This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
What role do you think humor has in human discourse?
I am a huge proponent of humor used in small measures to enlighten and propel a conversation forward. It is a remarkably versatile and worthwhile ingredient to any recipe for unlocking truths. It has been my experience that TED conversations appear to largely forgo the use of humor as if it were MSG or some kind of unpronounceable chemical additive. Do you think this is an accurate assessment?
On the other hand, many TED talks are well-seasoned with humor and it is standard wisdom that most formal presentations need to be whetted with humor from time to time to keep things “real”.
I’m talking about wit. I’m talking about insightful humor. Twain-like quips. David Sedaris-like observations. Churchillian witticisms. Obama-like levity.
It’s a difficult subject to address seriously. Everyone is born with a sense of humor, yet so often it is kept under wraps when we talk “seriously” about issues.
I am NOT advocating for “laughs”. Not looking for jokes. Not interested in embarrassing someone or offending someone.
I am NOT talking about the “everybody is a comedian” syndrome that seems to infect social scenes nowadays. I am not talking about the pointless, baseless humor meant to shock and offend sensibilities.
I am NOT talking about controversial humor that acts like an irritant.
I am talking about human nature.
How do you feel about it?
Juliette Zahn 50+
I was so busy memorizing what you are and what you are not talking about and stretching my brain that I completely missed out on the two small words at the bottom. You mean the answer to your puzzle was written on the face page all along ??!! ThanksALOT ;-) :-)
Anne ONEILL
Anne ONEILL
Natalija Maric 10+
I call humor a system of communication. I believe you are quite right when you say it can bring world peace. I am media person fascinated with group communication, especially manipulation of masses and this moment when mass starts being dominated with a kind of common mind that receives simple orders and does not question them. It is well known pattern, and people leading crowds know how to use it. It is very dangerous and unfair as well. I have seen it working in practice. Now, mass media have one common problem: by their very definition they use only mass communication, that as a consequence always calls for peoples mass mind, and prevent them from analytically thinking. Now, what I believe in, and would be happy to devote my life to is researching how that pattern of communication with a mass mind works when you put humor in it . My thesis is that humor has power of breaking patterns of manipulation and bringing individual thinking. I also believe that is good enough to make the world more peaceful place.
Jim Moonan 30+
I would love to know more about your research on humor and laughter and it's affect on people's lives - and how it can play a roll in advancing world peace. I, too, am very interested in the subject and am currently using it as a teaching tool with young children.
Thanks for joining the conversation!
Natalija Maric 10+
Croker Wei
Jim Moonan 30+
Are you kidding? Harmony among people is not is not seriously related to world peace??
I don't believe that humor is a significant factor in attaining world peace - but harmony among people is.
Jim Moonan 30+
In the remaining hours of this conversation, who here thinks humor can promote understanding and in some small way help lead us to world peace?
Not me!
ME!
Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
In fact comedians such as Eddie izzard and Tim Minchin tackle many issues in their acts.
Here are some videos of them and others you may find an interest in:
http://youtu.be/r-iW3rKo-vA
http://youtu.be/EeLR_F9WGAE
http://youtu.be/6omQ5JjjLsE
http://youtu.be/KVN_0qvuhhw
http://youtu.be/HhGuXCuDb1U
http://youtu.be/ouDRDzqTu0M
http://youtu.be/nBdhnmnLnUc
Jim Moonan 30+
Yes, humor could very well be the wild card in our pursuit of world peace. We want to think it is compassion, empathy, compromise, tolerance and things like that we need more of to bring us closer to world peace, but it could be that we just need to inject some humor into the equation... Imagine the world smiling, laughing at themselves. That would be a good place.
Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
There is a debate on whether comedians should just stick to entertaining and not try and spread any message (something that it's mentioned on the second part of the Green Room progam link I posted) There is also the danger of people getting offended, like I think Colleen is saying, however I personally think the more we expose our views, even if controversial for some, the more we can get to know about each other and maybe the more we can get to understand each other. And what better way of doing it than through humor.
There's a quote that stuck with me although I can't remember by who:
"IF IT'S NOT FUNNY I CAN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY"
Colleen Steen 500+
I believe humor CAN promote understanding and in some small way help lead us to world peace. I also believe that we need to be aware when participating in cross-cultural interactions, because of different cultural beliefs, mis-interpretation, language, etc.
That being said, I'd like to share two quotes by Mother Theresa:
"Peace begins with a smile"
and
"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do"
Jim Moonan 30+
Have you seen the movie, "It's a Beautiful Life"? It's an extraordinary piece of cinematic art that documents how humor can be the only thing left between hope and despair.
Thanks for triggering that!! I would have been sad if this conversation ended without that movie coming to mind. For those of you who have seen the movie, it is that kind of humor that I think is so remarkable and important to the quality of life. It is that form of humor that knows no boundries, transcends cultural differences.
For those of you who haven't seen it, see it.
Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
I think Charlie Chaplin deserves to be mentioned here too since he was one of the greatest amongst the greatest.
Jim Moonan 30+
Yes, "A Beautiful Life" is a remarkable story.
Thanks for all you've shared here :)
Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
It has been a great conversation, thank you.
