What Is Humour, Eventually?

In our every day interactions we meet people who will mean to be funny and they may say something in a way that shows it is a joke and other times in a way you don't know how to react - especially if you don't know them. Also, some people as recipients, are positive to a funny comment by a stranger or by a not-so-well-known person, and others will feel offended and they might even argue.

But what is it that creates that difference in the behaviour? the answer is so common yet so misunderstood: humour. Humour is the word humidity for Latin. And it, practically, means that ''I create a 'humid' environment and not a rigid and dry one''. So, the interaction with others, is smoother. It is not something specific on application, though. Its boundaries are created by us and only by us. There are people who will not accept any joke and others who are so open that more often than not they are taken as silly or naive. But is that the case?

The case is that as in many situations you need to assess the balance not only between what is said but also who interacts. Someone who is really humble and kind whatever they tell you they will not take advantage of you and they will not judge you; others, with your slightest kindness and humour when you receive a joke, will think you're naive and so on.

On some occasions, you may be called names (e.g. during an argument). In most circumstances, the best way to bypass that - in a personal but also in a social way - is to take it with humour. That will lower the tension and also it will not affect you in any bad, psychological, way. Also, it will ameliorate the relationship with the person in argument. That is a positive way to react to a comment even if you don't like it. And it doesn't mean that you are the doormat for them or silly; it just means you are an easy-going person. Besides, there are many ways to show you're easy-going, including accepting an 'insult' (insult is always relative. I always say to my proteges that an insult is subjective) as a joke with confidence. Showing that YOU CHOSE to do so. It is their problem if they take it the wrong way. Now, if someone tells you something REALLY offensive (yes, there are those situations but still you can show them that your humour is above them and their intention to hurt you. Thus, they will stop annoying you and you may become best buddies), you may choose to adjust your behaviour, accordingly.

Hence, humour is a CHOICE we have every second. It is how much WE allow a comment or a joke to affect us in a good or bad way. Many persons, when they want to hurt you and try to 'insult' you, if you show them you're accepting their comments with humour they 'break' and they finally like you. The boundaries are ours to set but the benefits to be open are great.