Is it better , more meaningful, to make the audience laugh or cry?

This question was posed to me today.

When discussing how to most deeply effect the connection with your audience.

In the our American culture, do we not try to talk people out of their tears and sadness?

Trying to console and sooth the one who is crying.

How often do we go ahead and cry with the person?

There is much sadness in the world and surely there is much to be joyous about.

We could not exist for long within the dark sadness of a morbid sorrow and long suffering.

With out joy there can be no courage.

And without courage there could be no will to live.

The croaking frog must have courage to pursue happiness in his frog like fashion, and croak through the night.

Even though he risks it all to Kitt foxes and skunks.

He sings out of pure joy.

But is there anything more mournful and sad than the drunken false laughter from the bar room or the exaggerated bellowing uproars from that table in the restaurant where people had come with such high hopes and leave somber and with that glum taint of something lost to that meal which had promised so many things.

Our world is changing and all around us we can see and feel the transition.

Many of are compelled to give up many of their positions and possessions.

Forced by change to exercise letting go and practice indifference to material possessions.

So somewhere we ask our selves is this a joke or is the world really such a hard and cruel place?

Maybe it is neither.

Maybe there is no detachment necessary.

Maybe life just is and needs no explanation.

Just a thought

Thank you all, I'll be here until Thursday.. Good night.