Pet peeve: Inappropriate laughter at General Conference

[Roseslipper]

we all have different sence of humor,or no sence of humor, and pet peeves who cares, get over it! deal with it and move on.....

[Wingnut]

Because I know this thread is going to get derailed, here's an attempt to head it off at the pass.

http://www.lds.net/forums/general-discussion/5957-what-your-pet-peeve.html

http://www.lds.net/forums/general-discussion/46304-whats-your-pet-peeve.html

Or did I just do what I'm trying to prevent?

[Tough Grits]

It's my experience that our thank/laugh reactions usually associate most closely with the last thing we read in a post, instead of the post overall. There are times when I want to laugh at a post, but then the last comment is something serious or depressing, and I find myself thinking it would be inappropriate to laugh at the bulk of the comments when the hanging remarks don't merit it.

I have had the same experience. I "laughed" at something at the end, but the post itself wasn't funny. There have been a couple of "laughs" that I thought the mods were going to zap me for, thinking that I was mocking.

[Suzie]

It doesn't really bother me when General Authorities attempt to make a few jokes, I just don't get sometimes why people laugh when the joke isn't even funny, maybe worth of a smile but a laugh? Nah. I suppose laugh sometimes just serves as a social function, you know...everyone is laughing and you don't wanna be the only one who looks like didn't get the joke so you laugh. Another theory of mine is that people laugh because the speaker is trying to be funny and even though the joke perhaps isn't, you don't wanna disappoint him/her....

Perhaps it is also like how people see celebrities. Before they hit fame and they were average Joe's they looked normal and they weren't funny but suddenly now, because they are famous...people see them as "Oh sooooo good looking and soooooo funny"

[Jenamarie]

We recently had an experience with prolonged laughter in church. Our Stake was re-aligning ward boundaries and held a special Stake-wide meeting to formally announce the changes. The opening hymn for the meeting was "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go, Dear Lord". There was probably a full minute of laughter after the Stake President announced the hymn, but I think it was cathartic and broke the tension that was in the air, because many people knew they'd be in new wards by the end of that meeting, and that can be a hard transition for many people.

[Wingnut]

We recently had an experience with prolonged laughter in church. Our Stake was re-aligning ward boundaries and held a special Stake-wide meeting to formally announce the changes. The opening hymn for the meeting was "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go, Dear Lord". There was probably a full minute of laughter after the Stake President announced the hymn, but I think it was cathartic and broke the tension that was in the air, because many people knew they'd be in new wards by the end of that meeting, and that can be a hard transition for many people.

Last Sunday in my ward, the opening hymn in Sacrament meeting was "Nay, Speak No Ill," which is one of those that most people have never even heard of, much less actually sung before. No one knew what was going on, and even the chorister was having a hard time. Halfway through the first verse, I see the first counselor in the bishopric (a musician by profession) making a goofy face, looking like he's exaggerating his lack of knowledge on the hymn. Ten seconds later, the bishop is trying (and failing horribly) to hide his laughter. By the beginning of the second verse, the second counselor was hiding his face behind his hand, laughing, but with a "I can't believe these guys" kind of look. It was pretty hilarious. The entire bishopric was cracking up in front of the whole ward, and it wasn't long before most of the rest of the ward was at least snickering as well. Even the chorister couldn't keep it together by the end.

[Praetorian_Brow]

Drink and be merry; for tomorrow we die.

[carlimac]

Great! It never bothered me before. Now I'll notice it and it will. Thanks a bunch Vort.

[Traveler]

Many General Conference speakers will begin their sermon with a humorous anecdote. A possible unfortunate side effect of this is that many listeners begin to expect humorous stories, and are primed to laugh at whatever is said, however inappropriate the laughter. This is especially noticeable in President Monson's sermons, perhaps because he so often uses jocular language. But I really dislike it.

I remember one recent talk, referenced elsewhere, where President Monson told of a prison warden who worked to help the incarcerated men. Upon hearing that "leopards can't change their spots," President Monson reported his response as, "You should know I don't work with leopards. I work with men. And men change every day."

