"We have to leave, Robin. The Dallasites are coming with torches and pitchforks."
This past Sunday I was attending Sunday School and the teacher was discussing ethics and the issues we face today. He had filled a whiteboard with words and phrases like: reproduction, abortion, education, creation, animal rights, the environment, marriage, crime, punishment, immigration, the economy.
He asked if there was anything else to add to the list … and I called from the back of the room “I think that’s all we have time to solve today.”
The line got a laugh, because obviously we weren’t going to solve anything that morning.
If you want to use observational humor then you have to stay a step removed from what is going on around you, otherwise you run the risk of losing your perspective.
You have to ask yourself over and over again; “What’s wrong with this picture?” (Although you are free to think of a new less worn-out phrase.)
We can’t stay a step-removed if we “become audience.”
This is a phrase used in improvisation. It means getting so wrapped up in a scene that you cease to play and begin to watch. It can happen to anyone. A performer comes up with a line that is so brilliant, so funny and so right, that you stop to admire it, rather than advancing the scene. Or sometimes, so incredibly stupid you check to see if his brains have fallen to the floor.
But I bring this up to point out that you have to keep your eyes and ears open for inconsistencies, inaccuracies and incongruities.
When the city council meeting gets heated, you can either get mad along with everyone else, or reflect on how absolutely silly it is that the city council of Dallas, Texas is concerning itself with the placement of bathouses (like birdhouse, only for bats) for a Boy Scout Eagle project.
When nearly all the media is fawning over a new president, and even the late night hosts are relying on old material about the outgoing president – You can, if a liberal, enjoy their deference and respect for the new leader. Or, if a conservative, rail against the hidebound nincompoops who don’t appreciate the sacrifices of the outgoing commander-in-chief.
Or you can stay a step back from the hoopla, and observe.
Observe that if forced to fight, and I had to choose, I think I would choose Barack rather than Michelle, she looks like one tough mother.
You can wonder if he would have been elected if he had gone by his college nickname, Barry. Try saying it like you’re teasing the class nerd “Oh Barrreeeeee!” Barack has that hard K sound that just cuts off all teasing.
You can wonder if the Obama-maniacs appreciate the fact they now live in an Obama-nation?
You can get wrapped up in the fact that FeedBurner has somehow lost your feed stats, or think about how we all sound like some sort of information vampires – “Must read feeds!” “Must have my feeds!” “Feed me!”
You can spit, snarl and fume about being caught in school zone traffic, or notice that the little-bitty three-wheeled scooter the parking enforcement officer drives is called “The Interceptor.” And think how lucky he is to work the elementary school. A junior high kid on a bike wouldn’t even have to stand on the pedals to get away.
on Jan 24th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
>>Observe that if forced to fight, and I had to choose, I think I would choose Barack rather than Michelle, she looks like one tough mother.<<
she really does have that eyes bugging out of her head “i can kill you without breaking a sweat” look of a klingon, doesn’t she?
on Jan 27th, 2009 at 5:01 am
Dan, I use this kind of humor all the time. In fact I stay in trouble because I usually find humor in meetings. I always get a laugh but my old boss hated it. I used to think(and still do) there is not enough humor in business meetings. It sure does help lighten the mood.
on Jan 27th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Dan, I think too often I haven’t considered this in my blog posts or in my writing, period. I just shoot off at the mouth without thinking about it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned after reading your blog for the last couple of months is that you always offer good sound advice. Thank you.
As for Feedburner, agreed. Like we have to know all our stats? That’s the important thing here? Hmmm. I don’t think so.
on Jan 28th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Chris: I am not as well versed in Star Trek details as you, but I think you describe Michelle, well!
Ettarose: Thanks as always. I too could have been asked to sit in the corner at many business meetings. People get so serious! Although, many of them are more successful at business than I….. hmmmm.
Rambler: Nothing wrong with shooting aff at the mouth. Robin Williams appears to have made a career of it. And thank you for the kind words. Humor is often like the weather, everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it.