Don't hate. Appreciate.
Brad Snider
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Humor
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It has recently been brought to my attention that some of our esteemed readers are finding the writings of myself and other humor columnists to be offensive and cruel opposed to charming and witty. Given that piece of information, I have been forced to one thing: apologize. So, in my gratuitous attempt to tell all of the offended that we are truly sorry, I will also try my best to sell the humor section's finer points, and illustrate what humor is all about.
Defined by Webster's Dictionary, Humor is: 1. The quality that makes something laughable or amusing; funniness: could not see the humor of the situation. 2. That which is intended to induce laughter or amusement: a writer skilled at crafting humor. 3. The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd.
After reading these definitions, one has to recognize that humor is a very subjective concept, centered around personal beliefs and individual attitudes. Whereas one individual may find a statement to be ludicrous, another may find it to be the funniest thing since Richard Simmons, boy bands, and male models. But how would Richard, N'Sync and Derek Zoolander feel about that joke? I don't know. But I thought it was funny, and if they were understanding adults, they most likely would too.
Humor is around every corner in every second of every day. The finest comedians are the ones that can find ridiculousness in the way you comb your hair, brush your teeth, or how you dress yourself. It is funny when someone trips and falls down. It might not be nice to laugh at them, but the situation itself is funny when you look at it objectively. Humor is the connective tissue between reality and a smile. So have we done a good job at isolating our surroundings, the college atmosphere, and the lives of our biggest readers; college students?
What things have we made fun of? Townies, college girls, college guys, children, old people, jungle natives, football players who stab people, the game tag, Disney movies, morning wood, hooking up, not getting into graduate school etc. the list continues. I tend to think these topics are rather humorous.
Unfortunately, we cannot please everyone. There are simply too many people, and funny situations to laugh about in the limited number issues the torch releases. But don't be afraid, we still have time to make fun of mustaches, the '80s, Steve Irwin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Miss Cleo, professional curling, and Wittenberg University. Always remember, were not laughing at you, we're laughing with you. I urge you to try to find the humor in that.
Defined by Webster's Dictionary, Humor is: 1. The quality that makes something laughable or amusing; funniness: could not see the humor of the situation. 2. That which is intended to induce laughter or amusement: a writer skilled at crafting humor. 3. The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd.
After reading these definitions, one has to recognize that humor is a very subjective concept, centered around personal beliefs and individual attitudes. Whereas one individual may find a statement to be ludicrous, another may find it to be the funniest thing since Richard Simmons, boy bands, and male models. But how would Richard, N'Sync and Derek Zoolander feel about that joke? I don't know. But I thought it was funny, and if they were understanding adults, they most likely would too.
Humor is around every corner in every second of every day. The finest comedians are the ones that can find ridiculousness in the way you comb your hair, brush your teeth, or how you dress yourself. It is funny when someone trips and falls down. It might not be nice to laugh at them, but the situation itself is funny when you look at it objectively. Humor is the connective tissue between reality and a smile. So have we done a good job at isolating our surroundings, the college atmosphere, and the lives of our biggest readers; college students?
What things have we made fun of? Townies, college girls, college guys, children, old people, jungle natives, football players who stab people, the game tag, Disney movies, morning wood, hooking up, not getting into graduate school etc. the list continues. I tend to think these topics are rather humorous.
Unfortunately, we cannot please everyone. There are simply too many people, and funny situations to laugh about in the limited number issues the torch releases. But don't be afraid, we still have time to make fun of mustaches, the '80s, Steve Irwin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Miss Cleo, professional curling, and Wittenberg University. Always remember, were not laughing at you, we're laughing with you. I urge you to try to find the humor in that.
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