Dour

It's always startling to come upon someone with no sense of humor. In times like this, when there is so much tension, it's hard not to laugh at it.

As much as good as it is to maintain a sense of reverence and sincerity in the proper settings, like board meetings or funerals, it's as importance to show some irreverence whenever possible. Making fun of what should be respected is just that, fun.

Being around a person who sets things off limits for humor puts you on a bit of an edge. A declaration of offense could make you feel like they won' understand that you are joking about anything else. "I don't really mean these things I am saying. These are just jokes." A feeling of paranoia can almost take over. What if there is something else I can't make fun of? What if there are several and I hit everyone? Are they going to be mad at me?

Not to say we need to let every gross, racist, or deragatory thing be considered a joke. The automatic restriction of one topic or another is what's the culprit. A good sense of humor is not laughing at anything that's phrased like a joke. A good sense of humor is being well-rounded in what you find funny. The occasional gross-out gag, a subversive turn of phrase, a satirical political remark, someone falling down onto a cake, and even the occasional pun. If you laugh at things that are phrased like jokes, then you end up finding Carlos Mencia funny.

All in all, It's probably better for everyone if we all just lighten up.