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So just how do we use our wits to keep our wits about us? How do we use humor in our communications in order to foster goodwill, camaraderie and common ground? How do we persuade with humor?
For starters, be non-verbal! No, no, I don't mean don't say anything! Although there are people who, without saying a word, can make people laugh, and even change people's minds, because they're funny to watch. Just as there are people who provoke laughter in others by acting funny, looking funny, and sounding funny, regardless of what they say. But I'll say this about the way people look and sound. Nonverbal humor makes verbal humor funnier. And a nonverbal lack of humor can make verbal humor as flat as a pancake, flat as a board, as flat as a tropical ocean on a hot windless day when the sweat pouring from your skin is hot enough to make tea but you have no water to drink because someone convinced you that taking a walk under the cloud cover that is now gone would be great exercise, and you find yourself shouting to the heavens 'THIS IS A VACATION????? DEAR LORD, WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO DIE?????" and your anguished cry has no echo and falls flat and the silence makes the heat seem even hotter than had you said nothing at all. But I digress.
The point I'm trying to make is that verbal humor, without nonverbal humor to support it, can be risky business, like writing that previous sentence. It was really funny when I was saying it, but you couldn't see me. I could. Trust me, it was VERY funny. But all you have are the words. In fact, one of the un-funniest things you can try to do with words is write about what is funny. It's painful! But the good news is, pain is funny. Keep laughing at me or with me and I'll explain in a moment.
While there are inherently funny words, (newcular instead of nuclear, for example) you will find more funny in a facial expression, a playful voice tone, and an exaggerated gesture. And you can use words to create a funny picture, to imply an accent, or to demonstrate that you have plenty of attitude. Y'all need me to draw you a pitcher? Well, pitcher this. Cartoons ever make you laugh? Oh yes, they did. And how? Through the dishing out of incredible amounts of pain. And why did that make you laugh? The painful fact is, that...the rest of this sentence is in PART THREE!
Dr. Rick Kirschner is the author of the 'INSIDER'S GUIDE TO THE ART OF PERSUASION: Use Your Influence To Change Your World,' now available, along with a blog, newsletter and free podcast, at http://TheArtofChange.com FREE! For a limited time, get a $49 audio program on Dealing With Difficult People absolutely free! Visit http://theartofchange.com/promo for details!
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