Wednesday, October 06, 2004
"No Respect"
I saw on the web that Rodney Dangerfield died. This is a sad bit of news, as he was a very good comedian, and a very funny man. Dangerfield made such an impression on me growing up that whenever I adjust my tie, I think of him, and can't help feeling like I am doing a small homage to him. His humor was great because the target of most of his jokes was himself; even when he was making fun of someone else, he was the punchline.
Humor is very important to my life, and I have made it through a lot of bad times because of humor. Even on my worst days, I like to think that I am good for a few great laughs. Because of my love for humor, I can always sit down and watch Seinfeld, Simpsons, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Kids in the Hall, Saturday Night Live, SCTV, or some other clever comedy, and completely forget about what else has been going on in the day.
It's weird to think that such a superficially disposable emotion is so strong in humans. Animals seem to have a precursor emotion to humor, but nothing as developed as ours. If you watch the great apes long enough, you soon notice that they do things with intention to get attention and laughs. They love that feedback; they mimic their trainers, pull ornery pranks, and even perform wacky stunts. Humans have taken this a step further, and have made an art form out of it. Humor comes from a mastery of timing, and a intimate knowledge of your audience.
It is odd that something that has so little to do with the survival of the species continues to present itself. Or, could it be that humor has an important role in our emotional health? Studies have shown that laughter and levity can lower stress levels, even positively influence things like depression, blood pressure, and life expectancy. Maybe humor is the mechanism we use to blow off steam.
Anyway, let's laugh; here is a few great quotes from the late-great Rodney Dangerfield.
"I tell you, with my doctor, I don't get no respect. I told him, "I've swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills." He told me to have a few drinks and get some rest. "
"With my dog I don't get no respect. He keeps barking at the front door. He don't want to go out. He wants me to leave."
"My mother never breast fed me. She told me that she only liked me as a friend."
"When I was born the doctor took one look at my face, turned me over and said, 'Look, twins!'"
See ya!
Humor is very important to my life, and I have made it through a lot of bad times because of humor. Even on my worst days, I like to think that I am good for a few great laughs. Because of my love for humor, I can always sit down and watch Seinfeld, Simpsons, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Kids in the Hall, Saturday Night Live, SCTV, or some other clever comedy, and completely forget about what else has been going on in the day.
It's weird to think that such a superficially disposable emotion is so strong in humans. Animals seem to have a precursor emotion to humor, but nothing as developed as ours. If you watch the great apes long enough, you soon notice that they do things with intention to get attention and laughs. They love that feedback; they mimic their trainers, pull ornery pranks, and even perform wacky stunts. Humans have taken this a step further, and have made an art form out of it. Humor comes from a mastery of timing, and a intimate knowledge of your audience.
It is odd that something that has so little to do with the survival of the species continues to present itself. Or, could it be that humor has an important role in our emotional health? Studies have shown that laughter and levity can lower stress levels, even positively influence things like depression, blood pressure, and life expectancy. Maybe humor is the mechanism we use to blow off steam.
Anyway, let's laugh; here is a few great quotes from the late-great Rodney Dangerfield.
"I tell you, with my doctor, I don't get no respect. I told him, "I've swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills." He told me to have a few drinks and get some rest. "
"With my dog I don't get no respect. He keeps barking at the front door. He don't want to go out. He wants me to leave."
"My mother never breast fed me. She told me that she only liked me as a friend."
"When I was born the doctor took one look at my face, turned me over and said, 'Look, twins!'"
See ya!
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