Arcane but Witty?

Reading a collection of short stories, I came across several that were supposed to be funny. They created pictures of three or four persons interacting socially with quick banter, barbs, and sarcastic puns. Characters were dutifully responsive with guffaws and chuckles, yet the reader was left dry. Wondering what the point was, I pondered if the idiom was dated and out of step with ours of today. But I recall reading these stories some years back and they struct me as dry then.

In another setting, we attend a retirement party and witness speeches lauding the guest of honor. Some of these deliveries are heartfelt thank yous, some are biographical complete with education and a retelling of the retiree’s career resume. Not all orators are equal to the task they are called to do, but the happy go lucky raconteur with puns aplenty and jokes is sure to please. Only he doesn’t always. And we cringe our way to the end of the event, have another drink and make our way home.

In another social gathering we are informed of critical issues needing our attention and are gifted with an academic delivery of facts, figures, and cause-effect-result. Dry rhetoric. Dire warnings. Forecasts of doom. The event is yet another to survive. We limp home glad to remove our shoes, tie, restrictive clothing and relax before going to bed.

There are times we wish for less exposure to these rituals. They do not edify. They do not inform or enlarge our thinking. They only try our patience and good humor. For some reason, these events are expected and call for our attendance. Not all gatherings are equal, nor are they all fun and enjoyable. But we go and survive yet another unmoving event.

When will we learn new methods to mark special occasions without damaging patience?

I would have thought the internet and social media would have arrived at a solution to this puzzle, but no.

Might we try? Or will these events merely waste away from lack of attendance. That might be a welcome blessing. At least a start in the right direction.

The pandemic taught us the value of time and thought. It taught us the value of gathering. Now we need to learn how to build content to make the gathering worth the while. Arcane? Witty? No, just make sense.

June 4, 2021