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How Can You Laugh at a Time Like This?
In the past month I have been compulsively forwarding funny internet memes to friends. The memes have centered on the main theme of the awful COVID-19 pandemic that we find ourselves experiencing. When I’m not sending pandemic memes, I’m sending “Tiger King” memes. When I’m not sending pandemic or “Tiger King” memes, I’m sending combination pandemic/”Tiger King” memes. The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘gallows humor’ as “grim and ironic humor in a desperate or hopeless situation.”
I’m not being glib—I take this situation very seriously. I realize that people are dying and that by now, we all know someone who has become sick or has died from COVID-19 or at least we are just a degree or two away from someone who does. We all have coping mechanisms in times of great stress. My coping mechanisms—healthy or not—are to try to find the humor in things. My sister lives in Queens, NY, which is the epicenter of the pandemic in New York. She is constantly worried about her family, her friends, her students, her students’ families, and others. I am worried too—about my sister and the rest of my family, my friends, my colleagues, and you. I can’t pretend that I have the life experience that many of you do, some more than others. I am in no way belittling times of tragedy such as this by being quick with a laugh at a stupid meme or joke.
To me, the ability to laugh is life affirming—an instinct that we have to cope with the anxiety of not knowing. Laughter acknowledges that we are sharing in this historic moment by taking advantage of our humanity. The memes, the jokes, the suppressed chuckle, or the out-and-out guffaw may not be for everyone. In a time when we are afraid of the coronavirus going well, viral, it may just help to have a laugh or a giggle become contagious in order to disarm the fears that we share. Even if it’s just for a few seconds it reminds us that while much of life has been cancelled for now, our ability to appreciate a little levity is not just okay but is helping us survive.
Stay safe and healthy,
Tracy Jacobs
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