Aside from the comments about the Simpsons and Southpark (:-)) I have to agree
with Stefan. While I agree that humour has its place (and, yes, it isn't always
appropriate), I would be disappointed if the world-wide bond being developed
between subscribers of this (and any other) list was to be regulated and
disciplined to fit in with the personal likes or dislikes of one or two people.
If I had five cents for every posting that I personally have not agreed with,
either in context or form, then I could fly to those countries and inform the
subscriber/s face to face.
To me the occasional humour is both entertaining and a break from the many
serious discussions that cross this electronic path. However, in the wider
scheme of things whether we enjoy it or not is really only a minor glitch and
not, to me anyway, worth getting upset about.
Let the humour continue and get away from sweating the little stuff, eh? There
are many more important things going on out there far more worthy of our
combined attention.
Regards
Phil Rutherford
Stefan Bungart wrote:
> I am normally more of a "listener" than contributor to this list, and being
> German probably doesn't help in the humour department, but I can't help
> myself and want to comment on the postings below.
>
> Robert Bacal wrote:
>
> > > I need some help with posting to this group. I've always been
> > > hesitant to post a number of crossposted announcements, links, etc,
> > > to MG-ED-DV, particularly if it isn't in response to a request.
>
> Charles Wankel replied:
>
> > I have been concerned about this. Dutch Driver has apologized and assures
> > me that he not post jokes or non-management education and development
> links
> > etc. any more to the list. Certainly JOKES are not welcome (there are
> > better forums for them). Before anyone posts, the key thing to consider
> is
> > whether the posting is related to management education or management
> > development directly.
>
> I've been thinking carefully about whether this posting is management
> development related or not, and have decided that it is.
>
> Plentiful research (and I won't quote here) suggests that humour is a very
> necessary form of communication between individuals. It has been shown in
> studies that humour actually improves work performance, and work
> satisfaction.
>
> Anecdotal evidence from the UK suggests that humour (an integral part of
> British society, believe me, I lived there) leads to greater social
> cohesion, facilitating and improving team work and well-being of individuals
> in the work place (and any other place, of course).
>
> In my varied work experience I have come across a variety of organisations
> that have taken widely differing views on the matter of humour at the
> workplace. The German companies I worked for were certainly more
> conservative in allowing humour at work as a means of group interaction. The
> British companies I worked for were almost the opposite extreme, in that
> humour was not only allowed, but an almost "necessary" condition for group
> interaction. And from my personal point of view, I found the latter working
> environment far better for my well-being than the first (which is why I
> moved out of Germany in the first place).
>
> Now that I run an organisation myself, and am responsible for the well-being
> of my staff, I have adopted a very positive attitude towards humour. In our
> office, the exchange of JOKES and general humorous comments is a normal way
> of life. And believe me, my staff and myself would not want it any other
> way.
>
> Interestingly, the Irish have a slightly differing form of humour from the
> British (and I know this is generalising across vastly differing cultures of
> the Welsh, English, and Scottish), and a certain form known as "slagging" is
> in general use.
>
> Humour in my experience serves as a safety vent; it allows to voice
> frustrations in an non-threatening way, it allows criticism, or indeed
> serves as a social bonding technique (where the group actually develops its
> own "humour" codes and rules).
>
> I remind you of the Jester in old times, that was a vital element of every
> court.
>
> In the light of this said, let me re-quote Charles:
>
> > Dutch Driver has apologised and assures
> > me that he not post jokes or non-management education and development
> links
> > etc. any more to the list.
>
> Here is an individual pressured into apologising for attempts at social
> bonding through the medium of electronic messages.
>
> > Certainly JOKES are not welcome (there are
> > better forums for them).
>
> And here is an individual that attempts to prescribe rules of interaction
> for a large group of individuals.
>
> The electronic medium as a form of co-operation between individuals is
> fairly new compared to the age old ways of communicating between individuals
> or groups of individuals. However, the rules of engagement are made up as we
> go along. And I for one certainly am a proponent of humour, not an opponent,
> and would welcome humorous postings, so long as they are related to the
> subject field that list members are interested in.
>
> I find Dilbert irresistible and a great contemporary critique of modern
> office life. But then I also love the Simpsons and Southpark, and find them
> to be a great contemporary critique of life, and maybe I just like a laugh.
> Not that that last comment had anything to do with my earlier ramblings on.
> I just fancied it.
>
> Regards,
>
> Stefan