Great Bartender Joke and Why Humans Need to Laugh

A misogynist, a fascist, and a racist walk into a bar.

Bartender asks, "What can I get you, President Trump?"

Do humans need to laugh?

Science says yes, and as a human being, I would have to agree. I don’t know about you, but I use humor a lot. I try to ease tensions through humor; sometimes it is effective, and other times not so much. Apparently, I am not the only one who does this. As an integral part of human interaction, humor has been on the minds of thinkers for centuries.

In the book, The Humor Code: A global search for what makes things funny, authors Peter McGraw and Joel Warner explain, “Plato and Aristotle contemplated the meaning of comedy while laying the foundations of Western philosophy.” Charles Darwin looked for the seeds of laughter in the joyful cries of tickled chimpanzees. Sigmund Freud sought the underlying motivations behind jokes in the nooks and crannies of our unconscious. Philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed “humor is ostensibly about mocking the weak and exerting superiority.”

I personally like the quote from author, Scott Weems, a cognitive neuroscientist who says, “My first thought when I think about humor is it’s a great way for us to have evolved so we don’t have to hit each other with sticks.” In his writings, he formulates a hypothesis that humor is a coping mechanism that helps people deal with complex and contradictory messages, a “response to conflict and confusion in our brain”.

Take the jokes immediately following the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. Remember this one...What does NASA stand for? Need another seven astronauts. In bad taste? Yea. Did it help the nation deal with a horrible tragedy that didn’t make sense in their brains? Maybe. Turning to humor as a way of coping with stress and adversity seems to be part of our psychological makeup.

Laughter has been studied extensively, and its benefits go beyond just providing a moment of joy. When we laugh, our bodies release endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals that can reduce stress and boost our mood. It also improves our immune system by increasing the production of antibodies and activating T-cells, thus enhancing our overall well-being.

Moreover, laughter plays a crucial role in social bonding. Sharing a laugh with others creates a sense of connection and strengthens relationships. It promotes empathy, understanding, and a sense of community. In a way, laughter acts as a universal language that transcends cultural barriers and brings people together.

Furthermore, humor can be a powerful tool for communication. It can break down barriers, facilitate difficult conversations, and make complex topics more digestible. By injecting humor into discussions, we can engage others more effectively and make our messages more memorable.

In essence, laughter is not just a frivolous activity but an essential aspect of human nature. It serves as a coping mechanism, a social lubricant, a health booster, and a communication enhancer. So, next time you find yourself laughing, remember that you are not just having a good time; you are also benefiting your mind, body, and relationships in more ways than you can imagine.