A thought provoking little story

[The Seeker]

A man goes to see a doctor and says that he's feeling depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel, says that he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. The doctor says "The treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.". The man bursts into tears and says "But doctor, I am Pagliacci."

Makes you think, really. The people who make everybody else laugh are always the ones who know that there is nothing to laugh about.

 

[DaRkWoLf]

Makes you think, really. The people who make everybody else laugh are always the ones who know that there is nothing to laugh about.

I agree completely, I definately see that in my life.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Makes you think, really. The people who make everybody else laugh are always the ones who know that there is nothing to laugh about.

Huh?

Actually, I joke around and make my friends laugh, but I do think that there are things to laugh about.

 

[MoonlessNight]

Makes you think, really. The people who make everybody else laugh are always the ones who know that there is nothing to laugh about.

As someone fond of trickster mythology (with Coyote mythology probably being one of my favorite subsets) this statement strikes me as a little odd. Perhaps there is nothing to laugh about in our every day version of humor, but the entertaining trickster usually tries to show us that those are exactly the sort of things that we should laugh about.

Of course, that's all archetypal. I'm sure that you could find examples of entertainers that see nothing funny, but I'm equally sure that you could find examples of entertainers that see everything as funny.

 

[NormalDan]

Perhaps Pagliacci just isn't very funny.

 

[lawtonfogle]

A man goes to see a doctor and says that he's feeling depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel, says that he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. The doctor says "The treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.". The man bursts into tears and says "But doctor, I am Pagliacci."

Makes you think, really. The people who make everybody else laugh are always the ones who know that there is nothing to laugh about.

I can make many laugh, and at the same time, am depressed. Laughter is for me an escape out of depression. In the end, I see nothing to laugh at, so I make myself something to laugh at.

 

[NormalDan]

I can make many laugh, and at the same time, am depressed. Laughter is for me an escape out of depression. In the end, I see nothing to laugh at, so I make myself something to laugh at.

I used to be this way. Then I realized, it was all worth laughing at. Even the things that don't seem so funny. You get brought into existence without your consent. Nothing ever goes your way. Then you die. Now that's hilarious.

 

[Multi-Elis]

the same little story happens in "Les Enfants du paradis". Baptiste is depressed--married a girl he didn't love, the woman he loves went away, and so the doctor tells him to go watch Baptiste the mime that evening. Baptiste smiles a little and says thanks.

 

[Danhalen]

If you can't find humor in absurdity, why bother? I think existence is hilarious.

 

[AdamAnderson21]

laughter = the release of 95% of your dopamine = happiness