Laughing Out Aloud

Making fun of others used to be funny, alas nowadays, if you crack a joke about someone else in front of another, you’ll probably get that stern look of who do you think you are, or what gives you the right to mock me or my friend. Actually, we have to be very careful about making jokes because they offend the faint hearted.

Let’s be honest, a good laugh is a great way of liberating endorphins. Yes, a good laugh is scientifically proven to be a way of liberating endorphins, which are the body's natural "feel-good" chemicals. Nowadays I have to go to the gym and work up a sweat to get them racing, as most people are either too serious, or just plain stupid cracking jokes which aren’t funny and expect you to laugh.

According to common consensus, making fun of others for jokes is generally unacceptable because it causes psychological and emotional harm, can constitute a form of bullying, damages trust in relationships, and often stems from the mocker's own insecurities or desire for social dominance. Yes, I’m very insecure and a big bully!

"Acceptable" jokes these days generally rely on empathy, context, and the absence of malicious intent or bullying. While humor remains a vital tool for social bonding, stress relief, and social commentary, modern sensibilities emphasize that jokes should not cause genuine harm or make others feel small.

What's the difference between sympathy and empathy?

• Sympathy is when you hear someone is suffering, and you say, "Oh, that's terrible, I feel so bad for you."

• Empathy is when you hear someone is suffering, and you say, "I feel your pain... because I've been there myself, and it really sucked."

A man is talking to his friend:

"My wife told me I have no empathy. She said, 'You haven't heard a single word I've said for the last ten minutes!' I just stood there, trying to imagine how she must feel, and then I realized I was just thinking about fishing."

These, so called jokes were taken online. Did you laugh out aloud?

Personally, I think the problem nowadays is that people get too touchy, they take everything so literally, and then people are different. What’s funny for one, isn’t for another and vice-versa. Grumpy sod!

Naturally humor on the spot is what really counts. Relaxing and going with the flow.

Take care!

Prof. Carl Boniface

Vocabulary builder:

Stern (adj) = severe, strict, harsh, firm, demanding, hard-heartedMock (adj) = fake, pretend, imitation, counterfeit, simulated. "Stop mocking me" means "stop making fun of me" or "stop ridiculing me." It is a request to cease making fun of someone, which can include laughing at them, imitating their behavior, or making comments intended to humiliate or ridicule them.

Faint hearted (adj) = lacking courage or resolution. "They were feeling faint-hearted at the prospect of war."

Grumpy (adj) = irritable, bad-tempered, cantankerous, ill-tempered, petulant, cranky

"Sod" can mean a piece of turf with grass and soil, or it can be a British slang term for a contemptible person. It can also stand for Superoxide Dismutase, an enzyme in the body, or Separation of Duties, a security principle. The correct meaning depends on the context.

"Grumpy sod" is a British slang term for a bad-tempered or easily annoyed person. While "grumpy" means someone is in a bad mood, "sod" can be used as a jocular or offensive term for a person, making the full phrase a way to describe a person who is habitually grouchy. The level of offense depends on tone and context; it can be lighthearted or strongly derogatory.