Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: floo on August 14, 2015, 02:15:21 PM

Title: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on August 14, 2015, 02:15:21 PM
I think being able to laugh at yourself is a virtue, it is far better than taking yourself too seriously.

Where I am concerned being such a daft old bat there is plenty to laugh at as my family will tell you! ;D
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: OH MY WORLD! on August 14, 2015, 05:49:49 PM
Oh sure, no problem, I'll just go stand in front of a mirror have a riot!

http://babyanimalzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/6a010535647bf3970b01156e4e1388970c-800wi.jpg
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on August 14, 2015, 06:01:53 PM
No!


Absolutely out of the question.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: OH MY WORLD! on August 14, 2015, 06:21:48 PM
Being able to laugh at yourself is fine but if you use it as an excuse to be a goof, using it as a pass to get away with negative social habits, then I would say one is a self centered brat.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Gordon on August 14, 2015, 06:43:44 PM
No!


Absolutely out of the question.

I you can't laugh at yourself, Vlad, perhaps some of us could lend a hand  :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Hope on August 14, 2015, 06:50:18 PM
The ability to laugh at oneself is perhaps the sole most important means of retaining mental well-being.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 14, 2015, 07:11:38 PM

Quote
author=Hope link=topic=10739.msg546658#msg546658 date=1439574618]
The ability to laugh at oneself is perhaps the sole most important means of retaining mental well-being.

That is a hugely superficial answer, and not even appropriate.  It is a serious issue and deserves serious consideration  Generally speaking, there are at least these ways to maintain mental well-being:

Connect with your friends, family, neighbours and people at work. Have a conversation, pass the time of day, make time for that chat.
Be Active. Find a physical activity that you enjoy, go for a walk, gardening, anything.
Take the time to look at the day. Savour the moment
Keep Learning. Try something; perhaps finding a new hobby.
Give or do something nice for a friend or neighbour;  make some time for others.

To merely be able to laugh at oneself is fatuous.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Rhiannon on August 14, 2015, 07:38:21 PM
Being able to laugh at yourself is fine but if you use it as an excuse to be a goof, using it as a pass to get away with negative social habits, then I would say one is a self centered brat.

If 'I'm good at laughing at myself' actually means 'I'm happy for people to mock me and pretend to join in so it doesn't hurt so much' then that isn't a good look either.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Hope on August 14, 2015, 08:29:27 PM
That is a hugely superficial answer, and not even appropriate.  It is a serious issue and deserves serious consideration  Generally speaking, there are at least these ways to maintain mental well-being:
So superficial that it is the advice that I and a number of friends have been given by doctors.  Let's give an example.  You move to a new country or part of your own homeland an need to learn the lingo - be that a foreign language, a strong dialect (Scouse, Geordie, ...) or just the new vocabulary.  You can either refuse to speak until you have got the grammar and vocab clearly organised in your mind, or you can wing it and learn by your mistakes.  Almost inevitably, whichever way you try, you will make mistakes and be laughed at.  If you bottle up your frustrations at making mistakes, you will often end up isolating yourself; if you can relax and laugh at your mistakes with your listeners, not only will you feel far better, they will probably offer to help you, thus breaking the barriers even more.

Its a common piece of advice for language learners and from language teachers.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 14, 2015, 08:33:04 PM
That is a hugely superficial answer, and not even appropriate.  It is a serious issue and deserves serious consideration  Generally speaking, there are at least these ways to maintain mental well-being:
So superficial that it is the advice that I and a number of friends have been given by doctors.  Let's give an example.  You move to a new country or part of your own homeland an need to learn the lingo - be that a foreign language, a strong dialect (Scouse, Geordie, ...) or just the new vocabulary.  You can either refuse to speak until you have got the grammar and vocab clearly organised in your mind, or you can wing it and learn by your mistakes.  Almost inevitably, whichever way you try, you will make mistakes and be laughed at.  If you bottle up your frustrations at making mistakes, you will often end up isolating yourself; if you can relax and laugh at your mistakes with your listeners, not only will you feel far better, they will probably offer to help you, thus breaking the barriers even more.

Its a common piece of advice for language learners and from language teachers.

Leading a well-balanced and healthy life is so much more than the ability to laugh at yourself.  I suggest the doctors who gave you that advice might have expanded a little on what is necessary for good mental well-being.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Hope on August 14, 2015, 08:37:23 PM
Leading a well-balanced and healthy life is so much more than the ability to laugh at yourself.  I suggest the doctors who gave you that advice might have expanded a little on what is necessary for good mental well-being.
Yup, they did; they pointed out that humour is very good medicine which doesn't cost you, me or the NHS much.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 14, 2015, 08:53:06 PM
Leading a well-balanced and healthy life is so much more than the ability to laugh at yourself.  I suggest the doctors who gave you that advice might have expanded a little on what is necessary for good mental well-being.
Yup, they did; they pointed out that humour is very good medicine which doesn't cost you, me or the NHS much.

