Filed under: Comment
Dr Seuss.
An American institution.
Creator of the ugliest cartoon character in the history of cartoon characters.
Author of books that inspired and inspire millions of kids all around the World.
Creator of the movie that gave Mike Myers another pay day, despite the fact the last time he was funny was in Wayne’s World.
And I mean the first Wayne’s World … not the sequel.
While I read his books as a kid, it was never my favourite. As far as I was concerned, the Mr Men characters pissed all over The Cat In The Hat … and not just because my Mum went on to inspire Roger Hargreaves to write the ‘Little Ms’ series.
That’s true by the way and we have the original drawing from Roger Hargreaves to prove it.
But recently I saw something Dr Seuss wrote that I thought was fantastic.
Yes, it could have come straight from one of his books.
Yes, it’s got the potential to be utterly twee.
Yes, it’s obvious as hell.
But all that aside, I just like his articulation of why it makes sense to have a sense of humour.
I like it.
I like “if you can see things out of whack, you can see how things can be in whack” .
I think that has implications for we should look at politics, business and life itself.
Of course recognising what is/isn’t ‘in whack’ is only part of the deal … doing something about it when something needs doing is the other essential ingredient … but I like the idea that humour is more than just a moment of enjoyment, but the recognition of individuals who see the possibility to make things better by recognising – and laughing at – what is wrong.
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that seuss thing takes on a different meaning if you interpret “whack” as having a good old fashioned wank.
Comment by andy@cynic January 28, 2014 @ 6:18 amThanks for that. You’ve just turned Dr Seuss into Jimmy Saville.
Comment by DH January 28, 2014 @ 6:30 amErrrrrrm, OK. You are a strange man.
Comment by Rob January 28, 2014 @ 8:20 amcan i be the first to thank your mum for not suggesting they ever launch a mr planner book.
Comment by andy@cynic January 28, 2014 @ 6:21 ammy mistake, they did. they just renamed him mr silly, which is good but their original name was better. mr waste of fucking space.
Comment by andy@cynic January 28, 2014 @ 6:22 amI always thought the real life version of the cat in the hat was slash, from guns and roses. Discuss.
Comment by DH January 28, 2014 @ 6:29 amBecause they both wear a hat, are stick thin and look like they regularly jab their arm with the needle? Sherlock Holmes will be shitting himself with your powers of observation and deduction.
Comment by Billy Whizz January 28, 2014 @ 6:57 amThis post has gone way weirder than even the Cat in the Hat could imagine. Mental.
Comment by Rob January 28, 2014 @ 8:21 amThe Mr Men went downhill when the Little Ms books came out. Just like Scooby Do turned to crap when Scrappy turned up.
Comment by DH January 28, 2014 @ 6:32 amit always fucking goes downhill when the women turn up. except my wife and daughter but they wouldnt mingle with low life fuckers like you.
and its scooby doo, not scooby do you peasant. but youre right about that fucking bastard scrappy. he was the jar jar binks of star wars before the jar jar binks of star wars.
Comment by andy@cynic January 28, 2014 @ 6:51 amWell said Andy. I mean the bit about Scooby Doo/Scrappy/Jar Jar Binks think … not the ‘women ruin everything’ rant.
Comment by Rob January 28, 2014 @ 8:22 amThe counter to this is people who laugh at important issues are annoying and not trustworthy. Just putting it out there.
Comment by Bazza January 28, 2014 @ 6:35 amI like the idea of what Dr Seuss is saying but I agree, it’s very different to people who simply laugh at important things because they enjoy seeing destruction or menace.
Comment by Pete January 28, 2014 @ 7:17 amlet me make sure im getting this, youre saying campbell annoys the fuck out of you. especially when he goes into his hysterical screamlaughs at some poor fuckers misfortune. thats right isnt it?
Comment by andy@cynic January 28, 2014 @ 7:50 amWas Mrs C’s reward for the Little Ms idea a picture? I’m sure it’s a nice picture but they have gone on to earn millions. Is it too late to sue? Go Mrs C.
Comment by Bazza January 28, 2014 @ 6:38 amMrs C doesn’t sue. Mrs C doesn’t do things for the money. Mrs C is generous of mind and soul. Maybe Rob was adopted because that doesn’t sound anything like him.
Comment by DH January 28, 2014 @ 6:42 amYou are so right Dave. We have a lovely hand-drawn picture of Mr Forgetful which ironically, has a speech bubble coming out of his mouth saying, “Tell your Mum I won’t forget her great idea”.
I suppose I could use that as evidence, except no where does it say, “Why don’t you come up with Little Ms characters to go with your Mr Men books”.
Foiled again.
Comment by Rob January 28, 2014 @ 8:24 amWell, I guess that justifies the time we invest in this blog.
Comment by John January 28, 2014 @ 6:39 amGold.
Comment by DH January 28, 2014 @ 6:43 amIt’s all about giving back.
Comment by Rob January 28, 2014 @ 8:24 amBut that doesn’t mean I’m going look for Mr Incontinent on Amazon.
Comment by John January 28, 2014 @ 6:40 amSure you’re not Doddsy. Sure you’re not.
Comment by Billy Whizz January 28, 2014 @ 6:58 amIf nonsense wakes up the brain cells then Rob must be an alarm clock.
Comment by Billy Whizz January 28, 2014 @ 6:59 amThis reminds me of Mr. Cleese’s talk on creativity a while back. Thankfully, we have the intertubes to reminds us this:
Comment by Miguel January 28, 2014 @ 8:24 amhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU5x1Ea7NjQ
It does fit perfectly with this discussion.
It does, except I’ve gone off Mr Cleese ever since he started being a dick about paying his ex-wife so much of his fortune. I get why he’s angry, but it’s not her fault she got awarded so much … just ask Andy.
Comment by Rob January 28, 2014 @ 8:26 amI’m pretty sure this will have some nasty, profane repercusions on the comment section.
Comment by Miguel January 28, 2014 @ 8:50 amYour point that recognising “whack” only has value if you do something about fixing “whack” can not be underestimated. But I like the quote and the sentiment, it is a nice way to look at the role of humour and nonsense.
Comment by Lee Hill January 28, 2014 @ 10:32 amVery interesting, especially if you think about its relation to the mental model of inversion. [http://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2013/10/inversion/]
Comment by LeeAnn Chen January 28, 2014 @ 12:25 pmIt could suggest that humor is a very powerful thinking habit, and is often the most natural inversion of thought. Seeing what isn’t there or isn’t right apparently is critical to ‘understanding deeply’, which is one of “The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking”.
Hi LeeAnn. Thank you for writing the first ever serious and informed comment on this blog.
Comment by Rob January 28, 2014 @ 12:57 pmShark well and truly jumped.
Comment by John January 28, 2014 @ 9:20 pmWe don’t want any of that sort of thing going on here.
Comment by DH January 28, 2014 @ 10:58 pmI appreciate that…and the irony of making a serious comment in a boring way on a post about the importance of humor.
Comment by LeeAnn Chen January 29, 2014 @ 10:25 amI suppose I can only say that it is a thinking habit I am still developing.