. Then we slumped into our seats in the living room and let out a collective sigh. We looked like warriors that had just returned from battle and our faces showed the fatigue of defeat. THEN, for the next two hours, we told jokes.
I don't mean to seem like I'm drilling the point home, but a lot of misery in various humans stems from their inability to relieve stress through making light of tragedy. I remember seeing a cartoon after 911 showing what the new world trade center should look like. It was a building that looked like a hand flipping the bird. It was intensely funny because it had a powerfully emotional premise. Listen, We all die someday. No need to get too serious about this thing we call life and death. Is it sad for the family? Of course it is. That's not a license to depress mankind. It would simply be innappropriate to make jokes about the situation directly in their company or directed at loved ones intending to deepen their sorrow. It's ok. Laugh about it. That's what we do. I assure you it's perfectly appropriate.
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