Timely! I just put a post on LinkedIn about the terribly boring problem of boring pharmacy talks that are super boring (did I mention they were boring). And how I use humor in my talks to make them, like, fun and enjoyable. Crazy concept! 90% positive and one "healthcare is serious and it is no time to joke" response. Sigh. Consider it shaken off.
Right, because making something more fun and getting people to actually pay attention is a bad thing? I'm reminded a bit of a quote from Sydney Smith: "You must not think me necessarily foolish because I am facetious, nor will I consider you necessarily wise because you are grave.”
Laughter that is not mocking or ridiculing — that is, laughter with a subtext of joy and gratitude — is a sign of vulnerability, which too many equate with weakness. So people choose not to laugh for fear of being perceived as soft or dumb or meek. Those people neuter the opportunity to laugh earnestly with another human being , to recognize that we’re going through the same ridiculous, beautiful experience. They suffer for that stubborness rather than feel that sublime, joyful connection. It’s tragic when it ought to be comic.
I worked in higher ed for decades. Higher ed is where humor goes to die. Just try putting a small joke in a paper or inducing a chuckle during a presentation. Some professors even rail against others who are “engaging” teachers and criticize them for using humor.. Worse still is the requirement to chuckle publicly at shopworn humor to demonstrate that you are “in the know.” I was a literature professor specializing in Jonathan Swift. Swift is wonderfully funny, but everyone is expected to politely guffaw when one of his jokes comes up. Here’s the rub, though. These people have heard these jokes 1,000,000,000 times already, give or take. And don’t even think to kid around with nursing faculty because—similar to the pharmacists—what they teach “saves lives!” I kid you not. This is why college sucks.
Timely! I just put a post on LinkedIn about the terribly boring problem of boring pharmacy talks that are super boring (did I mention they were boring). And how I use humor in my talks to make them, like, fun and enjoyable. Crazy concept! 90% positive and one "healthcare is serious and it is no time to joke" response. Sigh. Consider it shaken off.
Right, because making something more fun and getting people to actually pay attention is a bad thing? I'm reminded a bit of a quote from Sydney Smith: "You must not think me necessarily foolish because I am facetious, nor will I consider you necessarily wise because you are grave.”
Laughter that is not mocking or ridiculing — that is, laughter with a subtext of joy and gratitude — is a sign of vulnerability, which too many equate with weakness. So people choose not to laugh for fear of being perceived as soft or dumb or meek. Those people neuter the opportunity to laugh earnestly with another human being , to recognize that we’re going through the same ridiculous, beautiful experience. They suffer for that stubborness rather than feel that sublime, joyful connection. It’s tragic when it ought to be comic.
I worked in higher ed for decades. Higher ed is where humor goes to die. Just try putting a small joke in a paper or inducing a chuckle during a presentation. Some professors even rail against others who are “engaging” teachers and criticize them for using humor.. Worse still is the requirement to chuckle publicly at shopworn humor to demonstrate that you are “in the know.” I was a literature professor specializing in Jonathan Swift. Swift is wonderfully funny, but everyone is expected to politely guffaw when one of his jokes comes up. Here’s the rub, though. These people have heard these jokes 1,000,000,000 times already, give or take. And don’t even think to kid around with nursing faculty because—similar to the pharmacists—what they teach “saves lives!” I kid you not. This is why college sucks.