Comedy is not for the careless

Rick Watson
Syndicated Writer
Sunday, May 31, 2009

I know some people must think I’m twisted because I find humor in some of the oddest places. When I tell a funny story, some people “get it” and some people back away from me as if I’ve been sprayed by a skunk. But hearing people laugh seems almost musical to me.  I can be serious when I have to be, but I also love to laugh.

Someone sent me a joke the other day that cracked me up. I told it to my lunch buddies with varying results. Some people spewed their mashed potatoes and other's looked at me as if I had a fishing lure dangling from an earlobe.

Humor is tricky. It’s about context and situation. Timing is everything when it comes to making people laugh.

You risk making enemies if you poke fun at someone else’s expense. Some people are easily offended.  

It’s a good idea to steer clear of telling jokes about tall people, short people, handicapped people, blind people or teamsters. You can usually get away with having fun at the expense of lawyers simply because they often have fun at your expense. (I actually ran this one by one of my best friends who is a lawyer, to make sure he wasn’t offended). Appalachian Americans are fair game because most of us are proud to be rednecks and we often crack ourselves up. Have you heard the famous last words of a redneck? “HEY Y’ALL, WATCH THIS!!!”

Some folks are good at humor and some folks struggle. Some people enjoy a good laugh and others think it's a waste of time. I try to avoid the latter group as if they had jumping cooties and oozing sores.

I’ve found that some of the best jokes are the ones I tell on myself. It would have to be really bad before I hurt my own feelings. Though I have done it from time to time.

My doctor says I’m paranoid, but I think he’s out to get me.

Here are a few jokes:

A guy calls the doctor and says, “My uncle is really sick and he needs to come and see you.”  

The doctor replies, “Oh, I’m familiar with his case. He’s not really sick, he just thinks he is.”  

A few weeks later the doctor follows up with the nephew, “How’s your uncle?  “He’s worse,” the young man said, “now he thinks he’s dead.”

Joke II

"I was walking by a grammar school recently when I heard chanting from within a tall fence.” 13-13-13. I had no clue why the kids were chanting 13-13-13, but I was curious. The wall was too high to see over, so I looked for a hole to see through. When I found a place to see through, a kid jabbed me in the eye with a stick and they immediately began chanting 14-14-14."

OK, you didn't like that one? Here is my 4-year-old great niece Zoe’s favorite joke that she tells me every time she sees me:

Zoe: Knock, knock

Rick: Who’s there?

Zoe: Boo

Rick: Boo who

Zoe: I’m sorry I made you cry!

Then we both laugh hysterically.

Guess I shouldn’t give up the day job to pursue a career as a comedian.