I wasn’t going to write anything today, as I couldn’t imagine sending out a humor piece right now, when we’re all mourning and trying to comprehend such unfathomable evil, and having enough trouble sending our own babes back to school. But, then it dawned on me: This is why I — we — many of us (bloggers, humorists, comedians) write.
Let’s be real, for the most part, my writing is pretty useless. Well, unless you print it out and use the back of the paper to write a to-do list, or as a make-shift tissue, or dare I say it… TP?
The other day I wrote a rant about someone cutting me off in the carpool lane. It was for a site I love, TheStir, where most of the readers don’t know me my motivation, sense of irony, and penchant for poking fun at cliches and stereotypes. As any blogger knows, the comments on major sites can be pretty harsh. Some of them mentioned how trite my article was, “The polar ice caps are melting … and people starving in our own backyards?” “Why did I even waste time typing this response to such drivel.”
To which I replied,
“Frankly, I regret you commented as well, and if you wanted to read about polar ice caps, why read a column titled “Did That Really Happen?” with an “LOL” label next to the title?
Also, I checked in my backyard and thankfully no one was out there begging for food. This is good because I probably would’ve tried to feed them jokes, since that’s clearly all I can comprehend (being I write them, rather than reporting on what’s wrong with the world). And, as everyone knows, jokes are not nutritious!”
I’d like to say that’s how I responded, because that would’ve been the deserved reaction, but instead, I took a moment to consider the comments. “Why does anyone care about this frivolous rant? Does a sarcastic article about minivans (or any of the topics humorist expound on) have any place in a world where horrible things are happening all around us? Have I somehow stolen moments of people’s precious lives with my ‘drivel?’”
Then this incomprehensible tragedy occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and I spent much of my weekend mentally wrestling over whether I need to protect my children more or drop my anxious over-protective tendencies (because they’re futile). I thought about copy cats, I kept my son out of religious school, I cried as each name was read aloud, I forced myself to read about each child (as heartbreaking as it was) because I thought I owed that to their memory, I considered becoming agoraphobic and taking my family down into that DSM diagnosis with me.
And I thought about not writing anything humorous until we could all come to grips with this injustice (So, like, never!).
But, I will and I hope other humorists do, and I hope people read their work and laugh. We aren’t stealing moments from unsuspecting readers, we’re providing levity, distraction and sometimes the most amazing respite from the obsessive and depressing thoughts (of our readers and ourselves).
I will post my column tomorrow, even though polar ice caps are melting … and it will be totally pointless and absurd. I promise.
I will also mourn with our country, I will hug my children tighter, I will obsess over their safety and I will struggle with how little control even the most over-protective moms, like myself, truly have.
Feeling EXACTLY the same way. I think it is something all humorists wrestle with. Thanks for putting it into words!
Love this Jenny! I definitely need a break from hearing about the polar ice caps! Isnt that why they call it “comic relief” Relief from are daily worries for just a little bit…
Vive the pointless and absurd! xoxo
That should truly be a bumper sticker!
Well said! Bravo!!!
Thanks ladies it means a lot!
Can’t wait for the humor piece! It’s exactly the medicine we need. Write on!
Thanks Kim, PS loved your take: Thoughtful, well written, well said!
My husband was in the hospital on life support, and I still bitched about the traffic. The rest of life doesn’t stop happening when you’re experiencing a tragedy.
We don’t live in a vacuum. Though if we did our housed would be way cleaner. Hey look, it’s coming back a little!
It was during the Depression that many comics got their start. Ditto during WWII. They provided respite for people’s souls from the hard times. So write on, laugh on! There will always be troubles, hard times, both personal and public, but hard times are lightened by laughter.
Interesting stats. Thanks for the kind words!!! Call me Jenny Youngman (my husband does).
You write because your talent is your humor and your place in the world is making readers laugh when we need it, in spite of the horror in the world. Your writing does not diminish the hurt or pain – instead it can help heal those who are open to a laugh. Keep writing, my friend.
XOXOXOXOXOXO mwha!