But they didn't mention anything more substantial, then?  So, if we see someone walking about laughing inanely, for no apparent reason, it could be you being mentally healthy, and not some kind of nut!     :)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on August 15, 2015, 08:40:03 AM
Trust BA to spoil a perfectly sensible thread with his inane comments! One gathers he can't laugh at himself which is very sad! :(
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Rhiannon on August 15, 2015, 09:01:24 AM
That is a hugely superficial answer, and not even appropriate.  It is a serious issue and deserves serious consideration  Generally speaking, there are at least these ways to maintain mental well-being:
So superficial that it is the advice that I and a number of friends have been given by doctors.  Let's give an example.  You move to a new country or part of your own homeland an need to learn the lingo - be that a foreign language, a strong dialect (Scouse, Geordie, ...) or just the new vocabulary.  You can either refuse to speak until you have got the grammar and vocab clearly organised in your mind, or you can wing it and learn by your mistakes.  Almost inevitably, whichever way you try, you will make mistakes and be laughed at.  If you bottle up your frustrations at making mistakes, you will often end up isolating yourself; if you can relax and laugh at your mistakes with your listeners, not only will you feel far better, they will probably offer to help you, thus breaking the barriers even more.

Its a common piece of advice for language learners and from language teachers.

What you are actually describing is being u afraid to take 'risks' and open oneself up to failure. If I were learning a new language I wouldn't assume I'd be laughed at if I made a mistake. However, if I go in with the attitude that it doesn't matter if I make a mistake then I will be more relaxed when others point it out and we can both find the humour in it.

Of course laughter is important, but when this is recommended for good mental health it means finding things funny with others, even if only on TV - it does not mean exclusively laughing at oneself and I'm not sure too much of that is healthy. The stereotypical 'jolly fat person' comes to mind. Being required to always laugh at oneself actually leaves you open to passive aggressive bullying ('can't you take a joke?') and low self esteem ('I'm such an idiot'). There's a place for it certainly, because not being able to laugh at oneself is restrictive and unattractive. But is it the most singular thing required for good mental health? No.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 15, 2015, 11:37:42 AM
That is a hugely superficial answer, and not even appropriate.  It is a serious issue and deserves serious consideration  Generally speaking, there are at least these ways to maintain mental well-being:
So superficial that it is the advice that I and a number of friends have been given by doctors.  Let's give an example.  You move to a new country or part of your own homeland an need to learn the lingo - be that a foreign language, a strong dialect (Scouse, Geordie, ...) or just the new vocabulary.  You can either refuse to speak until you have got the grammar and vocab clearly organised in your mind, or you can wing it and learn by your mistakes.  Almost inevitably, whichever way you try, you will make mistakes and be laughed at.  If you bottle up your frustrations at making mistakes, you will often end up isolating yourself; if you can relax and laugh at your mistakes with your listeners, not only will you feel far better, they will probably offer to help you, thus breaking the barriers even more.

Its a common piece of advice for language learners and from language teachers.

What you are actually describing is being u afraid to take 'risks' and open oneself up to failure. If I were learning a new language I wouldn't assume I'd be laughed at if I made a mistake. However, if I go in with the attitude that it doesn't matter if I make a mistake then I will be more relaxed when others point it out and we can both find the humour in it.

Of course laughter is important, but when this is recommended for good mental health it means finding things funny with others, even if only on TV - it does not mean exclusively laughing at oneself and I'm not sure too much of that is healthy. The stereotypical 'jolly fat person' comes to mind. Being required to always laugh at oneself actually leaves you open to passive aggressive bullying ('can't you take a joke?') and low self esteem ('I'm such an idiot'). There's a place for it certainly, because not being able to laugh at oneself is restrictive and unattractive. But is it the most singular thing required for good mental health? No.

I have a very good friend that loves cricket, I loathe and detest it we're always trying to get one over the other about it I have to laugh at his quite inventive attempts to promote the game, usually countered by some disparaging remark from myself, he laughs at my extreme (but logical) bias against the game and I still can not understand how he or anyone else can have even the slightest interest in this eternally never ending slow game, we laugh at each other, I enjoy the exchange whichever way it goes and would miss it if we didn't insult each other, he is and will always remain a really good friend of mine.

I hear they will be filming cricket on the time laps system and it can be watched in the evenings where they cover every single thing that happens in the whole days play and this time lapsed edition will only need to be on for about three minutes; coming soon to a theatre near you, (hopefully not near me). 

ippy
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Rhiannon on August 15, 2015, 01:52:04 PM
Cricket can last for days and still end up as a draw. I suppose it's not quite so pointless if accompanied by a jug of Pimm's and a good book though.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 15, 2015, 05:02:52 PM
Cricket can last for days and still end up as a draw. I suppose it's not quite so pointless if accompanied by a jug of Pimm's and a good book though.

Any anaesthetic will do, yes Pimms it'll take several of em.

ippy
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: jjohnjil on August 15, 2015, 05:23:07 PM
Cricket can last for days and still end up as a draw. I suppose it's not quite so pointless if accompanied by a jug of Pimm's and a good book though.

Any anaesthetic will do, yes Pimms it'll take several of em.

ippy

 I agree with your friend, Ippy, cricket is the best game in the world by far!

