Posted by Rick on August 30, 2001, at 17:22:33
In reply to Re: Inappropriate Laughing, posted by Ted on August 30, 2001, at 11:35:40
> Elzabeth ,
>
> > Anyone else have problems with this?
>
> Only rarely. But this is a classic symptom of schizophrenia: Inappropriate emotions. Don't worry though -- I think everyone does it to some extent.
>
> TedI agree, Ted. I actually started to write a post about how I now recognize this as one of the first somatic manifestations of my Social Anxiety (fits of uncontrollable laughter when giving oral book reports at age 10), but my post started to get out of hand. I started thinking of so many possible reasons for this behavior in general and when/why *I* laugh inappropriately today (focusing so intently on my approval-seeking efforts that I miss the speaker's u-turn from joking to dead-serious), that I came to a conclusion similar to yours. Most people do this to some extent, although there can be dozens of different reasons -- some involving mental or personality disorders, and lots that don't.
Hell, even "Mary Richards" was susceptible. (If you're too young or don't watch Mary Tyler Moore show reruns on Nickelodeon, you won't know who I'm talking about.) When WJM-TV's Chuckles the Clown suddenly died when some goofy stunt backfired, Mary's co-workers at the station were making morbid (and hilarious) quips, and she was aghast at their insensitivity. Then, at the funeral, the same folks were all behaving in proper dark-cloud mode. But when the clergyman delivering the eulogy started talking about how "Chuckles brought us all such joy every time he fell on his foo-foo", etc., Mary started breaking out in uncontrollable laughter. Everyone else stared at her and maintained respectful silence. (That would be pleasant for a social phobic person, no?)The minister finally interrupted the eulogy, turned to Mary, and said, "Yes! Go ahead young lady, laugh...laugh...our dear Chuckles devoted his life to making people happy, and would have loved nothing so much as the sound of your laughter." She then started sobbing. (All dialog paraphrased, of course.)
I do have a few questions for Elizabeth: Do you sense any humor, even momentarily, in the situations? Even black humor? How quickly do you notice that you're laughing at something inappropriate? How soon after that do you stop? Do you ever try to "mask" it midway, e.g. turn it into a faux cough? Has anyone ever asked you why you're laughing?
Rick
poster:Rick
thread:76900
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/77001.html