be alert, the college needs by Justin Miles -to crack a joke or not to crack a joke, is that a question? You know, as tensions rise in the College and tempers flare over differences, I some- times tiptoe ever so lightly into the realm of laughter amidst squabbling. Being an ignorant type, I tend to want to alleviate ‘stressful situations’ by throwing ina very, very silly joke. Sometimes someone laughs, but most of the time I hear a groan. And then I start to wonder wether or not I should pursue this uniquesense of humor, or shutup and look ugly for the rest of my life. This same problem, if that’s what you want to call it, may apply to this college. The question is: has our sense of humor(s) lately been subdivided more so than usual, and becoming corralled into ‘ideals’ much along the same lines as the general popu- lation —existing in their own cultural groups and not being very tolerant of oth- ers. What I mean is do you find others sense of humor personally insulting and . do you think it is right to complain, or do some people, of course with some moral- minded exceptions, have as much right to define their own sense of humor as much as you do? And with this sense of humor, do we end up using it will malice or is it ignorant, harmless wit? To me, a good example of this lack of goodwill, understanding and acceptance would be (and here it comes up, again ) the developing sexism and racism problems at the College. There are two sides to this growing annoyance. On one side you have the antagonists, the persons responsible for the comments and graffiti, and by now we are all aware of some examples of these people, so I wont dwell on that too much. On the other side of the fence there are those who are immediately affected and hurt by such comments. You know, with regards to this I sometimes wonder if humor would solve some problems. Maybe eliminate some barriers that make it hard to come to grips with the differences and simply co-exist without trying to bash per- sonal ideologies into each others heads. People are quite likely to stand by hard- held beliefs whatever the morals behind them. Some people will do this in a very aggressive way, and that’s great in some ways and not in others. Both sides of the fence involve these kinds of individuals. And then you have less aggressive types (myself being one...) that sit on these two sides of the fence. And then there are those who are called ‘fence-sitters’, and basi- cally are less harmless than the two ex- tremes, depending on the issues involved. But whatever the case there are many individual ideas out there, and to go to odds against any number of them can be very tough going. I think the best way togo about this is to find a common ground to work things out, not: bash each other over the head. This is the only possible solution as far as I am concerned. You will never completely convince or duplicate ideals in the minds of others no matter how hard you try. And to get force- ful or even violent in some matters is completely hypocritical. Here is what I propose: adopt a serious sense of humor. For now that’s all wecan do. Asit has been said before over and over again, learning to live together is the goal here, and a sense of humor or ‘wit’ can be deemed far less harmless than sticks, stones and bit- ter words. What is humor? Most of us have to stop and think about this one. We can laugh so easily at each other, and it feels harmless but can be so ‘damaging’. What is it about humor that makes it humor, makes it funny, to make us smirk inside or laugh out loud?? It’s something that has been puzzling people for a long time, and some are still trying to work it out. We may never really know why, but here are some ideas... Trying to work out the mechanics be- hind humor or Comedy is a tough one, and requires written Comedy to decipher. Sit- ting back and watching, waiting, and re- cording is a general way to learn the na- ture of things, even humor. Quite a bit has been written on the subject and like most things, the more you think about it, the farther you get from point, so we'll start with the earliest written explanation. The Ancient Greeks were the first to comment on ‘the character of the comical’, and Plato once wrote on the subject in a simple, direct way to the point. It is in a dialogue that he wrote which takes place between Socrates and a student named Protarchus, that we can get an idea of an early analysis of humor... lerts Socrates - “...This word malice, which - we have just used, what would you say it stands for? A kind of mental pain, or what?” Protarchus - “ A kind of mental pain, certainly.” Socrates - “And yet, as you will find, the (man) who feels it is pleased by his neighbors misfortune.” Protarchus - “ Emphatically so.” Socrates - “And ignorance and silli- ness, as we call it, is a misfortune.” Protarchus - “Of course...” Socrates - “Now this will show you the real character of the comical. ...When a (man) is ignorant of himself, the affliction must always take on one three forms. In the first place, it may be ignorance of his own finances, he may fancy means more affluent than they are. And even more numerous are those who imagine them- selves taller and handsomest than they really are, and endowed with all kinds of unreal personal advantages. But the com- monest form of the error, by far, I conceive, is the third which concerns qualities of ‘soul; a man fancies himself better in the point of virtue than he really is. Now a man might be right in calling this state of soul, in all its forms, a bad thing. ...We still have to distinguish between two forms ofit, if we are to observe the singular blending of pleasure with pain involved in playful malice. ...Howis the distinction to be made? It can only be with all who have this foolish false conceit of themselves, as with the rest of mankind; some of them are endowed with strength and capacity, with others it is otherwise.