Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Right to Speech... Laughter

To laugh is a primitive instinct.
It may also be genetic.

Unfortunately, sometimes, there are social norms,
in a certain place and time,
that set limits on who and when one can laugh.
I question these.
Why are they?




I declare the Right to Laugh for all.

But I declare it with the modifications
that come with the Right to Respect.
This means comedy is not ridicule.
When comedy has ridicule,
there is always a victim.

Thus, laughter shall be free and clear
of stereotypes and scorn.

Good comedy appreciates life.
A person with a good laugh enjoys life.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is believed that laughter is the best therapy at times. I do feel liberated when I am laughing, especially after things in my life aren't favorable. As they say everyone deserves "a good laugh".
S. Jones

Anonymous said...

I think sometimes there are limitations set on when laughter is appropriate because, in some situations, laughter can make one feel hurt, discouraged, embarrassed, disrespected, or even inferior. I think there should be limitations on the type of laughter rather than laughter it's self. Although laughing during a funeral may not be an appropriate thing to do, it can still be vied as disrespectful laughter. Therefore, the types of laughter should be restricted rather than the "place and time for laughter". I declare this right. SJB

Anonymous said...

Laughter is something that brings people closer together. Parents enjoying the giggle of their child, or close friends reminiscing about the times they would run around the mall like fools. Laughter is something to enjoy. Have you ever had someone make you laugh until your sides hurt? It may hurt at first, but the laughter really does relieve the pain. It is healthy to have a good laugh once in a while.
L.R.

Anonymous said...

One should have the right to laugh whenever he feels like, some people laugh when they are nervous, others laugh so they don't cry. I also think there shouldn't be any restrictions on it because what I think is funny others may not, does that mean I can't laugh? The old mute comedy movies like the Charles Chaplin films showed a lot of misfortunes happening to the character and people would laugh at it, so why is it wrong to laugh in real life when you see that? even when we are kids we hit our dad in the groin with the ball and he is in pain and we are laughing it off, it comes natural so there shouldnt be any restrictions.

Carlos G.

Anonymous said...

I think that many of these social norms are set out of sensitivity to others. While a student may have just thought of something extremely funny in class, it is disrespectful for that student to laugh because it shows that he isn't paying attention to the teacher. Although the right to laugh, especially for adults, is restricted by social norms, I believe that those unspoken rules are mainly beneficial to society as a whole.
-A.B.

Anonymous said...

" Laughter is considered as medicine to the soul."

- G.R.

Anonymous said...

The right to laughter creates happiness and if we had no right to laugh then we would be a world of sick and hateful people. Yes we laugh sometimes in the name of others but we can change that, what we cant do is completely ban the action of laughing. Everyone and anyone should have the happiness of laughter we just have to work on who or what we laugh at which does happen as we grow older we realize what we should laugh at and what we should not laugh at. - J.J.V.

Anonymous said...

"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person." Audrey Hepburn
I believe laughing is the best cure. Laughing is like a bursting smile that is probably even more contagious than a smile is. As Tom Knapp put it, "If I ever stop laughing, I'm dead." Etel

Ingrid J. said...

Laughter can heal the soul of its hurts, although there is a time and a place and type of laughter that is appropriate. There is so much sadness in the world and a little bit of laughter is most welcomed. Let's just be careful who and/or what we laugh at.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the right to laugh when it's not in the form of comedic ridicule. No one needs to be a victim unless the source of ridicule is self ridicule from the comic himself. I have observed also that laughter seems to heal people from bad emotions and recuperating faster from ailments, and I believe we all need that from time to time.-D.E.C.

Anonymous said...

The Right to Laugh is immeasurable. Fun is involved when people laugh. Having fun is the best therapy against many sickness and misfortunes an average person may face at any point in their life. Laughing is a path to living a healthier life. A.L.

Anonymous said...

I believe that laughter can be a good or bad thing. It can be good for one person who is laughing for the good and not targeting a "victim". The bad is when people target others and it makes them feel bad about themselves. It can either lift or bring down peoples spirits. Comedy today is mostly or all about a victim whether it be themselves or someone or something else. So "Thus, laughter shall be free and clear
of stereotypes and scorn" would be very hard to change these days since it is mainly based on it. Robert S.

~COL said...

The right to laugh. This right, along with others, has attractive and unattractive aspects. I feel the laugh should be on the grounds of moral reasoning. As in the prestated, "Comedy with ridicule always as a victim". So we should be mindful of this because it violates the right to respect. However, the odd thing about it is that to deny the right to laugh in uncomfortable settings violates and disregards to the right to joy. For in this world many people receive pleasure at the expense of others.
~COL

Anonymous said...

I believe more and more individuals should laugh and smile. More so, in a time - when we are facing one of the world's greatest recessions, and many have lost the ability to smile. We can make a defining difference in our lives by the way we face our challenges. The art and essence of laughing has great healing powers for the soul, and by doing so - we are transmitting positive energies for ourselves, and for those around us. ~ Mystic

MSM15 said...

In my opinion, everyone has the right to laugh without making fun of another person. As humans, we have to keep the respect for others and know when to laugh and when not. I believe that we must feel happiness in our interior and it only happens through a good laugh.

~MSM15

Anonymous said...

Laughter is natural reaction humans have to stimuli, it's unavoidable. There are people with obnoxious laughs, or people with pretty giggles, it's all in the taste of those around it to hear it. If we don't have the right to laugh, even in a terrible situation, what would we do? Cry? Perhaps become robots and have no emotions at all.

-Monica C.

Anonymous said...

When one laughs it is an expression of happiness. Laughing can also be a response to an act or a receiver way of responding to what was said. Laughing is a form of communication that can be spontaneous or calculated. By: LJBR

Anonymous said...

