Pixels make better comics

Quoth the Sethular: “atheists produce better humor than theists”

At some point in the not-too-distant past, I would say that I agreed with this. I argued that half of what is funny is irreverence towards what others deem to be reverent. How can one be funny if one still maintains this reverence?

But then when we follow this claim to its logical conclusion, we are left with rape, incest, pedophilia, and the Ninja Turtles being objects of humor (not that I’m saying they’re not. I’m just hinting at the fact that ‘proper irreverence’ is an oxymoron).

After all, why does irreverence just end at religion?

And what does irreverence have to do with humor? In my day, I’ve met almost as many sheerly unfunny atheists as I have flat-out hilarious theists.

Personal beliefs have nothing to do with objective hilarity, so much as with intended audience. In other words, atheists are funnier for other atheists.

Similarly, theists are funnier for other theists, Kenyans are funnier for other Kenyans, and child molesters are funnier for other child molesters.

After all, the comics have the same reverence for the same things their audiences have reverence for and the same irreverences for the same things that their audiences have irreverence for, so the possibility of alienating the audience is minimized. And not alienating your audience is the first step towards making them laugh (Comedy 101).

It is just as false to speak of objective ‘good jokes’ as it is to speak of objective ‘good chocolate.’ Perhaps you can get people to agree that it is good qua chocolate or good qua this quality or that, but in the end each person has to make his own decisions about what they like and don’t like.

(Whether humor and personal beliefs go hand-in-hand biologically is another thing. Perhaps the same thing that makes a person conservative will make the person like knock-knock jokes. That is a different question, however, and I don’t have the time or drive to apply the Pepsi Challenge to comedians to determine whether there is a greater correlation between belief and humor than with lack thereof.)

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Bye bye Lappy 2’s upgrades…

Ouch. And I’m $6k in the hole again.

Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 10:29:58 -0500
From: Samantha Gross
To: pixelq@nmsu.edu
Cc: Dawn Koban , Study Abroad
Subject: PAST DUES ISEP DIRECT SM1 2005-2006

Dear Pixel,
Please find attached the past due invoice for your ISEP Direct Program balance. This amount is over 4 months past due and must be paid to ISEP immediately. In addition to placing a hold on your transcripts from Macquarie, we have also requested a hold be placed on your student account at New Mexico State University. Neither of these holds will be released until your balance to ISEP is paid in full.

It is imperative that you contact me immediately to arrange payment for your unpaid fees.

Sincerely,

Samantha Ann Gross

ISEP Accounting Administrator

1616 P St. NW Suite 150 Washington, DC 20036
Ph: (202) 667-8027 ext. 301 Fax: (804) 633-0193
Email: sgross@isep.org

She has to work on her threat skills. My transcripts from Macquarie will be placed on hold? How is that a bad thing?

INVOICE
Institution: New Mexico State University
Invoice Date: June 7, 2005 Due immediately
2005- 2006 ISEP-Direct Program Fees

Student STYX, Pixel Q.
Host Macquarie
Program Fee $8,910.00
Due Now $8910.00
Less Paid $2,460.00
Amount Due $6450.00

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Goodie Grab Bag IX

2: I try to make people regret talking to me sometimes.
1: Yeah, I can tell.
2: Wait… I’ve never done that to you.

Have you ever read something that was meant to be funny but wasn’t?

3: Have you ever cheated on me?
1: That depends on your definition of ‘on.’

If I had to give a prize for greatest roommate ever, Jess would get it. And if I had to give the prize for greatest Ex_Cal ever… Jess would get it again, but it would be close. Real close…

2: My car isn’t here. I need a ride. Hey, your car’s outside: can I ask you a favor?
1: What’s that?

Fuck people with AIDS!

1: How does not knowing your own emotions make you feel?
2: I don’t know!

Everyone fights themselves sometimes, it’s just that when I do it, I win.

1: Are you legitimately sad? Or just pretending so well that you fool yourself?
2: I… don’t know!
1: And not knowing makes you sad?
2: Yes!
1: Really?
2: Ehh… I guess…

Necessity is the mother of all invention, but procrastination is the mother of necessity.

1: She says you’re not talking to her enough
2: What?? I talk to her plenty! Go back and ask her what she means.

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