[ Note; the fence thing, folks. Recognize it?? ] ... Thisis a basis for division. Those of them who combine their delusion with weak- ness and incapacity to be revenged on a scoffer you may truly call comic figures; as for those with the strength and capacity for vengeance, you will reckon them incor- rectly if you describe them as dangerous and odious. In the strong, ignorance of self is odious and repulsive - it and its counter- feit presentiments are injurious toa man’s neighbor as well as to himself; where it is weak, we see the proper place and true: character of the comic.” Quite a mouthful, but I believe it to be oh sotrue at this point in time. We seem to be approaching a ‘level of intelligence’, if you will, where we are beginning to recognize and appreciate the differences between us all. Some of us have a hard time under- standing due to ignorance, obviously that’s the case. But the problemis that the worst possible way to change someone’s views is by hammering you owninto them. Change for some is extremely uncomfortable and threatening. Many people who have suf- fered from sexism, racism, etc, have screamed for immediate action. In most cases they are unquestionably right, no doubt, but if we are dealing with people who are more-so ignorant than, say, ada- mant, or unchanging - not open to sugges- tion, hammering ideals may not bea great idea. From the way I interpret Plato’s little writing , if someone is ignorant of others and makes fun of them, so long as this person recognizes they may be wrong or shall we say stupid, a joke’ is at hand. Like I said before, people don’t seem able to change their ideals too quickly, but if they’re open to suggestion and may at least hold some sense of humor on the subject at hand, HEY maybe they're far less dangerous than someone who may actually run around hurting people be- cause of their beliefs. 1 am in no way condoning ‘a sense of humor’ as an excuse. to make ignorant comments or actions, - I’m just saying that in most cases .a ‘sense of humor’ may be an easier way to stand . face to face and deal with.a difference in opinion. And if anyone, whether they be morally wrong, or even right, uses force with words or actions against an ignorant opponent, they may find they’re doing -more harm than good. Mark Twain once wrote, ‘Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg crackles as if it had laid an aster- oid.’ And with regards to our differences he wrote ‘the trouble ain’t that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain’t distributed right’. JUST KIDDING!! You know, as tensions rsein the College and tempers flare over differences, I some- times tiptoe ever so lightly into the realm of laughter amidst squabbling. Being an ignorant type, I tend to want to alleviate ‘stressful situations’ by throwingina very, very illyjoke. Sometimes someonelaughs, ‘but most of the time I hear a groan. And. then I start to wonder wether or not I should pursue this uniquesense of humor, or shutup and look ugly for the rest of my life, ‘This same problem, if that’s what you want to call it, may apply to this college. ‘The question is:has our sense ofhumor(s) lately been subdivided more sothan usual, and becoming corralled into ‘deals’ much along the same lines as the general popu- lation —existing in their own cultural groups and not being very tolerant of oth- ers. What I mean is do you find others ‘sense of humor personally insulting and do you think it is right to complain, or do some people, ofcourse with some moral- ‘minded exceptions, have as much right to define their own sense of humor as much as you do? And with this sense of humor, do we end up using it will malice or is it ignorant, harmless wit? ‘To me, a good example of this lack of goodwill, understanding and acceptance wouldbe and hereit comes up, again the developing sexismandracismproblemsat the College. There are two sides to this growing annoyance. On one side you have the antagonists, the persons responsible for the comments and graffiti, and by now weareall aware ofsome examples ofthese people, so I wont dwell on that too much. ‘On the other side of the fence there are those who are immediately affected and hhurt by such comments. You know, with regards to this I sometimes wonder if ‘humor would solvesome problems. Maybe climinate some barriers that makeithard to come to grips with the diferences and simply-o-exist without trying tobash per- sonal ideologies into each others heads. People are quite likely to stand by hard- held beliefs whatever the morals behind ‘them. Some people will do this ina very aggressive way, and that’s great in some ways and not in others. Both sides ofthe fence involve these kinds of individuals. be alert, the college needs by Justin Miles to erack a joke or not to crack a joke, is that a question? ‘And then you have less aggressive types (myself being one...) that sit on these two sides ofthe fence. And then there are those who are called ‘fence-sitters’, and basi- cally are less harmless than the two ex- tremes, depending onthe issues involved. But whatever the case there are many individual ideas out there, and to go to odds against any number of them can be very tough going, Ithink thebest way togo about this i to find a comman ground to work things out, not