My only religion!
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 15, 2015, 07:27:59 PM
That is a hugely superficial answer, and not even appropriate.  It is a serious issue and deserves serious consideration  Generally speaking, there are at least these ways to maintain mental well-being:
So superficial that it is the advice that I and a number of friends have been given by doctors.  Let's give an example.  You move to a new country or part of your own homeland an need to learn the lingo - be that a foreign language, a strong dialect (Scouse, Geordie, ...) or just the new vocabulary.  You can either refuse to speak until you have got the grammar and vocab clearly organised in your mind, or you can wing it and learn by your mistakes.  Almost inevitably, whichever way you try, you will make mistakes and be laughed at.  If you bottle up your frustrations at making mistakes, you will often end up isolating yourself; if you can relax and laugh at your mistakes with your listeners, not only will you feel far better, they will probably offer to help you, thus breaking the barriers even more.

Its a common piece of advice for language learners and from language teachers.

What you are actually describing is being u afraid to take 'risks' and open oneself up to failure. If I were learning a new language I wouldn't assume I'd be laughed at if I made a mistake. However, if I go in with the attitude that it doesn't matter if I make a mistake then I will be more relaxed when others point it out and we can both find the humour in it.

Of course laughter is important, but when this is recommended for good mental health it means finding things funny with others, even if only on TV - it does not mean exclusively laughing at oneself and I'm not sure too much of that is healthy. The stereotypical 'jolly fat person' comes to mind. Being required to always laugh at oneself actually leaves you open to passive aggressive bullying ('can't you take a joke?') and low self esteem ('I'm such an idiot'). There's a place for it certainly, because not being able to laugh at oneself is restrictive and unattractive. But is it the most singular thing required for good mental health? No.

I have a very good friend that loves cricket, I loathe and detest it we're always trying to get one over the other about it I have to laugh at his quite inventive attempts to promote the game, usually countered by some disparaging remark from myself, he laughs at my extreme (but logical) bias against the game and I still can not understand how he or anyone else can have even the slightest interest in this eternally never ending slow game, we laugh at each other, I enjoy the exchange whichever way it goes and would miss it if we didn't insult each other, he is and will always remain a really good friend of mine.

I hear they will be filming cricket on the time laps system and it can be watched in the evenings where they cover every single thing that happens in the whole days play and this time lapsed edition will only need to be on for about three minutes; coming soon to a theatre near you, (hopefully not near me). 

ippy

Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 15, 2015, 07:34:35 PM
Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.
Complete balls, of course; on the few occasions I've been unfortunate enough to have seen cricket I've had to turn it off or over within thirty seconds before I start to eat my own legs from the feet upward out of boredom.

It's not imagination that one lacks to find cricket tedious - on the contrary, you need a very good imagination so that you can be thinking of something interesting ;)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 15, 2015, 07:52:27 PM
Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.
Complete balls, of course; on the few occasions I've been unfortunate enough to have seen cricket I've had to turn it off or over within thirty seconds before I start to eat my own legs from the feet upward out of boredom.

It's not imagination that one lacks to find cricket tedious - on the contrary, you need a very good imagination so that you can be thinking of something interesting ;)

A really boring, mind-blowingly boring, activity would be to sit down and read a book by Christopher Hitchens.. They were queuing for hours to watch the Trent Bridge Test:  they'd be queuing for hours at the tip to dump Hitchens books.    :D 
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 15, 2015, 07:59:05 PM
A really boring, mind-blowingly boring, activity would be to sit down and read a book by Christopher Hitchens.
Since you've never done it, how would you know? You should; you'd learn a great deal.

Quote
They were queuing for hours to watch the Trent Bridge Test
Pensioners often have little to do and not much to fill the empty day ;)

Quote
they'd be queuing for hours at the tip to dump Hitchens books.    :D
... whereas down here in the real world they've sold by the truckload, of course.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 15, 2015, 08:03:38 PM
A really boring, mind-blowingly boring, activity would be to sit down and read a book by Christopher Hitchens.
Since you've never done it, how would you know? You should; you'd learn a great deal.

Quote
They were queuing for hours to watch the Trent Bridge Test
Pensioners often have little to do and not much to fill the empty day ;)

Quote
they'd be queuing for hours at the tip to dump Hitchens books.    :D
... whereas down here in the real world they've sold by the truckload, of course.

I don't know what pensioners, plural, do with their time, and neither do you.  I've seen enough of what Hitchens has to say that to sit down and read it at length would need a pretty big vomit bowl at hand.   If  his books ever sold by the truck-load, it would only be people topping up their fuel for the winter.   :D
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 15, 2015, 08:07:02 PM
God is Not Great; no. 2 bestseller on Amazon within a week of release; no. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list within three weeks. And this amongst people with central heating ;)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 15, 2015, 08:08:48 PM
God is Not Great; no. 2 bestseller on Amazon within a week of release; no. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list within three weeks. And this amongst people with central heating ;)


Well, if that's your take, then you'll have to accept that people would much prefer to read the Bible, since that is the best-selling book in the world, ever, and by a huge margin.   ;)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 15, 2015, 08:10:37 PM
Most of which end up in the bedside drawers of cheap hotels, however ;)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 15, 2015, 08:11:44 PM
Most of which end up in the bedside drawers of cheap hotels, however ;)

Well, I don't have any experience of cheap hotels.  I'll have to bow to your greater knowledge there.    :)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 15, 2015, 08:16:54 PM
Most of which end up in the bedside drawers of cheap hotels, however ;)

By the way, nearly 4 billion Bibles have been sold;  and they sell at 100 million a year, at present.  That's a heck of a lot of hotels!   How many Hitchens books did you say were sold?    :D
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 15, 2015, 08:25:08 PM
I didn't, but not a valid comparison anyway, Bashers, given the length of time the Bible has been hawked around compared the publishing career of a man born in 1949.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 15, 2015, 08:31:01 PM
I didn't, but not a valid comparison anyway, Bashers, given the length of time the Bible has been hawked around compared the publishing career of a man born in 1949.

