Cruel PUNishment (click to comment)

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One of the joys of being a humourist is that people think that I’m just dying to hear their jokes. I have a friend that usually has a pun for me when I bump into him. He’ll say, “Hey Phil, what’s the difference between a nicely dressed man on a tricycle, and a poorly dressed man on a bicycle?” “I’m not sure, what?” “A tire. Ha. Get it? A tire?” I do appreciate a good pun now and then. But I find bad puns to be a cruel form of PUNishment. Like my ear drums are being PUNctured. In fact, I think they should be exPUNged, and a poorly PUNctuated pun should be PUNished with imPUNity.

Here are some puns that may bring a giggle or a groan:
– A boiled egg is hard to beat.
– Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.
– “Doctor! Doctor! Help! I think I’m shrinking!” “Calm down, please. You’ll just have to be a little patient.” Ha!
– Friction can be a drag sometimes

I’m not a big fan of puns. Before long they start to drive me crazy. On the other hand, a friend of mine will laugh so hard after hearing a pun, I fear that he may PUNcture a lung.
Humour is a fascinating thing. And it’s interesting how a sense of what’s funny can be so different from person to person. Or from culture to culture. When I speak to groups from different cultures, I have to figure out what they find funny. Otherwise, I can use my best material and not get a single snort from the crowd.

We’re all different. But it’s ok. You like puns. And I like PUNching people who like puns. No, I’m joking. But unfortunately, we human beings struggle at getting along with those who are different. We tend to clump together with people who laugh at the same jokes, and talk, think, act, and look like we do. Then look down our noses at people we don’t understand. I’m so glad God didn’t adopt the same attitude. While we were sinners, Jesus died for us and He invites us to be His friends today. John 13:34 says: “A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”

So why not reach out and love someone a little different today? Talk to a new person in the church foyer, or on the job this week, and smile at those who don’t laugh at your jokes. And if you like puns, well, here’s another: What is a laughing stock? It’s a herd of cattle listening to Laugh Again radio.

Phil Callaway

Phil Callaway, the host of Laugh Again, is an award-winning author and speaker, known worldwide for his humorous yet perceptive look at life.

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