Gerontology Humor

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Gerontology Humor

• by Don L. F. Nilsen and
• Alleen Pace Nilsen

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Two Perspectives on Aging
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• Fritz Coleman Pasadena Conference on Aging
• https//www.youtube.com/embed/LR2qZ0A8vic?rel0

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That was ThenThis is Now
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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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The Effects of AgingPeugeot Before and After
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Do you remember the Johnny Carson Show on
Television?

• The Great Flydini (Steve Martin on the Johnny
  Carson Show)
• http//rubytooth.com/link/45516

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An Old Tree
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Four More Old Trees
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Old Car and Old Tree
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Music for People Who have Been Around the Block

• Fifties and Sixties Jukebox Hits
• http//www.1959bhsmustangs.com/VideoJukebox.htm
• Lookin for my wallet and my car keys
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vpJDNsJEnWqk
• Mayo Clinic Music Recital
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vd_14wbmbM5Afeature
  related

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Senior Moments
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(No Transcript)
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An Old Person Returning to Work

• http//www.youtube.com/embed/qteu4ld_SCE?rel0

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Old Age and Death Are Serious Dilemmas

• The search for eternal life is a popular theme
  even in childrens books, e.g.
• Rick Riordans Percy and the Olympians
• J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter books
• Stephenie Meyers Twilight books

• Most religions promise an afterlife, a
  resurrection, or reincarnation.
• Think of all the stories about Heaven and Hell
  and about ghosts and the undead.
• Also what euphemisms do we use in place of old?

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But Most Importantly, We Make Jokes as a Way of
Coping
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• Geriatric Traffic Jam
• http//biggeekdad.com/2013/08/geriatric-traffic-ja
  m/

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Seniors in Life and Death
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(No Transcript)
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Did you ever have a little red wagon?

• http//www.youtube.com/embed/-1w48qPF5hc

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THE YOUNG DONT ALWAYS WIN

• A young college kid in a sports car whips into a
  parking lot and sees an older man trying to
  maneuver his car into the only space available.
  The college kid deftly slips his little car
  around the bulky Cadillac and into the space. He
  jumps out of his car and says,
• See what you can do it youre young and quick?

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• By now the older gentleman has his car in
  position to drive into the space, so he puts his
  Cadillac in gear and crunches forward to the
  sounds of breaking glass and metal. He climbs
  out of his newly parked car and says,
• See what you can do if youre old and rich!

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• Mary Maxwells Deadpan Prayerhttps//www.youtube
  .com/watch?vvPFCn3itBFEfeatureyoutu.be

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(No Transcript)
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General Douglas MacArthurs response to being
fired by President Truman was Old soldiers
never die, they just fade away.

• Old teachers never die they just lose their
  principles.
• Old athletes never die they just lose their
  supporters.
• Old robbers never die they just steal away.
• Old editors never quit they just write away.
• Old blondes never fade they just dye away.
• Old deans never die they just lose their
  faculties.

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Gerontological Paradox
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My Blackberrys not working

• http//www.flixxy.com/my-blackberry-is-not-working
  .htm

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In his 1988 Too Funny to Be President, Mo Udall
defended humor as necessary to the health of our
political discourse and our private lives. It

• Leavens the public dialogue.
• Invigorates the body politic.
• Uplifts the spirit.
• Brings a diverse society closer together.
• Helps individuals roll with the punches.
• Is an antidote to self-importance.

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Author Max Shulmans Rule

• Max Shulman, the author of The Lives of Doby
  Gillis and Barefoot Boy with Cheek, said that if
  he told a joke that made listeners say, Ah ha, I
  know someone like that, he would get a laugh.
• But if he told a joke that made listeners say,
  Oh no, thats me! he would not get a laugh.
• How does this work in relation to our own telling
  of old people jokes?

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John McCain called Leisure World Seizure
World.Steve Benson responded.
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Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v6oHBG3ABUJUsnsem
• Pam Petersons Memories Parody
• http//www.youtube.com/embed/HzSaoN2LdfU

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HUMOR AND THE AGING PROCESS

• Psychologist Lucille Nahemow suggests that humor
  is a vital part of the aging process, because it
  can change our perspectives.
• For example, there is a proverb that reads,
• An old maid who gets married becomes a young
  wife.

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ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

• The doctor of an 83-year-old woman says to her,
  There are some things not even modern medicine
  can cure. You know, I cant make you any
  younger.
• Who asked you to make me younger? she replied.
  I want you to make me older!

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STILL ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

• A doctor tells an 80-year-old man, Youre in
  excellent health youll live till youre 80!
• Im already 80, says the man.
• See, what did I tell you! exclaimed the doctor.

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The Political Advantages of Aging

• Reagan-Mondale Debate The Age Issue
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vLoPu1UIBkBc

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Light Switch in a Doctors Office

• One of the important features of humor is sudden
  insight.
• Does this work for you?

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(No Transcript)
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So have fun growing old!
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Bruce Jenner and Caitlyn Jenner
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The Generation Gapin I-Pad Use

• http//www.snotr.com/embed/8965

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• SEND IN THE CLOWNS! (Frank Sinatra, et. al.)
• http//www.yourememberthat.com/media/10939/Send_In
  _The_Clowns/.VBdREfnIY9Y