Humor has a place in every day life. It is a part of our conversations, our entertainment, even our personalities. Humor is used to lighten
mood, relate to others, to deal with stress and pain. It is in our workplace, our home and it should be in our books.A sign posted at a beauty shop: “All work done while you wait.”
A sign posted at a meeting: “For Restrooms: Use Stairs.”
A bumper sticker: “Adults are just kids who owe money.”
Another bumper sticker: “Ambivalent? Well, yes and no.”
Should be my bumper sticker: “There is absolutely no excuse for way I'm about to drive.”
It can be difficult to predict effect of humor in your writing will have on your reader. Sarcasm may be misinterpreted, sexists, racists or crude remarks may be offensive. You should use caution and good sense; however, humor does have a place in your writing.
Medical research indicates that laughter really is medicinal: increasing immune system’s activity, increasing antibody immunoglobulin A, which protects upper-respiratory tract and decreasing stress hormones. Humor reduces blood pressure and heart rate. Positive humor also offers interpersonal benefits. Humor makes you and your characters likeable.
When should humor be used? Whenever, and wherever stress is prevalent. Think about police officers, medical workers, emergency personnel and you may think there is little opportunity to introduce humor. However, individuals in these professions need humor to cope.
According to Richard Jacobson, a news anchor with a Los Angeles radio station, “As a journalist, you encounter rough edges of society much like firefighters, policemen and physicians. A certain amount of humor allows you to keep your emotional equilibrium.” He often ends his newscasts with stupid criminal behavior.
