Whether you love him or hate him, comedian George Carlin offers us some of the most accurate critiques of political, social, and economic life in America.  He interprets the world in his own way, and shows us how to make meaning of the oftentimes unexamined things we call ‘common sense’.     

Here are some reflections on George Carlin’s 2004 interview with Tavis Smiley.  In it, Carlin talks about the risk-taking, thinking processes, and the chain-reaction that is humor & comedy.  His comments reflect the need for humanness in our communications—an idea that is the basis of my SHINE System of Communication. 

Carlin says that the audience sees him as a person who isn’t a threat to them—he’s a vulnerable figure, but not vulnerable from a victim standpoint.  Instead, people see in him a softer, human side—what I would refer to as being accessible.  He explains, “There is a thing they see in me which isn’t threatening.” This likeability factor allows him to form the basis of a safe foundation, and from there, he can state his strong and sometimes unpopular viewpoints. 

This tool is available to anyone; we can all create that safe environment through the use of humor.  Carlin believes that if you establish the context for an audience, you can facilitate a human connection with them.  And once they accept that context that you have established, they are on your side—they will listen to any kind of topic. “Anything can be made funny within the proper context.  Once you have established that context, the audience feels safe to say, ‘Ok, he’s fine, I’m comfortable, where is he going to go with this [topic]?  Oh, that’s interesting.’” 

The surprise aspect of comedy contributes to this safe context, and makes the audience want to be on your side.  He continues, “I like to look for a different way into things; I like to look for a side door.  I like audiences to say, ‘I don’t know whether I agree with you, but I like how you got there.’”   

Carlin also mentions that these comedic tools get sharper and better with use, “Just like you get better playing the violin; you’re gonna be better at 60 than you were at 20.”  I took comfort in his quote, sure that I will be a wonderful violinist by age 60—especially because I wasn’t playing the violin at age 20!  I’ll take any motivation I can get.   

Until next time,

“Get Your SHINE Together!”

Trina