tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post419279506307367196..comments2023-07-15T04:20:16.543-05:00Comments on Almost Diamonds: Stereotypes in ComedyStephanie Zvanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-21138453679193355482008-08-06T07:17:00.000-05:002008-08-06T07:17:00.000-05:00What's the difference between comedy and tragedy? ...What's the difference between comedy and tragedy? Comedy is when it happens to you. Tragedy is when it happens to me.<BR/><BR/>I have read it, and I think the idea is fine as far as it goes. It certainly doesn't include all humor, though. I subscribe to the idea that humor is a response to things that make us uncomfortable--but only uncomfortable. It isn't that it's funny because someone else gets hurt. It's that it isn't funny when we get hurt because we're too busy dealing with the pain.<BR/><BR/>To bring it back to politics, this is why I think so many extremists of various stripes have no sense of humor. Their ability to be made uncomfortable is missing, either undeveloped or deliberately shut off.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-68710508131822660042008-08-05T23:54:00.000-05:002008-08-05T23:54:00.000-05:00So, did you read Stranger in a Strange Land? Laugh...So, did you read <I>Stranger in a Strange Land?</I> Laughter comes from a recognition of other's misfortunes, according to Heinlein. We laugh because it hurts others, if I remember correctly. It's a lesson that Data had a hard time learning.<BR/><BR/>It makes sense that stereotypes are an effective shortcut to tapping into humor. Look at how easy it is to laugh at Republicans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com