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silliness of life, and make it hilarious. A closer analysis tells me that I recognize myself and my life experiences in the people and situations they present. Thus I am able to laugh at myself, and life's realities are shown up as the ridiculous absurdities that should be laughed into perspective.

What makes something funny must also be put into the context of our own culture, upbringing and values. I do not enjoy Irish jokes, at least, those which stereotype us as drunks and intellectual inferiors. Yet I have no problem with the theater of the absurd that is "Father Ted". That is not a contradiction; for I can laugh uproariously at Ted, Dougal, Jack and Mrs. Doyle. This is simply because they are Irish, and so have the right to make fun of the cultural idiosyncrasies they portray. But let another nationality make fun of us, and I have a frown, pursed lips and a rising anger in response. That is ironic in a way, but how I feel about my culture I know where their humor is coming from, I can relate it to my own upbringing and I recognize the importance of laughing at it. But somehow, I cannot accept the ridicule of others, that is the cruelty again.

Irony and sarcasm can also be funny, as can dark humor which turns something awful into a joke. The first two pick up on life's absurdity and turn it into an object of ridicule. In this way, it highlights the foolishness of reality, while taking the sting out of bad situations. Dark humor is what gets people through the bad times, but while this is often clever and intellectual, I feel uncomfortable with it. Yet the value of making jokes about Hitler and Bin Laden is undeniable; it provides a way to diffuse the hurt and danger, while reaffirming fighting spirit and the belief in our power to overcome. Laugh them into extinction.

Finally, there is nothing more amusing than the total honesty of children, be they dancing babies or toddlers singing loudly and off-key. I have to smile or laugh out loud, and they copy, so giving permission to laugh at and with them. Natural comedy stars, one and all. My analysis as to what makes this funny is that the pure, innocent, honest exuberance and joy of life is infectious and uplifting, just plain funny.

In attempting to answer the question, I have tied myself up in a few knots, then arrived at the conclusion that "funny" is different for everybody and every situation. But in the final analysis, I would have to say that life in all its absurdities, people with all their idiosyncrasies, and just being alive and dealing with the world is what makes things funny. You just HAVE to laugh!

Learn more about this author, Dolores Moore.
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