A Call

[Imladris]

*Imladris creeps towards the massive bulletin board and hastily pins up a missive before slinking away*

What is humour? No, honestly, what is it?

Humour:

• The quality that makes something laughable or amusing; funniness
• That which is intended to induce laughter or amusement.
• The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd. See Synonyms at wit.

Wit:

• Keenness and quickness of perception or discernment; ingenuity.

However, I am afraid that humour is often confused, or affiliated with stupidity, which is a gross mistake.

The next question, obviously, must be, what is stupidity?

• The quality or condition of being stupid.
• A stupid act, remark, or idea.

Ah, but what is stupid?

• Slow to learn or understand; obtuse.
• Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless

Courtesy of a very useful book

As you can see, humour is not at all related to stupidity.

This is a call to save the Mirth forum. I browse through it and am constantly amazed at what various members call humour is actually blatant stupidity. The posts are careless, the grammar and spelling is often mortifying, and usually, the post has no quality. If it is not funny, do not post it. If it has no relevance, do not post it. And I beg you all, on my knees, to not post what you would never say in the 101 Things Barrowdowners Would Never Post. Why do I beg none of you to do that? The thread is for what Barrowdowners would never post and you're a Barrowdowner, right? Right? Well, yes, of course. But, you see, no thought, no wit, no requirements is involved in stating what you would never say.

Humour is an art, just like everything else. Do treat it as such. Humour requires the care of a sharp mind, wit, and intelligence.