Dear Derek

Dear Derek

With all of the hype around SARS can you tell me how it will affect our humour?

Signed Masked one

Dear Masked one

Not enough is known about SARS yet to make any final statements on how laughter affects the disease, but this much we do know about laughter in general. It increases the number of killer cells in your mouth (humor) and so it could possibly help in the fight against it. This research is published and available for reading on line.

Secondly SARS is generating a whole new breed of "Black Humour" jokes that are a natural reaction to a potentially deadly condition. Humour originally meant "to laugh in the face of death." SARS is a prime example.

I was teaching a group of 12 - 11 year old BOYS comedy for a WEEK at the Easter Break. You cannot imagine the energy they had, it was physically exhausting. To me SARS meant Severe and Acute Ritalin Shortage.

Dear Derek

How does the bible view humour? Do they have any references to laughter or mirth?

Signed Holy Moses

Dear Holy Moses

There are numerous references to laughter, joyous dancing and hilarity in the Bible, and not just in Sodom.

"God will fill your mouth with laughter." - Job 8:21,

"God has brought me laughter." - Genesis 21:6 and

"God I need some laugher" – Me 1:30 Yesterday are examples.

Personally I think God has the best sense of humour of all, he made men and women want to live together…

Dear Derek

The war in Iraq seems to have been a blessing for the late-night comics. There isn't a show that doesn't have some joke that is a reference to the war. Is this not feeding our stereotypes about others?

Signed Quiet on the Front

Dear Quiet

This is a subject which could take hours to discuss, and hopefully someday will. The comedy of war is based on ridicule, racism, and xenophobia (and then there are the mean things.) In order to have a good war you need an enemy your people can ridicule and mock. Tough going to war with someone you like. The late-night comics are only echoing the line of the countries who are in favour of the conflict and so their purpose is to "Rally the Troops." This is not about humanity; it is about pitching in for the war effort. Canada has a rich history of using comedy to keep up the morale of the troops and populace. Just look at our military and tell me you can't help but laugh.

Dear Derek

Answer a question my boyfriend and I have. Who are funnier, women or men?

Signed Females Rule

Dear Females Rule

Neither is funnier. Sorry, that is an honour shared by both sexes, with one condition…you have to be mentally ill. The mentally ill are by far the funniest people on the planet, whether they are women or men. Look at the comics working today and it is the one trait which binds them all. So if you have a friend who is really funny, ask them if they are mentally ill. You may be surprised by their response.

Dear Derek

I am a hockey fan and every year my team gets beat out of the playoffs without winning the Stanley Cup. I get so mad and can't seem to find anything funny in it. Can you help me find a more humourous perspective?

Signed Hurting in Hockey Heaven

Dear Hurting

I live in Calgary, and have gone 7 years without a playoff game. If you think your situation is bad, try being us! Do you know the difference between the Calgary Flames and a Cigarette Machine? A cigarette machine has Players…

By Derek Wilken