What is it that makes other people’s misfortunes funny? I remember once at a Boy Scout meeting that I leaned back in my chair and the guy next to me tipped it farther back with his foot and I fell on my back. Everybody laughed. A few minutes later, I did the same thing to him. The scout master was there in both cases. He laughed with everybody else when I fell, but gave me a lecture about how dangerous that could be when the other guy fell.
This actually happened to a little girl in my 4th grade class. We were up on stage practicing for something and feeling very grown up when this girl fainted straight off the stage. Most of us were too scared to laugh. The teacher quickly went down and made sure she was decent (she had on a dress) and then sat with her until help came. The event made a strong impression on me.
jagedlo over 4 years ago
poor Ruthie!
jpayne4040 over 4 years ago
That explains why she didn’t laugh.
Purple People Eater over 4 years ago
What is it that makes other people’s misfortunes funny? I remember once at a Boy Scout meeting that I leaned back in my chair and the guy next to me tipped it farther back with his foot and I fell on my back. Everybody laughed. A few minutes later, I did the same thing to him. The scout master was there in both cases. He laughed with everybody else when I fell, but gave me a lecture about how dangerous that could be when the other guy fell.
Jeffin Premium Member over 4 years ago
Ruthie may have stage fright from here on out.
Grutzi over 4 years ago
This actually happened to a little girl in my 4th grade class. We were up on stage practicing for something and feeling very grown up when this girl fainted straight off the stage. Most of us were too scared to laugh. The teacher quickly went down and made sure she was decent (she had on a dress) and then sat with her until help came. The event made a strong impression on me.
MS72 over 4 years ago
Lady Gaga, last night!
srw313 over 4 years ago
Schadenfreude.
Stephen Gilberg over 4 years ago
That’s twice in a row that I saw the OBH punchline a mile away. Maybe I saw these before and forgot.