12 x moments when you actually shouldn't laugh (but do anyway)
Sometimes the giggles hit you unexpectedly at very inappropriate moments. You don't even understand why you're laughing (since it's quite inappropriate) and yet you simply can't stop. Recently, for example, when I attended a funeral with a friend where we sat next to each other in the church. Well, this was absolutely the worst idea ever. We were crying from laughter while the rest of the church was crying from sadness. I was mortified. I believe it started during the ritual when the priest sprinkled the coffin with holy water; apparently, we both found this a very comical image. After that, it went from bad to worse: every word that was said, every action; suddenly it was all hilarious. I really mean it when I say we couldn't help it, it just happened to us.
According to psychologists, laughing at inappropriate moments is a reaction of our own body, as we try to relieve tension this way. There is undoubtedly a kernel of truth in this theory, as sometimes I laugh at moments when I am actually very angry. But can we always hide behind this excuse, or do we occasionally laugh because we are a bit devilish? In any case, I have caught myself laughing (a bit too loudly) in the following situations.
1. During a funeral service
I actually hope that there will be a bit of laughter at my own funeral later on. It's nice if all that sadness is sometimes interspersed with a laugh, right? Life was serious enough already.
2. When you see someone running for the train and it drives away right in front of them
If this happens to me, I am of course furious, but when I observe this scene from the compartment, it's hard to suppress a laugh. What is this then? A kind of feeling of victory? Honestly, I wouldn't know, but it's definitely mean.
3. During a meeting
Such a serious setting really works against you, doesn't it? Meetings always have something awkward about them. For example, I remember very well that I used to work at a jeweler and we had team meetings with the boss every now and then. During these meetings, she always demonstrated to the team how she thought we could sell watches best. In my opinion, this was quite an intrusive Tel Sell method that I absolutely did not want to follow. I could hardly take her exaggerated tips and tricks seriously, which is why I always burst out laughing during such a meeting. Well, that was certainly not appreciated.
4. When you see someone knock over everything in the supermarket
Especially when there is such an awkward pyramid of bonus products, isn't that just asking for trouble? And if you're the lucky one who gets to witness someone knocking over a whole pile of oat milk cartons, that definitely brings you some joy. Of course, after laughing, you help clean up a bit as a way to make amends for just having laughed at someone.
5. During a minute of silence at a memorial
Especially those first few seconds are a bit of a struggle, but after that, focusing becomes easier again. Actually, everything that comes with silences is awkward. I used to attend a Protestant Christian primary school (as a non-believer) where we had to pray every day. I really can't remember how many times I got in trouble for laughing or keeping my eyes open. The awkwardness was apparently there from an early age.
6. When someone's homemade cake falls apart
I know: this is incredibly mean, because someone has worked for hours on something that collapses like a pudding. But there is something funny about that disappointed look of the maker. By the way, I know exactly how painful it is when you are the one who baked the cake. I still get jokes thrown at me because of a failed Nutella cheesecake I made for my friend's birthday. It probably has something to do with karma.
7. When you see someone walk into something on the street
There's not much I can do about this; it's just a comical and clumsy image. People falling, bumping their heads, or slipping; in such situations, laughing is just a kind of primal instinct. Unless someone is seriously injured, then of course you call 112 and hold back your laughter.
8. When you receive a terrible gift
Usually, I manage to pretend that I like something, but when I look at my sister after receiving an incredibly ugly gift, things can go very wrong. Once, I received very special earrings from my aunt for my birthday, with gigantic flowers on them. Along with that came the request to put them on immediately. Meanwhile, I saw my sister watching with watery eyes, which made it completely impossible to pretend I liked them.
9. When you break up with someone
Unfortunately, I speak from experience. ‘Are you seriously laughing now?’ is the reaction that often follows. For this situation, I would like to invoke the theory of psychologists, the laughter that comes from discomfort and nerves. Hopefully, my ex will forgive me one day.
10. A bad news conversation
I also believe in the theory of psychologists for this situation. Suddenly, you laugh while something very sad is being told to you. Your friend has just been dumped or her grandmother has passed away. There is nothing funny about it, and yet you feel those corners of your mouth lifting. I mainly have this with that same friend from the funeral: we apparently are very bad at dealing with sad situations together.
11. When someone is startled by a barking dog
I have the smallest and cutest dog imaginable, but she can bark like a shepherd dog. Sometimes she decides to do this out of nowhere when someone walks by, and usually, people get really startled. I think because she is so small and innocent, I keep laughing at this. Of course, I always apologize and say that she normally never does this.
12. When your friends are completely drunk
If someone really can't stand on their feet anymore, you naturally come to their aid, but when you hear your own friends rambling the strangest things while completely drunk, it's really hard to suppress a laugh. You especially can't wait for the next day, when you get to recount this in detail. And with a bit of luck, you also have some nice videos of it.
