FW: In defense of humor...

["Hume, Patrick F" <patrick_hume -at- REYREY -dot- COM>]

Lisa asked me to forward this to the list.  It's absolutely true-I've seen
photos and read technical documentation about twirling cats as a life-saving
technique.

-----Original Message-----
From:   Hume, Patrick F
Sent:   Thursday, June 18, 1998 12:35 PM
To:     'Lisa Comeau'
Subject:        RE: In defense of humor...

Hi Lisa,

The cat example certainly is an effective visual.

A couple years ago a co-worker brought in a book about the care and health
of cats.  It had an actual photograph of a person demonstrating how to
revive a drowned cat by grasping both hind legs and swinging the cat
windmill-style.  I sent a copy to my brother (a small-animal veterinarian in
Lexington, KY) to see if he'd ever heard of this technique.  He'd never
heard of it, but confirmed that it made sense to him.

Anyway, it was even funny when it was a photograph (and I love cats), but
the obvious question arose about the cat in the photo.  I guess this stunt
cat was actually doing a service for fellow felines, although I've never
seen a drowned cat or met anyone who has revived one.

After the flames flying your way over this one, I thought you should know
that your Physics teacher was probably just referring to life-saving
techniques.

Cheers,
Patrick

        -----Original Message-----
        From:   Lisa Comeau [SMTP:COMEAUL -at- CSA -dot- CA]
<mailto:[SMTP:COMEAUL -at- CSA -dot- CA]>
        Sent:   Tuesday, June 16, 1998 3:01 PM
        To:     TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
<mailto:TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>
        Subject:        In defense of humor...

        First, I apologise for the appearance of my email messages with the
equal signs and so on. I cant do anything about it, it appears to be an
intermittent firewall issue. So, instead of using quotes, I have capitalized
things to be stressed, I am not yelling...and I have left out asterisks and
capitalized there too. I have also left out apostrophes. Hope this is easier
to read. I wish I could predict when this type of thing happens, but I cant.

        Second, I tried to respond to a post that I found interesting, and
thought it had alot to do with my side of technical writing AND with my
background in the entertainment industry, particularly my four years of
stand up comedy experience.

        Third, I like cats, so will you people stop sending me personal
email flames about my alleged cruelty to animals? I liked the analogy my
Physics teacher used because
          at the time the Earl the Dead Cat dolls that you stuck in your car
trunk were popular, which, by the way, I hated
         and his 2 year old son had been severely mangled by a cat, and it
made me remember it after all these years, NOT because I condone animal
abuse. As a matter of fact, I worked for an animal shelter to help pay for
my University education.

         If I offended you, I am sorry, but please learn that noone can MAKE
anyone else feel anything, that is your choice. Just like it is your CHOICE
to use humor, or not, as the case may be.

        If you have the freedom to use what YOU think is humor, and you wish
to do so, do it. If you feel it is appropriate, do it. But please stop
telling me that I shouldn't, because I have, I can, I do, and I will,
because its my job! I was hired mostly on the basis of my entertainment
industry experience, the technical was only half of it.

        None of you who are so quick to flame me have even expressed an
interest in why I am defending the use of humor, you're telling me I'm
unprofessional because I make jokes. Which parts of my posts did you read?
Or were you all just blinded by one comment I made which didnt even come
from me?

        I discussed the fact that you need to be careful, and I mentioned
that IN MY JOB humor works because I use it in CONJUNCTION with my teaching,
but I suppose that this thread shouldnt be any different than any other in
which people assume that others on the list have the exact same position and
duties as they do.

        At least when I dont agree with something someone else posted, I
dont try to make them a villain. I like to think that I have to respect a
persons opinion if I repect them, whether I agree or not. And I DO agree
with many of you that in YOUR positions, humor may not be acceptable. So
don't use it.

        Sorry if I'm ranting or off topic, but I think that respect is more
important than humor or lack thereof, and by the way, just because you don't
find something funny doesn't mean you are humorless, but it doesn't make the
person who FINDS it funny a terrible person.

         Why does everyone get so hung up on the fact that posters to the
list dont think the same as they do? Thats what makes us such a good group
when we can debate in a good way instead of slamming each other.

        All those who believe in telekinesis raise my hand...
        My twenty dollars worth

        Lisa Comeau
        IS Super-User/Trainer
        Certification and Testing Division
        Canadian Standards Association
        Rexdale, ON
        comeaul -at- csa -dot- ca <mailto:comeaul -at- csa -dot- ca>


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