The Art of Incorporating Humor in Online Content

The Use of Humor in Content

Humor can be incorporated in two ways: within the body of the content or as a standalone piece.

Humor within the Body of the Content

Incorporating humor within the body of the content can be risky. Unless you possess a good sense of humor and strong writing skills, it's best to steer clear. Some readers may lack a sense of humor and could easily take offense at your jokes. Sarcasm, in particular, should be avoided as it can be misinterpreted as a personal attack.

Irony, where words are used to convey the opposite of their literal meaning, should also be avoided. Some readers may not recognize the irony and could misconstrue your words, leading to potential misunderstandings.

Standalone Humor

If you choose to use standalone humor, make sure to clearly separate it from your main content with a title like "Joke of the Day". However, tread carefully. Remember, your online content is accessible worldwide, and humor can be subjective across different cultures and individuals.

Guidelines for Using Humor

When using humor, there are certain things to avoid:

• Never target a specific group with your humor. What might be funny in a one-on-one situation could be offensive to others.
• Avoid vulgarity, especially the seven dirty words that George Carlin famously used in his comedy sketch. Adult jokes may be funny, but they are inappropriate for an online platform where the audience is diverse and uncontrollable.
• Avoid crude humor that lacks tact or refinement. Double entendres, words or phrases with a risqué secondary meaning, can also lead to trouble.

So, what kind of humor is acceptable? This largely depends on your judgement. A useful guideline is to imagine you're speaking to your local Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and want to tell a joke to lighten the mood. If your joke is appropriate for this setting, it's likely suitable for your online content.

The golden rule when selecting humor is: if you have any doubts, don't use it.