The other day a family member of mine wanted to show me a joke that had been forwarded to him on his cell phone. I was assured that it was funny, so I took a few moments to read it. But there was a problem - it wasn't funny. Why? Well, this particular joke made its punch line by expressing violence - murder in particular - towards three other human beings.
I understand that humor is something that is very personal. What each person thinks is funny is influenced by their own life experiences, beliefs, culture and society. I know that. I personally have a pretty diverse sense of humor, which allows me to laugh and share with many different groups of people from around the globe.
Humor makes us feel good and is healthy and natural. It reduces stress and can help us connect with other people as we laugh at situations and ourselves. It can also be used to tell stories and get us to reflect on relevant issues (like political satire).
However, there are jokes that universally lack value. They may seem to be humorous, but they aren't. They are contributing biases and advocating violence toward certain individuals, groups, cultures or ethnicities. What's so funny about that? Although it may appear to be "just a joke", it subtly reinforces ideas in people's minds and can feed negative sentiments. It's not making the teller or the listener more compassionate or tolerant. In essence, it's not making the world a better place.
The world around us is the sum total of everything that each of us contributes to it. Do we want to contribute violence and bias? I certainly hope not. So be selective in the jokes you pass along. The next time you get the opportunity, take a moment and consider what type of world your choice will help create. Do your part to make the world a place with more harmony, compassion and understanding.
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