So how many has he sold?  100 million a year, maybe? 
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 15, 2015, 08:35:58 PM
No idea. It's not just the books, of course; the man was a journalist, so in terms of readership you have to factor in all those articles in sundry newspapers and magazines (and online).
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 15, 2015, 08:40:21 PM
No idea. It's not just the books, of course; the man was a journalist, so in terms of readership you have to factor in all those articles in sundry newspapers and magazines (and online).


So, not many then.   I suppose if we include all the articles in newspapers and magazines, and online, then the amount written about the Bible must be prodigious, on top of all those sales. 
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: jjohnjil on August 15, 2015, 09:41:55 PM
Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.
Complete balls, of course; on the few occasions I've been unfortunate enough to have seen cricket I've had to turn it off or over within thirty seconds before I start to eat my own legs from the feet upward out of boredom.

It's not imagination that one lacks to find cricket tedious - on the contrary, you need a very good imagination so that you can be thinking of something interesting ;)

Heathen!
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: jeremyp on August 15, 2015, 10:12:41 PM
Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.

Poor example.  All the drama and excitement was pretty much in the first hour and a half.  The match was over as a contest by tea on the first day.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 15, 2015, 10:17:02 PM
That is a hugely superficial answer, and not even appropriate.  It is a serious issue and deserves serious consideration  Generally speaking, there are at least these ways to maintain mental well-being:
So superficial that it is the advice that I and a number of friends have been given by doctors.  Let's give an example.  You move to a new country or part of your own homeland an need to learn the lingo - be that a foreign language, a strong dialect (Scouse, Geordie, ...) or just the new vocabulary.  You can either refuse to speak until you have got the grammar and vocab clearly organised in your mind, or you can wing it and learn by your mistakes.  Almost inevitably, whichever way you try, you will make mistakes and be laughed at.  If you bottle up your frustrations at making mistakes, you will often end up isolating yourself; if you can relax and laugh at your mistakes with your listeners, not only will you feel far better, they will probably offer to help you, thus breaking the barriers even more.

Its a common piece of advice for language learners and from language teachers.

What you are actually describing is being u afraid to take 'risks' and open oneself up to failure. If I were learning a new language I wouldn't assume I'd be laughed at if I made a mistake. However, if I go in with the attitude that it doesn't matter if I make a mistake then I will be more relaxed when others point it out and we can both find the humour in it.

Of course laughter is important, but when this is recommended for good mental health it means finding things funny with others, even if only on TV - it does not mean exclusively laughing at oneself and I'm not sure too much of that is healthy. The stereotypical 'jolly fat person' comes to mind. Being required to always laugh at oneself actually leaves you open to passive aggressive bullying ('can't you take a joke?') and low self esteem ('I'm such an idiot'). There's a place for it certainly, because not being able to laugh at oneself is restrictive and unattractive. But is it the most singular thing required for good mental health? No.

I have a very good friend that loves cricket, I loathe and detest it we're always trying to get one over the other about it I have to laugh at his quite inventive attempts to promote the game, usually countered by some disparaging remark from myself, he laughs at my extreme (but logical) bias against the game and I still can not understand how he or anyone else can have even the slightest interest in this eternally never ending slow game, we laugh at each other, I enjoy the exchange whichever way it goes and would miss it if we didn't insult each other, he is and will always remain a really good friend of mine.

I hear they will be filming cricket on the time laps system and it can be watched in the evenings where they cover every single thing that happens in the whole days play and this time lapsed edition will only need to be on for about three minutes; coming soon to a theatre near you, (hopefully not near me). 

ippy

Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.

Shouldn't you have put it "Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge" and managed to stay awake for more than three seconds.

I suppose a study of the weave and weft of whatever grass was planted snozzzzzz.

Sorry couldn't stay awake long enough, a bit like the trigger word hypnotists use "cricket" always works.

ippy
   
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 15, 2015, 10:21:57 PM
Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.
Complete balls, of course; on the few occasions I've been unfortunate enough to have seen cricket I've had to turn it off or over within thirty seconds before I start to eat my own legs from the feet upward out of boredom.

It's not imagination that one lacks to find cricket tedious - on the contrary, you need a very good imagination so that you can be thinking of something interesting ;)

Have you heard that George Bernard Shaw quote Shakes: "Cricket invented by the English, it gives them a greater sense of eternity", I love it, nail on the head.

ippy

Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 15, 2015, 10:24:40 PM
I didn't, but not a valid comparison anyway, Bashers, given the length of time the Bible has been hawked around compared the publishing career of a man born in 1949.

