Why I Make Puns
"GROAN"
Puns. You either love 'em, or you hate 'em.I love them.Ask anyone I know, and they'll tell you I'm a punster. I don't hide my paronomasia, in fact, one might say I promote it. I started a YouTube channel when I turned 18 called "The EntrePUNeur". It might surprise you, but I make puns in nearly every video. I intentionally make puns with my family, friends, and I would with enemies if I had them."But WHY, Ryan? They rarely make people laugh, and some consider it the lowest form of humor!"
WHY I PUN
1. Mental Improvement
I'm still waiting for the scientific study that proves this, but I suspect that making puns improves your ability to think critically.In order to make a pun, you have to consider the context of a conversation, outline words or phrases that relate to it, and form a reply to someone's comment with a play on words that remains logical.The mental hoops that one jumps through to make a pun aren't simple. In fact, many find difficulty in making puns. I've been asked on several occasions how I manage to pull off my constant combos of calembours.I've found that as I continue to create puns on a daily basis, it becomes easier to do. As I said, I'm still waiting on the test results, but I believe it exercises the brain. Like any muscle, it may hurt to exercise (maybe THAT'S why people dislike puns), but it yields positive results in the end. I have no doubt that it will e-quip you to analyze other areas of your life too.
2. People enjoy puns (whether they admit it or not)
Plenty of people hear my puns, turn away from me, and act as if I've sentenced them to death.It's a bit of a weird taboo in our culture to make a pun. It's something everyone does on one occasion or another. But the common response to this wordplay is a groan and a gentle scolding! Why?
A pun is the lowest form of humor—when you don't think of it first. ~Oscar Levant
The reason puns are so funny is because they are so unexpected. The best pun-chline is the one you don't see coming.What makes puns so great is that you can make them anywhere and anytime. Given the diversity of phrases, figures of speech, and cultural norms that exist, there's no end to the list of puns that could be created and how many ways they could be presented.Puns aren't the joke about the chicken that is heard once and afterward, becomes fowl in your mind. Puns can be made multiple times in different ways, applying to different situations. With puns on your side, there should be no such thing as a "wit's end".This makes them always fresh and never expected, just as good humor should be.
3. It shows I care
One thing I have to face is that most puns aren't that funny in and of themselves. After all, puns are often considered dumb, ridiculous, or bad. In fact, those are the adjectives most frequently used to describe puns.But I still see the grin forming on the lips of the person who turns away from me when I make a pun.I still catch the chuckle underneath the over-emphasized groan.I feel like there's an unspoken inside joke that we all agree puns aren't always funny. Yet, we still make them just to be ironic.I theorize that even if a pun doesn't entertain someone, the sheer act of making the pun does. A person intentionally analyzing someone's words and turning them into a pun makes it comical.More importantly, it shows that they're listening and that they care.As I said earlier, puns aren't always easy. You have to analyze and respond to the context, and that means you have to understand the context itself. If I make a pun while in a conversation with you, that means I was applying my thought process to your words, which means I'm not ignoring you. Further, I attempted to find a way to amuse you in response.
WHY YOU SHOULD PUN
In public areas (especially in the city), everyone goes about their own business and interacts as little as possible. It's not common to greet the barista or get to know the person you sit next to on the bus.This coldness of character translates into many business roles too. As a freelancer, I've talked with many clients over the phone and their dreariness of attitude and lack of energy always surprises me.But I digress. The point is, it's easy to do as little as possible. Saying and thinking the least you have to is the simple route when interacting with others. But humans were created for community and to live and help each other. We don't get very far without people we can trust and enjoy life with.If we can decide to be more o-pun with each other and to not hold back when we've come up with a great play on words, it's a good step in the right direction towards becoming more united.Besides, what better way to change a dark mood than by making light of the situation?