The Vegan American Princess recently posted an article on the value of laughing at ourselves, as vegans. She comments on the perception that vegans are humorless and offers a couple of examples where humor is used in a vegan context.
I don’t think that I misrepresent myself when I say that I do have a sense of humor. It is a bit quirky but most of the time comprehensible. I make jokes about myself and my housekeeping habits, my fat self, my laziness, and my obsessions all the time. I find it a lot harder to joke about being a vegan. I don’t know where to start. Yes, there are absurdities in our world. When I think of them, though, I feel that these situations and products are only going to seem funny to other vegans. And it only takes one ounce of knowledge to turn an obvious joke into not funny. A vegan barbecue, for example. To some that would mean gales of laughter, but if you’ve ever had a vegan barbecue you are going to be wondering what’s funny. It may also be funny to be traveling and trying to find a fast food joint that works for everyone, omnis and vegans alike. But it’s really not funny.
I love to laugh, especially at myself. I don’t like to laugh at others. I could laugh at omnis who worry that if they attend a vegan potluck there may not be “anything for them”…but isn’t that cruel too? Or at least just flat?
Help me out here. I really am trying to find the humor.