So how many has he sold?  100 million a year, maybe?

When I find one I always put it into the rubbish bin where it belongs.

ippy
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 15, 2015, 10:36:36 PM
Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.
Complete balls, of course; on the few occasions I've been unfortunate enough to have seen cricket I've had to turn it off or over within thirty seconds before I start to eat my own legs from the feet upward out of boredom.

It's not imagination that one lacks to find cricket tedious - on the contrary, you need a very good imagination so that you can be thinking of something interesting ;)

A really boring, mind-blowingly boring, activity would be to sit down and read a book by Christopher Hitchens.. They were queuing for hours to watch the Trent Bridge Test:  they'd be queuing for hours at the tip to dump Hitchens books.    :D
Guess what the prize for all of that boring queuing an even more boring process of something called cricsnzzzzzz.

Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: OH MY WORLD! on August 15, 2015, 11:20:25 PM
Shaker,
Interesting that you mentioned the New York Times best sellers list. You need to pick up Ann Coulter's latest, Adios, America. It of course is #1 on the New York Times best seller list politics. Miss Coulter having had 10 or 11 book on that list you mentioned. I betcha her next book makes the list too. So your dead hero made the list with one of his atheist pop up books. Well, that's over, there will be no more making the New York Times best seller list for that godless, raging alcoholic.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: trippymonkey on August 16, 2015, 12:20:43 AM
No idea. It's not just the books, of course; the man was a journalist, so in terms of readership you have to factor in all those articles in sundry newspapers and magazines (and online).


So, not many then.   I suppose if we include all the articles in newspapers and magazines, and online, then the amount written about the Bible must be prodigious, on top of all those sales.

And how many Qurans have been sold eh ????
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 16, 2015, 01:50:37 AM
Shaker,
Interesting that you mentioned the New York Times best sellers list. You need to pick up Ann Coulter's latest, Adios, America.
No I don't - I try to maintain good hand hygiene at all times.

I like the sound of the title, however - it makes it sound as though she's leaving, for which the nation would be just that bit cleaner.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 01:52:20 AM
No idea. It's not just the books, of course; the man was a journalist, so in terms of readership you have to factor in all those articles in sundry newspapers and magazines (and online).


So, not many then.   I suppose if we include all the articles in newspapers and magazines, and online, then the amount written about the Bible must be prodigious, on top of all those sales.

And how many Qurans have been sold eh ????

It seems 4 billion plus Bibles; 800 million Qurans, and also, the Anglican Book of Common Prayer has sold 300 million copies.

 
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 16, 2015, 01:53:27 AM
Those poor, poor trees  :'(
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 01:57:34 AM
Those poor, poor trees  :'(

And of course, the many atheist writings contribute to the sadness, especially so since they are total rubbish.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 16, 2015, 02:10:59 AM
You'll have read these writings, then, to arrive at this opinion (for that is all it is)?
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 02:17:17 AM
You'll have read these writings, then, to arrive at this opinion (for that is all it is)?

My reading suggests atheists are mainly a bunch of unimaginative morons; as this forum amply demonstrates.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 16, 2015, 02:21:28 AM
My reading
Of what? I notice that you didn't answer the question.

Quote
suggests atheists are mainly a bunch of unimaginative morons; as this forum amply demonstrates.
Well, it's apparent that adherence to Christianity has done wonders for you.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 02:27:58 AM
My reading
Of what? I notice that you didn't answer the question.

Quote
suggests atheists are mainly a bunch of unimaginative morons; as this forum amply demonstrates.
Well, it's apparent that adherence to Christianity has done wonders for you.


I cannot, off-hand, think of any atheist writings in particular. They are so readily forgettable and always so repetitious.

And thank you for that last comment.  Compliments are always welcome, whatever the source.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 16, 2015, 02:35:40 AM
I cannot, off-hand, think of any atheist writings in particular. They are so readily forgettable and always so repetitious.
But you wouldn't know that they were so unless you couldremember at least some of them, otherwise your comment is incoherent.

Quote
And thank you for that last comment.  Compliments are always welcome, whatever the source.
It wasn't one.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 02:47:53 AM
I cannot, off-hand, think of any atheist writings in particular. They are so readily forgettable and always so repetitious.
But you wouldn't know that they were so unless you couldremember at least some of them, otherwise your comment is incoherent.

Quote
And thank you for that last comment.  Compliments are always welcome, whatever the source.
It wasn't one.

You see, one reads nonsense, realises it is just that, and automatically deletes it from one's memory.
The last bit was a joke  -  look up that word.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Shaker on August 16, 2015, 02:59:42 AM
You see, one reads nonsense, realises it is just that, and automatically deletes it from one's memory.
Further incoherence upon incoherence, not only because it's impossible to delete something from one's memory automatically, but because if something was truly deleted from one's memory one wouldn't know it was nonsense - if deleted one would have no recollection of its being so.