Laughter is....medicine for the soul, a balm for the spirit, a universal language, a contagious expression, a workout of the abdominal muscles, a release of endorphins, and a stress-reliever. If it could be bottled, it would be a best seller in the list of consumable products.
-Ana DM

Anonymous said...

Laughter is perfect the way it is in life. One should never have the right to laugh during a funeral or wedding. In the situations in life were laughing is not accepted it’s because it’s disrespectful and takes the seriousness and focus away from the situation.
J.M.

Anonymous said...

There are certain situations were laughter is not tolerated. You should be familiar with those circumstances and respect them. I share the same opinion that you should not make fun of someone to get a good laugh from it. I would not want people laughing at me but laughing with me.

P.Picone

Anonymous said...

“Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life”- Billy Crystal (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000345/)
CR

Anonymous said...

Laughter is healthy and it is food for the soul. But I do have to say, there is a time and a place for everything. Therefore there is a time when laughing is not appropriate. For example; church, funerals et cetera. Aside from knowing where and when to laugh, laughing makes this life easier!

MV

Anonymous said...

There should be a limit on comedy, because sometimes certain jokes go a little too far. I don't think it is necessary to have bad racial and stereotypical comments to make a joke funny. It is everyone right to laugh, but it is everyone right to be respected.

Shani A.

Anonymous said...

Children come to mind when I think of this right. They possess a great gift. They are capable of being so cheerful and carefree. Their laughter is so innocent and rarely forced. It is a shame that as we grow older most of us lose the ability to really enjoy laughter on a regular basis.

Sheeda M.

Anonymous said...

....Laughter is contagious. The older we get the less we laugh the more we appreciate our lives and those pausing moments such as laughter. And, when we do laugh it's a , "Oh man I needed that" or a "haven't laughed like that in a long time" type of thing. Laughter is fulfillment, a release, and something that brings us together. It's medicine for the soul like someone said above.

-G.R.

Anonymous said...

Laughter, indeed, is the best antibiotic for our soul and for our physical bodies, so long as we are not intentionally utilizing laughter to demean someone - we should laugh, laugh good, and laugh at others! Simply, because the truth of the matter is - we all need a good laugh at ourselves!

Laughter, more than a medicine, is magical. It has a unique potion to bond us all together and jolt us back to life, even if it's just for that moment. There is so much more to life -than what we see through its superficial surface, and laughter enables us to see beyond that. F.G.

The best & most beautiful things in life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart. -Helen Keller

Anonymous said...

The right to laughter is something many people take advantage of. We all enjoy laughing very much, but many times we do not think of the person being laughed at. Laughter is an amazing thing as long as no one is being hurt in the moment. As long as it is a neutral laughter it is just fine.
ACA

Anonymous said...

Laughter is something extremely important for humans. We identify other's state of mind by looking at their expressions and we express ourselves in a variety of ways, but laughter help us make other people understand that we like them, love them, and accept them in many ways. Therefore, laughter is not only great for our soul and mind, but also help us communicate with others on a daily basis. D.C.R.

A.N.A. said...

Laughing is laughing. Whether it's at someone or because of someone the principal cause and effect is there. I agree with it being instinctive, and sometimes all you can do in life is laugh. The alternative is much worse; crying. If your gonna feel something, why not feel something good. Even the "victim" being laughed at will just shrug it off and laugh at themselves. Life is too short and too serious to not laugh about it.

Anonymous said...

I completely agree with the right to Laugh. I personally liked a lot the part of the post where is says: "GOOD comedy appreciates life. A person with a good laugh enjoys life." It is a proven fact that laughter is beneficial for our health.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCrcFcfp-Mg
MVHT

Anonymous said...

Laughter is an escape from the sadness we must endure in life. It makes us forget the problems we carry for just one moment. That moment, however brief, is a blessing. Laughter suspends our pain and fills it with joy. J.F.

Anonymous said...

There is nothing like a good laugh, it can bring life into us. I agree with what the bible says: “there is a time for everything a time to cry and a time to laugh”. I think this is true because there are certain situations when its not appropriate to laugh. (LCL)

N.Cruz said...

Charlie Chaplin once said, “Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.” Laughing brings joy and happiness to our lives. Studies have shown that laughing relieves stress and can relieve pain. Have you ever realized that laughing is contagious? Have you ever laughed so much that for that split moment you forgot about all your worries? Laughing is like medicine for the soul. I also believe that laughing should be done at appropriate times. Laughing should be done freely as long as it is not disrespectful.

D.Zabala said...

In our society there are times when laughter is not allowed due to respect towards someone or the moment. While everyone has the right to laughter it does come with conditions. Also when it comes to comedy I do not see any problem with comedy that makes fun of someone or even my own nationality. I do not take these types of comedies personal.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the right to laugh. This rights helps the heart in your body and also helps relieve people of whatever they are experiencing in a situation.
Chelsea M.

Anonymous said...

When we take advantage of this right we can say that we take life from another prospective because to laugh brings joy to us and even to people around us. But when we laugh at other people we are disrespecting their rights and at the end is not such an enjoyable feeling. I also think that there is time for everything and I would not expect for someone to be laughing at a funeral for example. O.V.

Anonymous said...

Laughter is the best remedy to someone who is down, sick, etc. Laughter brings cheer and joy into the person and lifts them to great extremities. Laughter is a medicine that lifts the soul and brings people back to life and relieves them from pain. -ABL

Anonymous said...

Laughing is one of the best things we humans can do, we even can burn calories while doing it, even in sad situations, we human's can cry, the lost of a person, we laugh at the good time's. Laughter brings pure joy and happiness. Although laughter is positive many can use it in a negative way, laughing at someone. There's a time and place for laughter. AFF