Wednesday, November 19, 2008

On All the Time

I think I have decided that though I love to watch comedians, I simply can't stand working or living with them (note: my wife is not a comedian, I further do not consider myself one either so I don't want any strange "do you hate your home life" looks the next time I see you). There is just a context; a time and place for being "on." The rest of the time please remain "off." I don't need some witty comment every time a siren goes off, please don't make puns out of what I say in day to day business and one liners are to be confined to books that get lost in public library main stacks. Unless you are standing behind a mic, under a spot-light remove all frills from your sentence structure. A rant is okay now and then, but that's because rants, if done well, usually create a gravity all their own formulating a temporary, appropriate "comedic" context at which time the aforementioned restrictions are suspended and those surrounding said ranter will appreciate the tension breaker. This is especially true when the given rant is directly in response to its present situation and it is commenting on some present context. Passers-by are even more prone to enjoy this "comedic" interlude as they are most likely part of the situation and have a personal investment in the joke at hand.

If you're walking by me and think of a one-liner that you feel would just be a sin to waste, say it into a paper bag and give it to me for later. While you're at it, please include some form of food in that paper bag, apples are good, Fuji Apples.

1 comments:

Adam B. said...

One liners are an excuse for non-funny people to get a laugh once in a while. It functions the same way as the "joke" for people who can't tell stories. I'm with you, I don't buy this fake funniness and I would rather here no story than an elaborate joke with some "clever" punch-line ending. If you're not funny just accept it and move on.
As strange as it may seem, I think I have chosen my friends on this very criteria. I don't hang out with anyone who uses one-liners or jokes. (Perhaps they just don't hang out with me. I'm not sure how many nasty stares and glances a budding relationship can endure.) Some things in life are simply intolerable.