The Truth behind jokes

The Truth behind jokes

We all love a good joke. “Just kidding” is something you say when your joke touches a raw nerve and it reflects on someone’s face, trying to wash off the ill feeling, with a smile. You talk of deep rooted fears in a humorous manner, to hide the fact that it really scares you, and the brave face is but a façade. You laugh off the disappointment with a funny laugh to hide the deepest of sorrows, you feel.
So how much of the joke is “just kidding,” or are there elements of truth behind these funny quips. If so, how much? Let us consider a scenario. If you were to make a joke about me in relation with my smoking, it becomes just an accusation that has no truth behind it and is in no way funny. It is so for the simple reason that I have never smoked in life and I can never be associated with smoking. It evokes anger and not laughter. However, if it were about my sleeping, it is likely to evoke laughter in those who know about my habit of oversleeping and may even bring a smile to my face.
For a joke to be a real joke, it needs at least a pinch of truth in it. And the greater the amount of truth the greater the humor in the joke. This is so, simply because, when someone sees the humor in real things, it is easier for people to relate to it and sees a clearer and a more recognizable picture. There is also the risk of the subject feeling uncomfortable, but unable to take slight as a good measure of what is said is true and can’t be denied.
Just the same with brave face jokes. Here the more scared you are the more the joke is likely to be appreciated. The fact that you are trying to hide behind a brave face becomes very evident and adds to the humor. C’mon, we all love to see someone else scared, don’t we?
However the most touching ones are those that are made to cover for disappointments or deeply felt sorrows. Even as those listening join in the laughter, most likely, the poignancy is very likely felt by them too. This is probably the most effective way to convey sorrows or disappointments.
There is never a joke without some truth in it. And the best jokes are ones that say the funny side of the truth, with complete honesty. Honesty can be funny too.