besh each other over the head. This is the only possible solution as far as am concerned. You will never completely convince or duplicate ideals in the minds of others no matter how hard you try. And to get frce- ful or even violent in some matters is completely hypocritical. Here is what I propose: adopt a serious sense of humor. Fornow that'sall wecando. Asithas been said before over and over again, learning to live together is the goal here, and a sense of humor or ‘wit’ can be deemed far less harmless than sticks, stones and bit- ter words. ‘What is humor? Most of us have to stop and think about this one. We can laugh 0 easily at each other, and it feels harmless but can be so ‘damaging. What is it about humor that makes it humor, makes it funny, to make us smirk inside or laugh ‘out loud”? It's something that has been puzzling people for along time, and some are still trying to work it out. We may never really know why, but here are some ideas. ‘Trying to work out the mechanics be- hind humor or Comedy is tough one, and requires written Comedy to decipher. Sit ting back and watching, waiting, and re- cording isa general way to learn the ‘ture of things, even humor. Quitea bithas been written on the subject and like most things, the more you think about it, the farther you get from point, so well start with the earliest written explanation. ‘The Ancient Greeks were the fist to comment on ‘the character of the comical’, and Plato once wrote on the subject in a dialogue that he wrote which takes place between Socrates and a student named Protarchus, that we can get an idea of an early analysis of humor... lerts Socrates -*..This word malice, which we have just used, what would you say it stands for? Akind of ental pain,or what?” Protarchus - A kind of mental pain, certainly.” Socrates “And yet, as you will find, the (man) who feels it is pleased by his neighbors misfortune.” Protarchus -“ Emphatically 90.” Socrates -* And ignorance and sili ness, as we cal it, is a misfortune.” Protarchus -‘Of course.” ‘Socrates - “Now this will show you the real character of the comical. ..When a (man)is ignorant of himself, the affliction must always take on one three forms. In the first place, it may be ignorance of his ‘own finances, he may fancy means more affluent than they are. And even more ‘numerous are those who imagine them- selves taller and handsomest than they really are, and endowed with all kinds of unreal personal advantages. But the com- ‘monest form ofthe error, by far, leonceive, is the third which concerns qualities of soul; a man fancies himself better in the point of virtue than he really is. Now a ‘man might be right in calling this state of soul, in all its forms, a bad thing. we still have to distinguish between two formsoft,ifwe are oobservethe singular blending of pleasure with pain involved in playful malice. Howis the distinction tobe made? Itcan only be with all who have this foolish false conceit of themselves, as with the rest of mankind; some of them are endowed with strength and capacity, with others it is ‘otherwise.{ Note; the fence thing, folks Recognize it?” } _-Thisisa basis for division. Those them who combine their delusion with weak- ness and incapacity to be revenged on a scoffer you may truly call eomie figures; as for those with the strength and capacity {for vengeance, you will reckon them incor- rectly if you describe them as dangerous and odious. In the strong, ignorance of self isodious and repulsive it andits counter- feitpresentimentsare injurioustoa man’s neighbor as well as to himself, where it ‘weak, we see the proper place and true character ofthe comic.” Quitea mouthful, but Ibelieve it tobe oh sotrueat this pointin time. Weseem tobe approaching a ‘level of intelligence’, ifyou will, where we are beginning to recognize ‘and appreciate the differences between us all, Some of us have a hard time under- standing duetoignorance, obviously that’s thecase. But the problemisthat the worst possible way to change someone's views is by hammering youownintothem. Change for some is extremely uncomfortable and threatening. Many people who have suf- fered from sexism, racism, ete, have sereamed for immediate action, In most cases they are unquestionably right, no doubt, but if we are dealing with people who are more-so ignorant than, say, ada- mant, or unchanging -not open to sugges- tion, hammering ideals may not bea great ‘dea. From the way I interpret Plato's little writing , if someone is ignorant of others and makes fun of them, so long as this person recognizesthey may be wrong or shall we say stupid, a joke’ is at hand. Like I said before, people don't seem able to change their ideals too quickly, but if they're open to suggestion and may at Jeast hold some sense of humor on the subject at hand, HEY maybe they're far Jess dangerous than someone who may ‘actually run around hurting people be- cause of their beliefs. I am in no way condoning'a sense of humor! as an excuse to make ignorant comments or actions, Tm just saying that in most cases a ‘sense of humor’ may be an easier way to stand face to face and deal with a difference in opinion, And if anyone, whether they be ‘morally wrong, or even right, uses force with words or actions against an ignokant ‘opponent, they may find they're doing mare harm than good. Mark Twain once wrote, ‘Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid ‘an egg crackles as if it had laid an aster- oid’ And with regards to our differences he wrote‘ the troubleain't that thereis too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right’ JUST KIDDING!