Posted on Oct 14, 2016
Is humor missing and not appreciated in the profession of arms?
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Colonel Eric Zimmerman points out that we used to have humor in doctrine. The leadership doctrine of the U.S. Army actually addressed the appropriate use of humor in leadership situations. I have always found that using humor brings things down a notch when the proverbial fecal matter hits the spinning blades. In an age where everyone seems offended, is this even more of a problem?
https://www.ausa.org/articles/seriously-let%E2%80%99s-inject-humor-leadership
https://www.ausa.org/articles/seriously-let%E2%80%99s-inject-humor-leadership
Humor
Professionalism
Stress
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 11
I work in government and I have had similar observations Sir. I think it is a problem. Sometimes humor is needed to break tension and ease frustration. It's difficult for those of us who have served or worked at a high stress jobs such as law enforcement, EMS, and ER. I wished many a times recently that I had the grace and poise of our own 1LT Sandy Annala, but it is something I'm personally working on as I try to advance into leadership. I have found as others have commented here that after a period of getting to know folks and having a drink off-hours has helped, because many people have a different persona outside of duty hours.
For what it's worth, don't change COL (Join to see), because you are one of the cool people on here in my opinion, which was why I was bugging you to come to a meetup when you were in DC. lol
For what it's worth, don't change COL (Join to see), because you are one of the cool people on here in my opinion, which was why I was bugging you to come to a meetup when you were in DC. lol
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Col Dona Marie Iversen
Sadly words and actions in 'after hour' environments tend to follow (haunt) you during business hours. Others seem to forget "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". In my civilian leadership positions, many 'beg' me to join as I'm perceived as the 'cool' leader. I attend after hour events but only for a little while, want others to be able to relax when I'm not around or I do not want to witness something I should not see and then have to take action due to the @#$% PC crowd. It's a balance.
Damn, the fun we use to have on TDYs, Joint Clubs, O clubs would NEVER be accepted today. Oh, the memories! LOL!
Damn, the fun we use to have on TDYs, Joint Clubs, O clubs would NEVER be accepted today. Oh, the memories! LOL!
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Col Dona Marie Iversen - True, a lot of things have changed and many of the clubs aren't even close to what they used to be.
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COL (Join to see)
PV2 (Join to see), I think today, especially in our PC world, humor has been drowned. Humor makes fun of a situation. About the only kind that isn't truly frowned upon is self-deprecating humor. Even then...if it makes someone uncomfortable...you're screwed. I think everyone defaults to a serious nature, which is necessary most of the time. I'm just of the opinion that life without a laugh is miserable.
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A little humor can help relieve a little stress in a shitty situation. You have to consider all options sometimes to complete a task, even if it is humor! A laugh or smile never hurt anyone!
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COL (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see), agreed. Some of my favorite shots of combat are of guys laughing or making jokes while getting shot at. Finding the humor in a life and death situation. Unless you've been there, it's almost unfathomable and you'd think that those guys have lost their minds, but you get there at some point. I was watching a documentary on a company of Marines that were pinned down and they had helmet cams on and they were laughing, smiling and joking around while bullets hit around them.
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