Listen and consider : Interact orally

A radio interview — John Doe, an American humourist, answers a journalist's questions about humour Journalist: John Doe, it is often said that the fun in joking largely depends on where we have been brought up. What do you have to say about this as a humourist? John Doe: That's right. The sense of humour is mysteriously linked with national characteristics. An American, for instance, might find it hard to laugh at a Russian joke. Similarly, a Russian might fail to see anything amusing in a joke which would make an Englishman laugh to tears. Journalist: Am I correct then in saying that people around the world can't share a funny joke? John Doe: Absolutely not. Most funny stories are based on typical comic situations. So in spite of national differences some funny situations provoke the same reaction. For example, no matter where you live, you would find it difficult not to laugh at, say, Charlie Chaplin's films. Journalist: Let's talk about the virtues of comedy. Woody Allen once said that it was hard to be taken seriously as a humourist, that humourists, I quote, « should be seated at the children's table », end of quote. John Doe: I don't think the « children's table » is all that right. That kind of talk ignores the moral standard, I mean the moral laws behind comedy. Comedy does not just give us a gratuitous laugh. If you look at it closely, comedy teaches us moral laws: I mean what we must and mustn't do in society. Perhaps just because we don't want to be taught lessons, we say that humourists are there for children only and not for adults. Journalist: Are there any other virtues that can be drawn from comedy? John Doe: Yes; some health specialists say that we should have a laugh from time to time. They consider laughter as the best medicine for getting rid of stress. As far as I am concerned, I regard it as one of the necessities of life in society. So I say, just as people have to get their cup of tea in the morning or in the afternoon, so they have to get a hearty laugh once a day at least. Journalist: Another question, if you don't mind. John Doe: Yes, please go ahead. Journalist: Would you say the same positive things about comedies based on tragic situations like violent death and serious accidents? John Doe: That type of humour is called « sick humour ». Indeed, we ought to be more careful about the type of humour we enjoy. Just as we don't have to eat unhealthy food, so we don't have to join in a laugh if we know that it can make us sick. Journalist: Your last word, John Doe. John Doe: Well, let me tell the public that I'm not proud of self-centred humourists. I mean those humourists who feed us with « sick humour ». If « healthy » humour helps us brighten and lengthen our lives, « sick humour » darkens and shortens them. Adapted from the Reader's Digest, 2002