Some of life's funniest moments are also the most relatable. We find comfort and amusement in realizing we’re not alone in our little quirks, many of which we might describe as “weird.”
What’s great about relatable humor is that it needs no elaborate punchline. A meme that perfectly encapsulates an awkward social interaction is enough to draw out some laughter. These posts from the So Relatable Facebook group are excellent examples of that.
Go ahead and scroll through, and may these bring you some good vibes today. Don’t forget to upvote your favorites!
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The So Relatable Facebook page focuses on affiliative humor, one of four practical approaches to comedy, along with self-enhancing, self-deprecating, and aggressive.
According to author and corporate humorist Andrew Tarvin, affiliative humor works best in formal settings like office functions because it focuses on other people and says, “we’re all in this together.”
Every single time. Sometimes I get a LOT done this way. Sometimes nothing gets finished at all.
Tarvin adds that affiliative humor is an essential tool for anyone who wants to become an effective corporate trainer. He explains that it’s the type of humor that creates a positive environment and fosters a sense of community.
Veronica Dangerfield, who uses affiliative humor as a financial well-being educator, says it is most effective for uplifting her students.
“Money is irrational. It’s based on emotions,” Dangerfield said. “If you can see your behavior in a funny way that’s shared commonly, it’s not an internal judgment.”
Dangerfield adds that affiliative humor works when talking about money because everyone shares an emotional experience with their finances.
Many people turn to humor to process difficult moments in their lives. While it isn’t always a healthy coping mechanism, it can at least offer a simpler way to approach uncomfortable subjects.
“My first thought when I think about humor is that it’s a great way for us to have evolved so we don’t have to hit each other with sticks,” said cognitive neuroscientist and author Scott Weems.
Illustration is by an artist called Jean Baptiste Monge if anyone else was wondering.
My cat did this to me because I kept stirring and rolling around at 7am. Sigh.
Humor’s relatability can also help challenge the way we think. It’s why many comedians like Josie Long use their craft to champion social justice.
“Politics can leave you beleaguered, plagued, miserable. It’s that maxim where they say, ‘Satire is to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted’. That’s why humor was important [to me]. It was a way to be useful for other people,” she said.
As I was leaving a brewery in Brooklyn on evening, Beatles Revolution #9 was playing. Not long afterwards, I was walking down the street randomly saying, "Number 9. Number 9" out loud. When I realized how weird that must seem to other people on the sidewalk, I literally laughed out loud. Later, still walking, I would remember it and then just laugh out loud. Just some guy walking down the street laughing out loud. Of course, that also was funny to me. Also, of course, it would occur to me throughout that evening while I was at other breweries...
These memes from the So Relatable Facebook group remind us how much we have in common with others. And in that sense, it’s nice to know that somewhere out there, someone else is dealing with the exact same nonsense.
Now, let’s flip the conversation to you, dear reader. Which of these memes resonated with you the most? Better yet, which ones felt like they were made just for you? Share your thoughts in the comments!
I feel this way with books. LOVE finding a good fantasy or scifi series that's 10+ books long and each book is like 1,000 pages. :D
And this is why I use a daily pill bottle - seven little cubicles. Easy, eh?
To my knowledge, I have never once felt the need to flip the pillow. I do not understand this concept.