New flash: There is nothing comical about that. It is a profound insight. Yet, predictably, the audience was yukking it up at President Monson's non-existent hilarity.

Again, I acknowledge that to some extent it's President Monson's own fault, given how often he inserts jokes, humorous comments, or asides to his audience. But I would think a thoughtful listener would actually think about what was said before reflexively laughing aloud at it.

Could be worse, of course. The people laughing at inappropriate moments might instead have skipped General Conference altogether. Better that they're there, possibly learning something, even if they laugh at the wrong time, than that they skip.

I remember sitting in a movie theater watching a scene and laughing out loud at it because of its incongruity. Months or years later, I rewatched the movie and realized that the scene was tense and emotional, not humorous. I commented as much to my wife, who responded, "I wondered why you were laughing about it before." Oh, well. I guess we chuckleheads need to all stick together.

I believe that the L-rd has a great sense of humor and that there is in many of his parables as recorded in scripture; a very dry and sophisticated wit, especially when Jesus discussed various topics with Pharisees. Unfortunately the Pharisees found his humor very inappropriate and did not think it funny at all - getting rather peeved that so many others found the sayings of Jesus quite enjoyable and entertaining.

The Traveler

[MorningStar]

Many General Conference speakers will begin their sermon with a humorous anecdote. A possible unfortunate side effect of this is that many listeners begin to expect humorous stories, and are primed to laugh at whatever is said, however inappropriate the laughter. This is especially noticeable in President Monson's sermons, perhaps because he so often uses jocular language. But I really dislike it.

I remember one recent talk, referenced elsewhere, where President Monson told of a prison warden who worked to help the incarcerated men. Upon hearing that "leopards can't change their spots," President Monson reported his response as, "You should know I don't work with leopards. I work with men. And men change every day."

New flash: There is nothing comical about that. It is a profound insight. Yet, predictably, the audience was yukking it up at President Monson's non-existent hilarity.

Again, I acknowledge that to some extent it's President Monson's own fault, given how often he inserts jokes, humorous comments, or asides to his audience. But I would think a thoughtful listener would actually think about what was said before reflexively laughing aloud at it.

Was he wiggling his ears at the moment?

[MorningStar]

My Pet Peeve are those who think the Testimony time on Fast Sunday is to practice their Stand Up routine.

It is a time for sharing testimonies. Not your latest jokes.

Ben Raines

]

Amen! I can't stand that!

[mnn727]

I think you're analyzing things too much: people find something funny, they laugh, its not because their expecting something funny.

Time to relax and enjoy the talks (in another month).

[Wesmoney1]

I don't think that the purpose of their laughter was to offend the spirit or anyone participating wether in the audience or speaking. I view it as harmless. I would recommend trying to ignore it but if you continue to struggle I might read Elder Bednar's talk about taking offense.

I'm praying for you!

Wes

[Vort]

Another pet peeve: People who respond very specifically to a thread without having read it.

[Wesmoney1]

Another pet peeve: People who respond very specifically to a thread without having read it.

If this is in reference to me, I don't quite understand why you would say that? If not, oh well!

[Vort]

If this is in reference to me, I don't quite understand why you would say that? If not, oh well!

Who were you responding to?

[jerome1232]

Another pet peeve: People who respond very specifically to a thread without having read it.

I read the titles.

And.Not.One.Word.More.

[Wesmoney1]

Who were you responding to?

Oh sorry the OP :)

[Vort]

Oh sorry the OP :)

Then that would indeed be me. What part of my writing led you to believe that I thought that "the purpose of their laughter was to offend the spirit or anyone participating wether [sic] in the audience or speaking"? And what part of what I wrote did you think suggested that I am "struggling" with the issue?

[Maureen]

...And what part of what I wrote did you think suggested that I am "struggling" with the issue?

IMO, the fact that you felt you needed to created this thread in the first place might be a sign your struggling with something. And you said "A possible unfortunate side effect of this is that many listeners begin to expect humorous stories, and are primed to laugh at whatever is said, however inappropriate the laughter." I think, like another poster has mentioned, you are over analyzing these moments. People laugh because they think something is funny. And so what if they think it's funny and you don't, it's not the end of the world. Lighten up and enjoy the humour.

