People hate it when they're tickled because laughter is not pleasant, if it goes on too long. I think it's a desperate sort of convulsion in desperate circumstances, which helps a little.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Laughter can be a physical reaction to distress rather than genuine enjoyment.
- In plain terms
- Laughter is sometimes a desperate convulsion.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize that laughter may signal distress.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does laughter mask pain?
- How do we read emotions accurately?
Another view
Not all laughter indicates distress or desperation.
More from Kurt Vonnegut
I don't think there would be many jokes, if there weren't constant frustration and fear and so forth. It's a response to bad troubles like crime.
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