It's a self-refuting, contradictory, illogical statement.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 03:04:27 AM
You see, one reads nonsense, realises it is just that, and automatically deletes it from one's memory.
Further incoherence upon incoherence, not only because it's impossible to delete something from one's memory automatically, but because if something was truly deleted from one's memory one wouldn't know it was nonsense - if deleted one would have no recollection of its being so.

It's a self-refuting, contradictory, illogical statement.

"Automatically" is just a figure of speech, and you well-know what I mean.  You always resort to such mumbo-jumbo to hide the fact that you are wrong.  Do you ever admit you are wrong?  Can you give an example?
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: trippymonkey on August 16, 2015, 07:57:57 AM
Does anybody actually sleep on these forums ?!?!!?

Or are some of you Zombie Typists ????
It really would explain a lot !!??! ;) ;D
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on August 16, 2015, 08:32:48 AM
Anybody who watched the Test at Trent Bridge will understand the drama and excitement cricket can engender.  The 20/20 version always does as well.  It's as usual with you:  no imagination; no attempt to understand anything beyond the banal.
Complete balls, of course; on the few occasions I've been unfortunate enough to have seen cricket I've had to turn it off or over within thirty seconds before I start to eat my own legs from the feet upward out of boredom.

It's not imagination that one lacks to find cricket tedious - on the contrary, you need a very good imagination so that you can be thinking of something interesting ;)

Watching paint dry is a much more enjoyable activity than watching cricket. My late father really enjoyed it, and whilst he was busy with his horticultural business during our school hols, he expected one of his daughters to watch the match on TV, and then walk up to the vinery periodically to report on the progress of the teams. MEGA YAWN!
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: jeremyp on August 16, 2015, 08:40:28 AM

You see, one reads nonsense, realises it is just that, and automatically deletes it from one's memory.
The last bit was a joke  -  look up that word.

Most of what you post is a joke.  If anybody took your posts seriously, you would have been banned for your persistent insults by now.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on August 16, 2015, 08:40:57 AM
You see, one reads nonsense, realises it is just that, and automatically deletes it from one's memory.
Further incoherence upon incoherence, not only because it's impossible to delete something from one's memory automatically, but because if something was truly deleted from one's memory one wouldn't know it was nonsense - if deleted one would have no recollection of its being so.

It's a self-refuting, contradictory, illogical statement.

Shaker, I suppose one has to pity someone who is so far removed from reality and logic they have no apparent idea how they come over to others. :( It is hard not to respond to their unpleasantness, but after I have let rip I feel bad about myself. I think I will put a money box on my desk and put money in every time I let myself down in that way. At least a charity would benefit!
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Hope on August 16, 2015, 09:02:02 AM
I hear they will be filming cricket on the time laps system and it can be watched in the evenings where they cover every single thing that happens in the whole days play and this time lapsed edition will only need to be on for about three minutes; coming soon to a theatre near you, (hopefully not near me). 

ippy
I've seen a time-lapse version of a football match, where any time the ball was not in play was cut out.  It lasted about 35 seconds, ippy.   ;)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Hope on August 16, 2015, 09:07:06 AM
Heathen!
jj, don't liken Shaker to a heathen; that's being rude to heathens.   ;)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Hope on August 16, 2015, 09:14:37 AM
But is it the most singular thing required for good mental health? No.
Sorry not to have responded to this post, before responding to others - Rhi.  I'd missed it.  I'm not saying that laughter is the only thing required for good mental health.  What I have been told by a number of people is that the bility to laugh at oneself in the way I have described establishes a good foundation of well-being, which can then be built on.  If one can't laugh at yourself, many of the other processes that one would use to build one's well-being are short-circuited and therefore less effective.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: trippymonkey on August 16, 2015, 09:22:08 AM
Can you imagine if you took offence at the slightest even unintended remark, you'd go barmy?  :o
Oh Dear, I think we have at least ONE on these forums like this ?!!?!? ;) ;D

Nick
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 09:50:40 AM

You see, one reads nonsense, realises it is just that, and automatically deletes it from one's memory.
The last bit was a joke  -  look up that word.

Most of what you post is a joke.  If anybody took your posts seriously, you would have been banned for your persistent insults by now.

And what you post is pedantic, self-important tosh; and if people were banned for foul language you would be a memory.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Nearly Sane on August 16, 2015, 09:53:56 AM
I am finding the posts on this thread ironic
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 16, 2015, 10:29:13 AM
I hear they will be filming cricket on the time laps system and it can be watched in the evenings where they cover every single thing that happens in the whole days play and this time lapsed edition will only need to be on for about three minutes; coming soon to a theatre near you, (hopefully not near me). 

ippy
I've seen a time-lapse version of a football match, where any time the ball was not in play was cut out.  It lasted about 35 seconds, ippy.   ;)

It's all good fun just as I said in my former post, watched the England France rugby last night, I don't know what to think about them, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

ippy
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ad_orientem on August 16, 2015, 10:42:45 AM
If I took myself too seriously I'd go mad. Being able to laugh at myself makes failure somewhat bearable.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Rhiannon on August 16, 2015, 10:48:16 AM
If I took myself too seriously I'd go mad. Being able to laugh at myself makes failure somewhat bearable.

