Although I don't really buy the notio that to be creative you need to suffer from a mental health condition, I do think that certain psychological flaws can help the creative process. I can certainly be very obsessive to the point of mania, which does help in concentating on getting a script finished. And being absolutely atrocious with people has forced me to do other things with my time other than interact and have fun, ie. write.
Quote: chipolata @ November 9 2009, 10:34 AM GMTAnd being absolutely atrocious with people has forced me to do other things with my time other than interact and have fun, ie. write.
At least you're in the majority here. 
Going back to the original question, I like to make jokes about things that scare or depress me, bcause it makes them less scary and depressing.
I was also wondering, if someone has a big hang-up about a part of their appearance that is unattractive, is that still BDD, because the flaw is real?
I recall a study that purported to demonstrate that younger children had a more developed sense of humour. The proposed explanation was that it was a form of attention seeking behaviour arising out of insecurity. Probably something to that, at least based on my own family, my eldest brother and eldest niece are both humourless, whereas younger family members in each generation tend to take the view that there is no point in saying something unless it is funny.
Mind you the theory breaks down in that the funniest person I know is an eldest child. But then again he is also the angriest person I know, so maybe the mental health link holds.
For myself, I was deeply insecure and shy to the point of disability until well into adulthood, and I have no doubt that I used humour to gain approval. I probably still do.
Anthropologist Kate Fox in her excellent Watching The English identifies this compulsion to be humourous as a peculiarly English behaviour. (Certainly a Dutch girlfriend I had found my compulsive wisecracking jarringly irksome.) So if there is a link between humour and mental health, it possibly says something very odd about our national psyche.
Quote: Timbo @ November 9 2009, 11:06 AM GMTAnthropologist Kate Fox in her excellent Watching The English identifies this compulsion to be humourous as a peculiarly English behaviour.
Brilliant book. And I would recommend it to aspiring writers of British comedy.
Nah, I read it a while back and thought it was, amongst other things, laboured in the Xtreme.
The prose was also a little pedestrian.
Quote: Timbo @ November 9 2009, 11:06 AM GMTThe proposed explanation was that it was a form of attention seeking behaviour arising out of insecurity.
Sometimes yes, but sometimes it can be used to deflect attention, pass it onto someone else or to make fun out of youself before anyone else does.
Quote: jim field @ November 9 2009, 11:51 AM GMTThe prose was also a little pedestrian.
It was written by an anthropologist, so I think one can make allowances for the more perfunctory nature of the text. I agree it occasionally laboured its points, but overall I found it a great read. I lent it to the French wife of an English friend of mine and she said it finally helped her to understand some of the "weirder" behaviour of the English.
If by laboured you mean compellingly argued and supported by cogent analysis, then, yes.
Quote: jim field @ November 9 2009, 11:51 AM GMTThe prose was also a little pedestrian.
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 9 2009, 11:54 AM GMTI agree it occasionally laboured its points, but overall I found it a great read.
So, you two agree: the book has prose and cons.
>_<
Quote: don rushmore @ November 9 2009, 11:59 AM GMTSo, you two agree: the book has prose and cons.
I didn't personally feel any of it was laboured (because it spent some time backing up its assertions with further evidence), however I can appreciate why some might have.
I loved the book, for God's sake! Oh, I'm going away to slag-off Coming Of Age or something... 
I write comedy and enjoy writing comedy, for me making people laugh is a huge buzz (which is why I enjoy stand-up) and I do suffer with depression but for the adventure that is Danny Banks, this is a relatively new development for me.
Does it shape my comedy? Of course it would do.
I personally loathe to see friends and family upset or unhappy and if I can make them smile even for a minute to illeviate this then it is worth it.
So in writing comedy and performing stand-up it is an extentsion of this.
Yeah I want to make the world a better place, I'm just a big hippy.
Group hug?
Quote: dannyjb1 @ November 9 2009, 12:22 PM GMTGroup hug?
Go hug a f**king tree, hippy. 
So, everyone who posts on the BCG is a bit mentals?
In other news, Pope Paddington XI put on a funny hat and took a shit in the woods.
Seriously though, I think as comedy types, we over think and intellectualise matters to such an extent that even trivial things can lead to worry, anger, depression, the Dark Side, etc.
Plus sitting in front a computer writing crap puns on a comedy forum all day can't be good for anyone's mental health.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 9 2009, 12:33 PM GMTPlus sitting in front a computer writing crap puns on a comedy forum all day can't be good for anyone's mental health.
I'm all for 'em.
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 9 2009, 12:24 PM GMTGo hug a f**king tree, hippy.
You hug a tree you lanky piece of sh....Oh you wern't talking to me...Carry on then.