It used to be I would daily observe or become aware of something I thought was funny. Usually it meant that I would have something to blog about. Some peculiarity of the human species or odd circumstance of social interaction. While I was living in Manhattan one would only have to walk to work or stroll around the block for a coffee to find inspiration of that kind.
Lately it has required actually seeking out a situation that might be funny, or blogable and even then the search is not always successful. I don't think it is because my geographic inspiration has changed. No matter where you are you always deal with humans. There just seems to be a change in the entire human race over the last year or so. I could make the case that it has been even longer. Things are so heavy, so divided, so polarized so serious right now. Nobody seems to be laughing. Especially when you have a week like last week. From a terrorist bombing to an accidental industrial explosion to a shoot out, massive urban man hunt that stopped mo
The topics I just mentioned are so ubiquitous on television, in the papers and on the Internet, I can't see the fun that could possibly come by inserting myself into that debate. Besides, John Stuart has that job. And I think that even he and his staff are having trouble with this current humor quotient. More than just commenting on quirky situations most of the Daily Show humor now comes from exposing the sheer stupidity and hypocrisy of our government.
There seems to be a polar disconnect between reality and results these days. So much media so little actual information... so many pictures and videos, with not much of value to look at. So many people doing "funny" things but nothing to laugh at. It recently came to light that many of the Twitter followers of Justin Bebier are fake... bought and paid for "followers". Imaginary or sycophantic employees hanging on his every Tweet. I can't make sense of that on any human level... and more importantly where is the joke here. Bebier's audience as phony as his talent? The whole digital interaction sort of feeds on itself devouring anything of quality or humor. What is a writer to do?
I don't know... I just regret that the search for something positive and or humorous to write about has become such a lonely and depressing journey. There has got to me a better way to stalk happiness. Anybody got the answer?
As you were,
Jay
I do my darnedest to cleave to Porkypine's words in the old "Pogo" strip: "Don't take life too serious, it ain't nohow permanent."
ReplyDeleteAttention must be paid, of course, to the solemnity of the aftermath and the personal tragedies...but were it not for humorists, there is much that would be unbearable.
Mark Twain said (and this is from memory, but it's close), "Humor is the great thing, the saving thing, after all. The minute it crops up, all of our hardnesses yield, all of our irritations and resentments flit away, and are replaced with a sunny spirit."
So, keep at it, Jay. The world needs humor these days more than ever.
And you're so good at it.