If we can't laugh at ourselves when we fail we could end up being too afraid to take risks - I don't necessarily mean physical risks, but ones that could lead to making mistakes or loss of face, such as trying a new skill or asking for promotion.

Equally though I think we have to look on failure and mistake-making as opportunities to learn. Without that I think we judge ourselves too harshly.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Udayana on August 16, 2015, 11:07:21 AM
No problem laughing at myself, but anyone else laughing at me is going to get it!  >:(  ;D
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: jeremyp on August 16, 2015, 12:05:01 PM
I've seen a time-lapse version of a football match, where any time the ball was not in play was cut out.  It lasted about 35 seconds, ippy.   ;)

You can make a time lapse last any length of time you like.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: jeremyp on August 16, 2015, 12:08:33 PM
Quote
Most of what you post is a joke.  If anybody took your posts seriously, you would have been banned for your persistent insults by now.

And what you post is pedantic, self-important tosh; and if people were banned for foul language you would be a memory.

At least when we had our agreement not to respectively insult people or swear, I was able to keep to the agreement.  I guess you failed because of your obsessive urge to post something and without an insult, you have nothing to say.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 16, 2015, 02:47:28 PM
I've seen a time-lapse version of a football match, where any time the ball was not in play was cut out.  It lasted about 35 seconds, ippy.   ;)

You can make a time lapse last any length of time you like.

Having a bad day Jp? Funny that, I don't particularly mind your posts that much.

Ippy
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: OH MY WORLD! on August 16, 2015, 02:56:11 PM
BA,
It's very hard for Shaker to admit and error and very hard for him to say sorry. It's just they way Marxists are. Back in the BBC forum days, Shaker accused me of making up a story, I posted a link to the CBC news story, proving I didn't make it up. Well the resident Marxist wasn't decent enough to admit his error and apologize then and he isn't capable now.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on August 16, 2015, 03:08:43 PM
BA,
It's very hard for Shaker to admit and error and very hard for him to say sorry. It's just they way Marxists are. Back in the BBC forum days, Shaker accused me of making up a story, I posted a link to the CBC news story, proving I didn't make it up. Well the resident Marxist wasn't decent enough to admit his error and apologize then and he isn't capable now.

Oh for pity's sake JC calling Shaker a Marxist is really silly, it would be as bad as calling you a Nazi! ::)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 05:33:45 PM
Quote
Most of what you post is a joke.  If anybody took your posts seriously, you would have been banned for your persistent insults by now.

And what you post is pedantic, self-important tosh; and if people were banned for foul language you would be a memory.


At least when we had our agreement not to respectively insult people or swear, I was able to keep to the agreement.  I guess you failed because of your obsessive urge to post something and without an insult, you have nothing to say.


You get more and more absurd and pitiful. Anyway, as if a dolt like you could ever refrain from swearing for very long.  It is part of your sad way of "debating,"  along with your usual denigration of the intelligence of others  -  an "attribute" that is too little commented on.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: ippy on August 16, 2015, 06:03:22 PM
BA,
It's very hard for Shaker to admit and error and very hard for him to say sorry. It's just they way Marxists are. Back in the BBC forum days, Shaker accused me of making up a story, I posted a link to the CBC news story, proving I didn't make it up. Well the resident Marxist wasn't decent enough to admit his error and apologize then and he isn't capable now.

Oh for pity's sake JC calling Shaker a Marxist is really silly, it would be as bad as calling you a Nazi! ::)

Woody Marxism is very logical and potentially good way to live, the maim problem with Marxism is that it doesn't work, much like communism.

I note you're still having trouble getting your head around secularism, who told you it's a naughty word and then went on to misguide you about how it's supposed to work?

ippy
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 06:06:44 PM
BA,
It's very hard for Shaker to admit and error and very hard for him to say sorry. It's just they way Marxists are. Back in the BBC forum days, Shaker accused me of making up a story, I posted a link to the CBC news story, proving I didn't make it up. Well the resident Marxist wasn't decent enough to admit his error and apologize then and he isn't capable now.

You're right.  He always simply ignores anything that he cannot answer.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: jeremyp on August 16, 2015, 06:29:31 PM
Anyway, as if a dolt like you could ever refrain from swearing for very long.

It turned out that I could refrain from swearing for longer than you could refrain from throwing insults. 

Quote
It is part of your sad way of "debating,"  along with your usual denigration of the intelligence of others  -  an "attribute" that is too little commented on.

It is true that I recently denigrated your intelligence.  However, somebody who accuses me of denigrating their intelligence in the same post as calling me a dolt probably doesn't have a lot of intelligence to denigrate.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: BashfulAnthony on August 16, 2015, 06:32:03 PM
Anyway, as if a dolt like you could ever refrain from swearing for very long.

It turned out that I could refrain from swearing for longer than you could refrain from throwing insults. 

Quote
It is part of your sad way of "debating,"  along with your usual denigration of the intelligence of others  -  an "attribute" that is too little commented on.

It is true that I recently denigrated your intelligence.  However, somebody who accuses me of denigrating their intelligence in the same post as calling me a dolt probably doesn't have a lot of intelligence to denigrate.

