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It is when stories are told for their own sake, for the specific purpose of producing a laugh, that problems and dangers arise. If I have to choose between no jokes and jokes irrelevantly or irresponsibly breaking in on a serious conversation, I prefer no jokes. Jokes like that are a conversational nuisance. Almost as bad is a whole evening of jokes. It was probably such an evening that provoked a Saturday Evening Post "Postscripter" to write that the guest he had most enjoyed, When the party was over and done Was the fellow who knew a hundred jokes, But couldn't remember one. (Philip Lazarus, Saturday Evening Post, Nov. 24, 1945) |
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