What Is Gallows Humor?

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00:00WHAT IS GALLOWS' HUMOUR?

00:03During times of national crisis, such as the explosion of the space

00:06shuttle Challenger in 1986, some people use a grim form of humour as a

00:11coping mechanism. These offensive or sick jokes used to diffuse a grim

00:16situation are examples of Gallows' humour. This type of humour can be

00:21very self-deprecating in nature, as when a terminally ill patient

00:25jokingly asks his doctor for a second opinion or an extension on his

00:29bill. While Gallows' humour may sound too dark or offensive to

00:34outsiders, those in On the Joke may find it somewhat comforting. Other

00:38forms of Gallows' humour are intended to find a more universal

00:42audience. When tragic events such as the assassination of a world

00:46leader, a celebrity murder trial, or a natural disaster occur, it is

00:52not unusual to encounter a spate of questionable or tasteless jokes on

00:56morning radio programs or internet discussion groups. By sharing

01:02these jokes among close friends or co-workers, some people find it

01:06easier to cope with the overwhelming emotions attached to the actual

01:09event. Many people who work in stressful occupations find that a

01:14little Gallows' humour can help put their grim or distasteful tasks in

01:18a more manageable light. Police officers and medical professionals

01:23often use Gallows' humour when discussing their work with other

01:26professionals. This may sound offensive or unprofessional to

01:30outsiders, but it can be a way to put some distance between

01:33themselves and the grim realities of their jobs.

01:38As the name implies, Gallows' humour actually did start with the

01:41execution device used for public hangings. It was not unusual for

01:46condemned prisoners to use their final words as a sounding board for

01:50grim, self-deprecating jokes, often directed toward distraught friends

01:54and family members. This practice of making jokes during a time of

01:58grief or tragedy soon became a coping mechanism for soldiers fighting

02:02in the trenches or survivors of a natural disaster. Many of us can

02:07recall at least one joke that grew out of a tragic set of

02:10circumstances, although many of those jokes had a very short shelf

02:13life. Taken out of context, many forms of Gallows' humour would sound

02:19exceptionally cruel or insensitive, but they did once serve to fill a

02:23void during the uncertain days following a national tragedy.

02:29For more clear, concise answers to common and not-so-common questions,

02:33visit the Conjecture Corporation website.