What is your take on the idea that serving in the military skews one's sense of humor?

2017-12-10T18:14:55-05:00

Do you believe that serving in the military does have an affect on what a person may find humor in? Could it be that the military has a tendency to desensitize people to certain subjects? Does the darker sense of humor aid or hinder veterans in their lives after the military?

Response by PO2 David Trautman made Dec 10 at 2017 6:21 PM

2017-12-10T18:21:55-05:00

Of course it does

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Dec 10 at 2017 6:22 PM

2017-12-10T18:22:54-05:00

Of course it does. If you haven't been in, you have no idea what it is like and the irony of situations that leave a non-military person scratching their head. The special lingo and the acronyms are just a couple things that outsiders would not get.

Response by TSgt Brian Hart made Dec 10 at 2017 6:30 PM

2017-12-10T18:30:11-05:00

That’s f%#king hilarious!!

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Dec 10 at 2017 8:02 PM

2017-12-10T20:02:48-05:00

I think it's that age old adage "You just had to be there",let's face it folks we are always in the minority so like any group that stands apart we tend to have our own customs and rituals that the majority will never understand,like it says "You just had to be there",and besides did you ever meet a civilian that shows up early for a meeting or conference, just to mention one weird trait we all picked back in the day.

Response by SSgt Gary Andrews made Dec 10 at 2017 8:49 PM

2017-12-10T20:49:25-05:00

When I'm around other vets.......we see the humor in things that civilians never would. Not sure why that is.......but it is what it is.

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Dec 10 at 2017 9:22 PM

2017-12-10T21:22:52-05:00

*sarcasm ahead* The military shapes one's sense of humor? I don't recall being an idealistic young boy who was shocked by even the most mild of crude jokes. I'm pretty sure I popped out of my mama's womb spewing full of crude humor and sarcastic comments. *end sarcasm*

On a serious note, I do think, military humor is a real thing. I think it both helps and hinders veterans in life after the military. On one hand, being able to find humor in even the most grim aspects of life tends to make one more resilient yet, on the other hand, letting out a dead-baby joke at the wrong time tends to land you in hot water with your work's HR dept. It all comes down to sound judgement being crucial to ones success post-military. In all though, humor is a great resource when used in good taste.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Dec 10 at 2017 9:29 PM

2017-12-10T21:29:46-05:00

I think finding the humor & irony in harsh and stressful conditions and events is a necessary undertaking in order to not lose one's sanity. I see strong similarities between the military's dark humor and that of emergency responders in the civilian world.

Although it can make people who aren't familiar with it really wonder from time to time about a veteran's said sanity, I don't think it is a hindrance as long as it is normally expressed only around people who understand it or at least understand why.

All in all, I would count it as an aid in dealing with inevitable adversity.

Response by SPC(P) Mark Newman made Dec 10 at 2017 10:45 PM

2017-12-10T22:45:13-05:00

I think any extended experience with SKU one's sense of humor. So going to Harvard might skew one's sense of humor in a different direction, or joining the Peace Corps. But if you mean that the military imparts a particularly unique perspective, then that I can agree with! :-)

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 10 at 2017 10:59 PM

2017-12-10T22:59:06-05:00

SGT Joseph Gunderson Most Definitely! Yeah of Course there is a Time and Place for Everything and the Bent Humor from the Ship doesn't belong Ashore.

Response by SGT David T. made Dec 11 at 2017 8:19 AM

2017-12-11T08:19:03-05:00

I firmly believe it did/does. I think it is a coping mechanism to dealing with the insane levels of BS we have to put up with. Of course in most cases (from what I've seen) it sticks with us post service.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2017 9:41 AM

2017-12-11T09:41:30-05:00

Some call it a Dark sense of Humor, we call it coping skills lol. The ability to view dark, screwed up situations and come back at it with a joke is a mind that wont break. It can Aid and Hinder us, if your dealing with snowflakes that cant handle anything non PC, who see no humor and do not have the ability of self-reliance then yes this is a Hindrance. If your dealing with people with a brain then its an Aid.

Response by SPC Diana D. made Dec 11 at 2017 9:48 AM

2017-12-11T09:48:56-05:00

SGT Joseph Gunderson I don't really think it skews your sense of humor, I think there are some things that we as military personnel find funny that other people who haven't been in the military don't understand why it's funny. And I think the reasons veterans are desensitized to dark humor is because we have seen and done things normal people wouldn't do so we aren't bothered by dark humor and you have to admit some of that dark humor is funny!!!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2017 10:09 AM

2017-12-11T10:09:13-05:00

Being a police homicide detective for a major American city police department for many years skews one's sense of humor, for damn sure!!!

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Dec 11 at 2017 1:05 PM

2017-12-11T13:05:04-05:00

Don't know about other services, but in the Navy, a story you tell about an experience you have had is called a sea story. Many sea stories have a you have to have been there (or in a similar situation) to get the jest. The joke goes:
What is the difference between a fairy tale and a sea story?
A fairy tale starts out, "Once upon a time ..."
A sea story starts out, "This ain't no shit ..."

Response by SPC David Willis made Dec 11 at 2017 1:20 PM

2017-12-11T13:20:46-05:00

Probably both helps and hinders. It helps by making us more resilient and laughing off illnesses or low points in our life, but it hinders because not everyone finds humor in the things we can. I get some odd looks from my wife when I laugh at certain things. One that comes to mind is watching the movie 'Patriots Day' when the dude runs over his brother I laughed out loud in the theatre and was the only one to do so. Caught a few looks that day.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Dec 11 at 2017 3:20 PM

2017-12-11T15:20:32-05:00

Of course it does. Anyone who is exposed to the stress and horrible things we see (especially in combat operations) is bound to be changed by the events. Developing a dark sense of humor is a way of coping with the horrors. Emergency Services members tend to develop that same dark humor. And for much the same reasons.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Dec 11 at 2017 3:43 PM

2017-12-11T15:43:08-05:00

While it is true that a lot of service members use gallows humor to help overcome a difficult situation, I don't believe the military is the direct cause of gallows humor. I've had a dark sense of humor even before the military. I don't think a dark sense of humor aids or hinders a person's life after the military. The only thing that could aid or hinder your life after the military is not knowing when and where humor can be inappropriate.

For example, probably not a good idea to burst out laughing when someone is reading a eulogy. Maybe don't tell a dead baby joke in front of someone who just had a miscarriage.

Humor is subjective. To really deliver, you have to know your audience. That's why jokes are best told amongst friends. People you know probably won't get offended.

But to answer your original question, I do believe the military skews your sense of humor. Otherwise, none of us would probably be laughing at pictures like this (enclosed) because we all have stories from our time in service of things that were done which make absolute zero sense from a civilian perspective, but to us, it's just another day in the life.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Dec 11 at 2017 4:23 PM

2017-12-11T16:23:21-05:00

The only difference is that different things are funny. Who hasn't run down the trail to the supply sergeant and asked for a can of lanyard grease at the behest of the Senior NCO in FDC. When they joke with you they have accepted you!

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2017 8:11 AM

2017-12-12T08:11:24-05:00

Depends on how you define 'skew'. Since joining the military, my humor has gone from normal to dark/convoluted.