What’s interesting is that most humor is developed from pain…protection. It’s how we learned to cope. And I think there are a lot of people who seek out humorists during times like these to help them build their walls back up so that they can cope too. If you think about it, we owe it to the world to be funny. It’s our civic duty. I took a break from that today too, but tomorrow I plan on being hysterical as usual. 😉
I look forward to it. PS – It’s certainly how I use humor. You know, when I’m not in white face entertaining crowds with my big shoes and squirting flower! XO
Jenny, great, honest post, putting things in perspective.
We all are united by our feelings after the horror last Friday. These things really force us to stop and put things in perspective and realize the treasures that are children are and how fragile these treasures are.
Just a week ago I wrote a post making some fun at the Domesday scenarios coming soon: the end of the Mayan calender and the fiscal cliff. Like Y2K, the media and many folks become obsessed about a Domesday in our times. Y2K passed and no Domesday. Instead it came on Sept. 11, 2001.
While many were fixated on 12/21 and 12/31, the real end of the world for so many came early on 12/14. For so many parents and siblings and other relatives and friends and neighbors, this was an end of the world.
For those nearest the tragedy, the wounds may never heal. They need time.
But for all of us, we can’t let ourselves dwell too long over this evil. Yes, we can talk about policy on guns, and really caring for those with mental illnesses, and how best to protect our most precious treasures we call our sons and daughters. But we need to get away from the negative energy or evil or sin that is this horrible, horrible event.
And this is also where you come in, Jenny.
We always need a little humor, even trite humor, in our lives.
We need to you keep writing.
Are you saying my humor is trite? Thank you. And your thoughts were beautifully said. Just because we laugh and go on with our lives doesn’t mean we have to forget what’s happened. It’s why we need to make changes! You always know what to say, Rachy!
Jenny, thank you.
Writing this comment inspired me to write a brief post, expanding on the thoughts I shared above (http://www.rachythoughts.blogspot.com/2012/12/united-in-grief-unspeakable-act-in.html).
Yes, we can laugh, while never forgetting what happened. We can hold our children tight and do all we can to keep them safe.
I thought your post was wonderful. I’m glad I had a part in it’s inception!
Jenny, thank you!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was feeling the same way. I have this piece to post about how much I hate Tripadvisor, and I was like, can I do that? Is funny okay today? I agree completely with your sentiments — you really touched on the core belief I have about humor and why I do it — so I will post it tomorrow. Sad world. Thanks for making it a little bit better.
Send me the link, I need all the humor I can get! XO My minivan post will go well with your Tripadvisor piece!
Well said. No need to justify your humor to those who don’t get it…
THX!
I still remember right after 9/11 when I was wondering how I could ever write again. A wise friend said, “you make people laugh. We need that so much right now. That’s not insignificant” It changed my entire world view. I had never even considered that.
We need the Onion. We need Jon Stewart. And you know…we need shopping blogs and sales at Saks and Christmas movies on Netflix. We can both save the world and preserve our sanity. In fact, one probably requires the other.
You are so right… but we mostly need sales at Saks! XO Liz!
Thanks Jenny, I posted about this very topic today too. My blog is meant to be light and funny and I didn’t know if I could or should write a post like that yet. I’ve held off and tomorrow I’m joining other bloggers in a day of silence, but after that, I’ll have to see if I’m ready to post “funny” again. I’m glad you’re mustering the energy to do so…I know I’ve got to do the same and that I can still grieve for this tragedy, but provide for my readers too. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this as it’s helped me try to move forward.
Wow, that’s amazing to hear. Thanks and if there’s a day of blogger silence (I soooo didn’t get that memo, which is weird because I feel like the CEO over here!) I will participate as well, I can be quiet long enough to win a quarter on exhausting car rides — I can wait a day to share my insights on those stickers people put of their families on their back windshields!
Well said! Laughter makes the world go round, so while it’s still moving, there is always a place for you! ♥
Thanks Jules!
You pretty much summed up how I have been feeling perfectly here. I feel for the families profusely, but I too wondered is it appropriate to begin regular blog posts yet. I love writing and sharing if it is a bit of my snarky thoughts on life in general. That said it just feels normal and natural to me and don’t want to give into letting this monster take that away from em, too. Because all weekend, I was a bundle of nerves and felt as though I was succumbing to what the shooter would have hoped for. Well said and thanks seriously for sharing.