Jim Moonan 30+
Having spent a large part of my working life helping children to be imaginative, I’ve used music as a powerful teaching tool to accomplish that. I’ve always been struck by a quote that refers to the children’s song, “Hokey Pokey”. If you don’t know the song, let’s just say it ranks up there with other “songs” as being one of the most mindless melodies and lyrics of all time (many children’s songs are on that list – why?) Every stanza of the song ends with the words, “that’s what it’s all about!” The rest of the lyrics that lead up to that statement are profoundly mundane, excruciatingly repetitious, and virtually devoid of any real meaning; but each stanza ends with the proclamation: “That’s what it’s all about!”
And that simple statement may be more meaningful than the countless philosophies and religions that have vied for our attention and allegiance over time. The quote that is framed and hung in many early childhood staff rooms around the world is this:
“Maybe the Hokey Pokey IS what it’s all about.”
Or maybe not…
Life should be, among other things, a little amusing.
Frans Kellner 100+
Laughing is as old as our species lived within close groups.
Even with other primates it is common to show teeth when threatened and by doing this pulling the corners of the mouth back. The release of any threat or insecurity leads to the relaxation of the mouth and pulls the corners up.
This relaxation is read from the face by other members in the group which tell them that everything is safe. With this one could express and communicate a good feeling a signal not to be frightened.
In the course of time human beings found all kinds of ways to give each other a good feeling as with humor it still is to build a kind of tension and to suddenly take away the reason. And with a nice smile you are accessible which we call friendly.
Humor has to fit with any sort of people we interact with. The wit of one isn’t understood by another. The joke can give a good laugh while it is offensive by another group.
Humor is based on culture and agreements and seldom is funny outside the group or language you live. If someone uses humor too often it can be really boring.
Jim Moonan 30+
craig harlamert
Jim Moonan 30+
Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
Leesiah ng 30+
In an utilitarian sense, IMO humour in a presentation, speech or a conversation is kind of like an escalator, or portal. It instantly bridges concepts, moves you to another plane, and allows one to see the situation in another light. Hence it is actually a crucial tool in presenting information that the audience might not be familiar with. (So i hardly think it's an option). Well, we can always take the stairs, but teleporting is always more fun.
And the reason why it amuses us, i have to say its because having felt its effects (paradigm shift, making new links in our brain, seeing something in a different light), it should feel pleasurable, its fun; "give me more of that, that's exactly why I am listening to you!"
maikul aurelius
Christophe Cop 500+
Jim Moonan 30+
Gerald O'brian 50+
Jim Moonan 30+
Jim Moonan 30+
Q: Why did the potato chip start to cross the road but stop in the middle?
A: Because there was a dip in the road.
To be frank, I think there is humor embedded in almost everything. You've just got to find it.
-But then again, I'm not Frank.
(did you see it coming?)
Paul Lillebo
Jim Moonan 30+
Paul Lillebo
Jim Moonan 30+
Comment deleted
Walt Headstrong
Walt Headstrong
Jim Moonan 30+
Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
craig harlamert
I think the Muppet's on the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade where lip-singing....
Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
Pocahontas Water
Jim Moonan 30+
To be self-effacing is to know you are unimportant in the scheme of things but you're ok with it.
Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
http://youtu.be/Bt84uBuGKNk
Anne ONEILL
A smile can be a like the humble gesture of Ignatius ( or Augustine or one of those devotes). You kneel and you cannot help but feel humble. You smile and you can't help but feeling the world is a more likable place. A man who makes me smile, has me engaged. A woman who laughs at my jokes makes me feel appreciated. What better way to grow resonance between people.
That 'reply' button doesn't put the rely anywhere close to the question being answered, just at the end of the list of indentions. On the learning curve.
Mark Meyer 10+
Here's an interesting essay about play and comedy: http://www.canuck.com/~bnb/greatcosmicjoke/reallife/playethic.html
Jim Moonan 30+
"Humor is the stuff of jokes; comedy is the stuff of Falstaff and Aristophanes".
I disagree. I think humor is a high form of comedy and is used to provide insight, levity, perspective, etc. and comedy as being more "the stuff of jokes" as you say.
Both are useful. But humor is critical. Humor is a pervasive thing. There is humor in nature, humor in saddness, humor ikn confusion, humor in sexuality, humor in politics, humor in death, humor in birth, humor in art, even humor in science (no small feat). I also think it is humor that is "medicine" - not comedy, not laughter.
We may be playing semantics here (a TED tradition). I understand your classical definition of comedy and the long tradition of comedy in the arts, but in today's terminology it is humor that is critical - not comedy. Comedy is important (where would the world be without Charlie Chaplin?) but I think it is a person's ability to find humor in existence that is critical. You need not look any further than at many of the comments here to see that.
Jim Moonan 30+
Maybe I'll just continue that conversation here just so that I can sharpen my satirical skills. That's why I love TED conversations.
Albert Hong
Stephen Camm
Rob Inspirata
Rhona Pavis 50+
John Nguyen
On a side note, I understand he's a comedian, but a brilliant one at that, but I use Louis CK's stand-up material to start discussions in my classroom on race, gender, and the family. So in that sense, humor is used in an educational role. Otherwise, in my opinion, it is mostly used as an entertainment or kitsch concept.
Jim Moonan 30+
I am presently in love with Tina (actually Liz Lemon). I love everything about the way she works and lives her life (Liz). I think she is the quintessential American woman.
Tina Fey is an incrediblly talented woman who sees life through the prism of humor.
Jim Moonan 30+