What Makes Humor Funny

This is Steven Petrick posting.

It has been noted by people far, far wiser than me that what makes something funny is the element of truth behind it.

Recently someone posted the joke about the old man who calls to report that his property is being stolen, and is told by the police that there is no one available to come to the crime scene and that he should just lock himself and his wife in a safe place. The old man responds by hanging up, and then after a few seconds, calling the police again to report that they need not rush, he has shot the people stealing his property dead.

The result is that within minutes (so the joke goes) there are squad cars, a SWAT team, ambulances, and even fire trucks on the scene, and the theives caught in the act.

The police then reprimand the old man for having made the false claim that he had killed the thieves, to which he replies, in essence, "You told me there was no one available to protect my property."

The thing is that it seems increasingly that the thieves have more rights than the law-abiding citizen. The old man is expected to watch what he has toiled through his life to earn, spending the capital of his alloted lifespan, simply be carried off, and not only that, but simply hope that the thieves will not decide to also burlarize his home (and perhaps harm him and his wife, at least traumatize them).

Some will say "well he should have insurance", but it seems as though only someone who has watched his live being carried off by stangers and faced with having to discuss things with the insurance company can understand that is simply letting the thieves rob him again. Insurance companies may pay out on a claim, but they cannot replace items that are no longer made, or that have that special value, or the heirloom you were saving to pass on to your grand children.

But the law seems more concerned that the criminals not be harmed than in stopping them in the act.