M.

Edited March 10, 2013 by Maureen

[Tough Grits]

Well, I had a "moment" in Church again today. UGH, but it really wasn't my fault.

Speaker mentioned that "we" need to be prepared when we teach lessons. Then he corrected (actually, incorrected) himself, by saying something to the effect that only adult Sunday School teachers really needed to be prepared, that the youth and primary teachers could "wing it" without as much preparation.

Immediately, without meaning to, I started shaking my head no. It might not have been a big deal, except that I sit in the front row.

Still, nothing up to this point was really awful on my part, until he then turned and looked at me and called me by name and informed the whole congregation that I was not in agreement. He then said that maybe he was wrong and that those other teachers maybe should only be unprepared some of the time. Well, since he included me in his talk, I then shook my head no again and made an "o" with the fingers of one hand (meaning that none of the time should we be unprepared).

Whatever. I am such a heathen without actually meaning to be. I can't help it though! How can I control my head when somebody says something completely false?

By the way, I love this brother very much, and we treat each other as true brothers and sisters. So, there is no anger or resentment involved with either one of us. I do not condemn or judge him, I only object to that one small thing that was incorrect. Otherwise, he gave a good talk.

I just hold teaching the gospel very sacred. For me, teaching includes talks, testimonies, lessons/classes, and our day-to-day actions. Maybe being Teacher Improvement Coordinator (back when that was still a calling) instilled a deeper awareness and testimony of the sacredness of teaching the gospel. I can't blame him if he doesn't have the same level of awareness and testimony, I just wish comments like that wouldn't be said in church, where other teachers might heed his words. Our ward teachers struggle enough as it is with attendance and activity, that they don't need to also think that not being prepared is an option just because they are a youth or primary teacher/leader.

Feel free to throw stones at me. I have felt bad all afternoon about shaking my head during his talk. I keep waiting for the Bishop to call me or visit me (he lives next door). ~TG

[Praetorian_Brow]

You think too much.

[Wordnerd]

Feel free to throw stones at me. I have felt bad all afternoon about shaking my head during his talk. I keep waiting for the Bishop to call me or visit me (he lives next door). ~TG

I don't think you did anything wrong. The brother giving the talk could have ignored you shaking your head. Or he could have asked you about it privately afterwords if it bugged him. It's not like you jumped up and started debating with him or calling him to repentance

As a Laurel advisor I would say that those of us who teach the youth have to be more prepared so that we are sure we are teaching correct doctrine (since there is not likely to be someone who will jump in and correct errors, unlike the adult classes) and so that we encourage the youth to be involved by inviting them to participate appropriately. I do think a comment like that in sacrament could make the youth feel like they don't matter, when in fact they do matter very much! Teaching the youth is a sacred trust, that's why they reserve the more "out there" teachers for Elder's Quorum:D So I hear anyway.

[Tough Grits]

I don't think you did anything wrong. The brother giving the talk could have ignored you shaking your head. Or he could have asked you about it privately afterwords if it bugged him. It's not like you jumped up and started debating with him or calling him to repentance

As a Laurel advisor I would say that those of us who teach the youth have to be more prepared so that we are sure we are teaching correct doctrine (since there is not likely to be someone who will jump in and correct errors, unlike the adult classes) and so that we encourage the youth to be involved by inviting them to participate appropriately. I do think a comment like that in sacrament could make the youth feel like they don't matter, when in fact they do matter very much! Teaching the youth is a sacred trust, that's why they reserve the more "out there" teachers for Elder's Quorum:D So I hear anyway.

Thanks! I said nearly the same sentiment to my mom and husband after church. We should never suppose that the youth or children are less important than the adults! In fact, the youth and children have had less time (except for new converts) to learn the gospel compared to the adults, and should not be short-changed in their gospel instruction. Actually, nobody--regardless of age or length of membership--should be short-changed in their gospel instruction.

Apologies for being OFF-TOPIC!!!!!