What’s amazing to me about my post, is the comments. All of us are concerned about whether we can think beyond this tragedy and whether others are ready or able to enjoy a good laugh and lastly, whether writing humor at such a time is insensitive or offensive. The comments have made me stop second guessing. It’s not offensive … it’s necessary (for us to do what we do and for others to read our stuff to escape for a moment or two).
Thank you so much for posting this; I am among the many others who have been struggling with how to carry on with my posts, wondering if it was appropriate to share my funny story yet. This was really well done.
Thanks Stephanie. It was as enlightening for me as it was for you guys.
I mean “our.”
Jenny, Thank you so much for writing this. I have struggled with whether or not to post anything today. I tried to compose something poignant and touching, but my words seemed so trivial and insignificant in light of what those families must be feeling so I deleted them all. In the last few days, I have read some incredibly inspiring and comforting words from people all over the internet who have been gifted to share in that way. Others of us have been gifted with storytelling in a humorous bent, with words meant to share laughter. The world is full of darkness, pain, and tragedy. It must be balanced with light, peace, and joy. Although we cannot forget what has happened, and we continue to grieve for those families who are experiencing the unthinkable, eventually we need to laugh in order to emerge from the darkness. Laughter is a very important part of healing and hope. I thank you for the laughs you give me, and I think we all look forward to laughing again. Even as we fight back tears.
Thank you. You know, if you were reconsidering posting simply read the comments here and I think it will inspire you to post. I wrote this piece specifically with humorists in mind and they found it, that alone is pretty inspirational!
Well said. I believe that for every tear shed in sorrow, we need a smile to balance it out. Otherwise, evil wins.
What a nice way to put it!!!
Jenny,
Unbeknownst to you, your work is not only not drivel, it’s necessary. A grieving country needs breaks from the harsh realities of this past week. Constant grief can severely overwhelm our systems and as individuals we’d run the risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We need to take occasional respites and breathe a little easier, hug our kids ( without our tears) and yep maybe even crack a smile. So thanks for that. It’s been a tough few days and it will likely be much harder for a while for some but we all need a break here and there.
Thanks Bari, I agree and hope others write non-drivel as trivial as my non-drivel in days to come.
It has been said that “laughter is the BEST medicine.”
That sounds familiar!
Five stars Jenny.
I have always advocated that you write about important things, serious things. Humor resides in hidden places there, and you bring it to light, and lighten us as well. During the holocaust, some of the very funniest jokes ever, were created. Sometimes we need the ridiculous, the hypocritical, the absurd, to be brought out into the open so we can, dare I say it, disarm it.
Thanks for doing that Jenny.
Nancy – You’ve always seen the inner meaning in my humor and I love that, because it’s easy to see the top layer. Though, I will admit some pieces are a bit, ahem, shallow. I do agree, however that both deep humor that points out some of the ironies in life, and slapstick humor that points out absolutely nothing, have their place in putting smiles on faces, when we need them most. THANKS
At times like these, everyone struggled with what to do, how to act…we wonder if we should carry on as usual or not do anything – out of respect. The thing is, how is anyone going to heal if the entire world stops when there is a tragedy? We need humor – and distraction – now more than ever.
I couldn’t agree more and yet, even after this post I’ve held off on a piece I wrote a couple weeks ago that now seems so trite I can’t justify putting it into the blogasphere.
Thank you!
Thank you for reading and relating!
You said perfectly what so many of us were thinking. I’ve been feeling so very guilty about the need to laugh this past week, but I think it’s the comedy of life that keeps us all going. Nice job.
It’s so true and yet, it’s really tough.
What I don’t understand is the pull for us humorist to be more focused on serious things as opposed to the pull for more serious people to lighten up a bit. We’re whole people with a many feelings and emotions. Not just happy and not just sad. There is no one right way for us all to act in every instance. We all deal with things differently, so whose to say that focusing on the global warming all the time–which you alone can’t solve–is better than giving people a reason to chuckle in spite of all that’s wrong with the world? There are places for all of us. In times of lightheartedness–like if we all survive tomorrow–we won’t be able to vote all the serious people off the island or banish them to some far away cave, so why do they get to do it to us because their focus isn’t on humor at the moment. Forget them!!!
Good for you! Leave the writing about polar ice caps to the professionals…so I don’t accidentally read it while surfing humor blogs! 😛
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