Keep It Real

It’s a few months ago now so you’ve probably all seen the Facebook exchange between a young woman and her boss.

In it, she complained about her ‘pervy’ boss and the general tedium of her role.

He then surprised her by responding to point out that, since she’d ‘added’ him as a friend, he’d seen her comments and she would no longer be working for the company.

What really stands out for me about this story is people’s reaction.

Everyone who sees it laughs.

Then they question if it is real.

We spend so much time in a virtual world and consuming fictional media disguised as ‘reality’, it’s no wonder we’re all striving for proof that our experiences are authentic.

Authenticity isn’t as straightforward as it used to be, because our viewpoint is always subjective.

Seven people can see the same play or attend the same meeting, and yet each version of events will differ when it’s retold.

As Mel Brooks once famously pointed out, “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.”

History is controlled by whoever writes it down.

So it’s not the authenticity that matters, so much as creating a memorable experience that’s worth sharing with people

Funny How Like I’m A Clown I Amuse You?

Not everybody wants to be a clown. Joe Pesci, pretends to take exception to Henry laughing at one of his funny stories in Martin Scorcese’s Goodfellas.

On Friday Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks told a story about St Patrick's Day. Barack Obama and the Irish prime minister Brian Cowen were to speak to the crowd using an autocue. The speeches however were in the wrong order. The Irish prime minister began his speech when he realised he was reading the words President Obama was due to say.
Luckily he had a sense of humour. He told everyone what had happened and then said, 'Why do these things never work for me? Who said they're idiot proof?' Barack Obama entered the spirit of the occasion and began his speech: 'I'd like to thank Mr Obama.'
And that’s what we all need to do, especially when our plans go awry. It’s a tough world out there, and a good sense of humour (GSOH if you’re dating online er ...or so I’ve been told) is key to our survival.

One of my old bosses Iain Arthur firmly believed that a quick wit was a sure sign of intellect. So when things don’t go to plan, it’s an easy way of demonstrating that you’re still in control. And it’s a great indicator of chemistry – if someone’s laughing with you (rather than at you), then the relationship is already up and running.

So go on, make a joke. Have a laugh.
Now, have you heard the one about.....