adjective: stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at
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I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone say “don’t be ridiculous”. As I like to believe I can count pretty high, I’ll say it’s a common phrase. As ever, I find myself asking the obvious question: why? Why do we tell people not to be ridiculous?
When something is ridiculous, whether absurd, foolish or both, it is, by definition, laughable. In the Harry Potter franchise, the spell “riddikulus” causes a creature which plays on people’s fears to take on an amusing appearance, turning what was terrifying into something funny: quite the result for our young heroes! Few would contest that laughter is a good thing – even in the muggle world – so why are we instructed not to be humorous?
An obvious answer, albeit a cynical one, is that those who warn against ridiculosity simply prefer to be serious – even miserable – than jovial. However, I suspect the truth of the matter is a little more nuanced…
For something to be ridiculous, as well as being laughable, it must be either stupid or unreasonable. Many people find stupidity inherently funny: it has been the punchline for countless jokes and the crux of many a comedic act. But how many people have the self-confidence to allow themselves to appear stupid for comic effect?
Many a person’s self-esteem is intrinsically linked to their perceived intelligence. While it’s both natural and healthy to take a certain pride in what we’re good at, to allow any one thing to define our self-worth leaves the ego extremely vulnerable. But how does this lead those individuals to caution others against being ridiculous?
I actually believe this behaviour is born of kindness. When a person places a disproportionate value on anything, it affects how they measure the worth of everything, including people. Ergo, if a person is overly concerned with intelligence, they would believe they were doing someone a favour by telling them not to be ridiculous, as they are sparing them from seeming stupid. There is, of course, a certain irony here…
Our hypothetical, profoundly intelligent person is, in my opinion, actually being rather dense. If the ridiculous comments or antics are intentional, then our brainiac is clearly missing the punchline! Clever. And if the ridiculous person is in blissful ignorance, why not simply enjoy it and let them do the same?
Well, dear reader, I hope today’s musings weren’t too ridiculous for you. May your days be filled with laughter and your thoughts be both constructive and limited!
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