4 ms·
We're all going to die. The inability to make light of death seems like a refusal to acknowledge this fact. One perfectly valid perspective is that, when facing
by ellyagg 10y ago
We're all going to die. The inability to make light of death seems like a refusal to acknowledge this fact. One perfectly valid perspective is that, when facing the impermanence of everything, nothing is off the table for poking fun at. Most of us have experienced tragedy and some of us can still laugh at it.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't ever be serious, but I'm not convinced that our collective sense of humor should be modulated down to the least tolerant and most sensitive among us.
- dang 10y agoYou're right in general, of course, but you're talking to someone who just told us he recently lost a loved one in a traumatic manner. Responding to a specific pain with a general argument doesn't help, and being right makes it worse.
- JshWright 10y agoI am well acquainted with death. It is an occupational hazard of working on an ambulance. It is that very familiarity that puts first responders at a very high risk for PTSD (like the friend I mentioned above). Dark humor is favorite pastime of folks working in fire/EMS/law enforcement. We are _very_ good at laughing at things that would probably be shocking to many. There is, however, a time and place for that. Making light of something like PTSD is not especially helpful to anyone.