Being Funny vs. Having a Sense of Humor
Being funny is completely different than having a sense of humor. The former implies the singlehanded generation of hilarity, or at least the innate ability to make surrounding company laugh. If this were a requirement of dudedom, then unfortunately, there would be very few dudes because, quite simply, most guys are not comedians.
Having a sense of humor, while related to being funny, is more involved. Unlike being funny which is a natural gift or talent, a sense of humor is a lifestyle that can be adopted. It is an approach to life that dudes can nurture, develop, and build into their lives. Specifically, there are three main components of a good dude sense of humor.
A Dudelike Sense of Humor
First and foremost on the list of "factors contributing to a sense of humor" is the ability to laugh at oneself. Dudes should practice the art of laughing when they make a mistake or look foolish. Granted, nobody wants to be perceived as an idiot all the time, but at the same time, EVERYONE makes a fool of themselves at some point (some people more than others). It is at this point when dudes laughingly admit their flaws and even jokingly put themselves down. This is important not only because it decreases the anxiety experienced by the dude himself, but also places everyone else at ease as well. Thus, the ability to laugh at oneself is a basic, yet critical component of this dudetribute.
Secondly, dudes know how to laugh at others. Taken literally, this does not seem challenging. Afterall, laughing AT other people is one of the easiest and most natural human functions. But really knowing HOW to do this is quite a bit more complex. Dudes know that although they may feel like cracking a joke at someone's misfortune, it is not always proper. Thus they know when it is and is not appropriate to laugh at someone else. A second aspect of laughing at others is being humble enough to admit someone else is funny. Guys often experience jealousy when another guy is funnier than them. This is anti-dudelike. Dudes recognize, and even appreciate others that have excellent comedic timing, or use a hilarious analogy. They are not afraid to laugh at other people.
Thirdly, dudes develop the ability to laugh at stressful and intense situations. All men face high pressure situations that are emotionally and mentally taxing. Men who take life too seriously to find humor in difficult areas simply contribute to the difficulty of the situation. Dudes seek to find the irony and humor in such situations, recognizing that this is the most effective approach. For example, recently while I was working at a local restaurant, one employee called off work leaving the restaurant short staffed, eventually resulting in utter chaos. The atmosphere was similar to a pot of potatoes boiling on a stove. The pot was about to boil over, but for some reason, it seemed as though the burner just kept getting hotter and hotter. The result was that human interaction went from a jovial teamwork to a level that was bordering on homicidal. As a participant in the "pot" I could not help but laugh. I found it extremely ironic that the terse (which is a mild description) way in which these stressed people interacted simply served to escalate the situation and exacerbate the problem. In situations like these, it is important to find rays of humor to lighten and brighten the mood.
Some dudes are more adept in certain areas of their sense of humor. But all dudes should seek to develop this approach to life and learn to laugh at themselves, others, and their difficult situations.
Dude out,
-C.R.
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