Media Training Question # 81 – What Does Laughter Communicate?

March 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Many of you have already seen this as I did on Facebook. There is a reason almost 9 million people have taken the time to watch this and I’m going to guess more than a few times. It’s infectious and I dare any of you to tell me that this doesn’t put a smile (or more) on your face. And it got me wondering about why that is and what laughter communicates.
The most famous laugher I can think of is David Letterman. His distinctive laugh is recognizable by most. I have a former brother-in-law whose laugh is something you would never forget if you had ever heard it, and I mean never. It’s a laugh that actually makes you laugh. I’m betting we all have someone we know who has a laugh that is memorable, to say the least.
Reader’s Digest reminds us on a monthly basis that laughter is the best medicine and who hasn’t had a gut busting laugh that hasn’t absolutely drained you from time to time? Seriously, think about the last time you had a gut busting laugh and how you felt so wonderful after that episode. Laughter can be the moment that stops a terribly intense situation and laughter can be the both healing and freeing in many, many ways, but laughter also has a dark side, too.
Think of a sinister laugh, or an inappropriate laugh, as does happen. Some people’s laughter can be hurtful and harmful, and frankly insensitive and ill timed. Anyone who has been on the wrong side of the butt of a joke that created uproarious laughter knows what I am speaking of, so it does give this communicator some pause as we look at the magic and mystery of laughter and what laughter communicates.
Certainly as is evidenced in the video I posted, that the laughter of a baby is the sweetest sound to the ear. And the simplicity of why that baby is laughing makes this even sweeter to me. There is a nice little endorphin injection when we laugh and that baby laughing will make many laugh, sharing that little rush of endorphin goodness. But what does that laugh communicate? Joy, fullness, love, glee, happiness. That’s an awfully nice list and one that we should seek out to fulfill daily, if possible, but not all laughter communicates these sentiments or feelings.
Some laughs, perhaps done while you are walking away form a conversation may get you wondering what is so funny, or maybe why you are not let in on the joke, maybe even suggesting the joke is you or on you, right? We’ve all been there. Some people either can’t or won’t laugh for whatever reason, and I feel sorry for them, but I know a few of them as well. Laughter is mostly good, of course and there is a reason why comedians make billions of collective dollars annually getting us to laugh: we want and need that to happen for us. Enough so that we are willing to pay for that to happen and there is nothing wrong with that at all.
At times of great societal stress, laughter has been a traditional part of ailing us to a great degree. Even in the darkest days of our history, comedy was a tool that entertainers and movie makers used to help up to lighten the load. We know that a good comedic movie can find itself at the top of the box office for many weeks if it truly makes us laugh. Genuine laughter cannot be replaced or substituted by anything else; no drug or any other substitute can do for us what laughter can. It is a unique phenomenon if you think about it.
The national conscientious right now is all over the place. We are torn politically. We are stressed by the economy. We are trying to make ends meet and depending on where you are at in your personal and professional lives you may be stressed beyond repair for all I know, so maybe a little laughter is in order.
No laughter won’t pay a single bill or find you a job. No, laughter will not stop wars or aggression. Laughter certainly won’t bring down the price of a gallon of gas or do anything about the layoff notice you just received. I get that, but that doesn’t mean that laughter doesn’t have a place in our lives, does it?
Again, I’m no stranger to heartache and disappointment and I get that when the chips are down and nothing seems to be working and the light at the end of the tunnel is actually a train coming right for you, I get that and maybe the simple thought of laughter pisses you off right now, OK. But, I dare you to watch this simple little video of a pure child, so tickled by a simple piece of paper tearing that their “laugh trigger” was set off to the max and the pure joy of hearing that sound and of watching that joy will move something in you, it just will and I don’t know why nor do I care why because some things just are and this is one of them so just enjoy it for what it is.
Yes, not all laughter is created equal and laughter does communicate something and at some level that is in the ear of the beholder, but maybe we could use a little more laughter in our lives right now because I can’t see how can do any harm, unless you mean it to be harmful.
So sit back, hit the play button and enjoy. I’m betting you will watch this more than once, how can you not? It’s truly fun and funny; take that as the gift it is, for all of us. Can 9 million people really be wrong?

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As the host of his own nationally syndicated radio programs for 15 years, Tony has interviewed over 25,000 guests and appeared as a guest on over 800 radio and national television shows. He founded of his own public relations firm and he went on to author two books and became a “go to” authority on a myriad of issues from weight loss to self empowerment; from politics to pop culture. His list of media training clients number over 2000, many of them well known celebrities and authors. He and enjoys of the challenge of helping people discover their voice.Tony is respected and well known for his honesty and willingness to do what it takes to get to a core message. He works tirelessly with his clients and advocates for his clients in finding the most passionate and profound tenets of their message and then giving them the tools to deliver that message. http://www.mediatraining.me