Ta ta
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on August 25, 2015, 04:23:48 PM
I have just discovered this 'joke' on another forum on which I post. The real joke is the **** word. As the poster concerned denigrates swearing in others! ;D

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned To her and said, "Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike Up a conversation with your fellow passenger."
 The little girl, who had just started to read her book, replied to the total Stranger, "What would you want to talk about?"
 "Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no God, Or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly.
 "Okay," she said. "Those could be interesting topics but let me ask You a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same Stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns Out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?"
 The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, Thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea." To which The little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don't know ****?"

Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: SweetPea on August 25, 2015, 06:09:23 PM
I have just discovered this 'joke' on another forum on which I post. The real joke is the **** word. As the poster concerned denigrates swearing in others! ;D

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned To her and said, "Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike Up a conversation with your fellow passenger."
 The little girl, who had just started to read her book, replied to the total Stranger, "What would you want to talk about?"
 "Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no God, Or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly.
 "Okay," she said. "Those could be interesting topics but let me ask You a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same Stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns Out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?"
 The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, Thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea." To which The little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don't know ****?"


Floo, was that from an American forum? Just wondering, because an American friend of mine sent me the same joke about 12 months ago, and then I reposted it here, maybe 9 months ago, when we had the 'Joke' thread. I'm just observing how stuff gets round the internet and can arrive back in the same place, over time. I remember Leonard being in stitches, haha.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on August 26, 2015, 08:42:23 AM
I have just discovered this 'joke' on another forum on which I post. The real joke is the **** word. As the poster concerned denigrates swearing in others! ;D

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned To her and said, "Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike Up a conversation with your fellow passenger."
 The little girl, who had just started to read her book, replied to the total Stranger, "What would you want to talk about?"
 "Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no God, Or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly.
 "Okay," she said. "Those could be interesting topics but let me ask You a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same Stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns Out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?"
 The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, Thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea." To which The little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don't know ****?"


Floo, was that from an American forum? Just wondering, because an American friend of mine sent me the same joke about 12 months ago, and then I reposted it here, maybe 9 months ago, when we had the 'Joke' thread. I'm just observing how stuff gets round the internet and can arrive back in the same place, over time. I remember Leonard being in stitches, haha.

My only reason for posting it, was because I was gobsmacked that the poster who is a member here too, is always telling others off for using swear words, so I thought it hypocritical! ::)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: trippymonkey on August 26, 2015, 08:56:12 AM
Isn't the word SH++ a slang word rather than a swear word of which many are far worse & FAR more evocative ????? ;) 8)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Harrowby Hall on August 26, 2015, 09:41:42 AM
Isn't the word SH++ a slang word rather than a swear word of which many are far worse & FAR more evocative ????? ;) 8)

Indeed. It is a reminder of essential physiological processes which are somewhat distasteful and shameful. We therefore remove all reference to them in our interactions with other people. In the USA, where that joke came from, the word has had two interesting semantic consequences:

1    Removal of all references to the process in in everyday life with euphemisms such as "bath room" and "rest room" being invented. In Europe we too have a euphemism - "WC".

2    The adoption, by freewheeling, young, unconstrained individuals of the word "shit" as a kind of portmanteau, general word meaning just about anything or everything they couldn't be bothered to recall the real name of.

Our distain of talking about faeces - using any appropriate word - probably results in the unnecessary early deaths of thousands of people who ignore the early signs of colorectal cancer.

Laughing at ourselves is not the only reflective activity we should practise.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Udayana on August 26, 2015, 10:49:14 AM
Oh shit, yes, I've just received one of those kits.

Anyway, it was part of the joke, so can be used, even if one one generally objects to "swear" words or slang.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Nearly Sane on August 26, 2015, 10:50:53 AM
Oh shit, yes, I've just received one of those kits.

Anyway, it was part of the joke, so can be used, even if one one generally objects to "swear" words or slang.

Happy birthday, I take it then?
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Udayana on August 26, 2015, 10:53:24 AM
Yes, last month. I was thinking of binning it :)
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Nearly Sane on August 26, 2015, 10:57:15 AM
You should use it, only sensible
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on October 17, 2015, 03:04:11 PM
I am bumping this thread of mine up because there are some who should do themselves a BIG favour, and might even be nicer people if they had a good belly laugh at their antics. Folk who can laugh at themselves can't be all bad, imo.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: Hope on October 17, 2015, 10:13:52 PM
My only reason for posting it, was because I was gobsmacked that the poster who is a member here too, is always telling others off for using swear words, so I thought it hypocritical! ::)
I think its rather hypocritical of someone to accuse someone of using a swear word, when it is no more than vulgar slang.
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: floo on October 18, 2015, 08:33:18 AM
My only reason for posting it, was because I was gobsmacked that the poster who is a member here too, is always telling others off for using swear words, so I thought it hypocritical! ::)
I think its rather hypocritical of someone to accuse someone of using a swear word, when it is no more than vulgar slang.

Only hypocritical if one is using swear words oneself, which I hope I have never done on a forum!
Title: Re: Can you laugh at yourself?
Post by: OH MY WORLD! on October 18, 2015, 04:31:25 PM
Dearest Matty,
About your reply #89 (snork) The word you want is THE not TYE.