Sixth sense of humour

I am not totally convinced that people value sense of humour in the way they advertise.
Let me explain.
How many times have we heard that people say they admire in others a sense of humour?
But what is it they admire? Perhaps a reflection of their own sense of humour? What if that is poorly developed?

Somebody who takes chances and pushes the envelope by adopting a personal style by definition produces a sense of humour that will not be such a mirror.
Indeed without surprise, humour is nothing. That's the point.

And this is a sense we are talking about, right?
This is not the sort of quality easily mimicked by relating someone else's joke, forwarding a text, duplicating a tweet, is it?
This is a sense.
A sense.
It's not sight or hearing. It's not taste or smell but it's certainly not a forwarded e-mail.
It has to be more than that.
But many people shy away from the dangerous potential of individuality. No two people share exactly the same sense of humour but if you admire it in others you must at least have that quality that means you are not frightened by new.
So I ask you again, is the trait you think you value in others really a sense of humour? It's okay if it isn't. I just want to be clear.

Do we all really share this so well-advertised common desire?
When you see a gang of hoodies gathering (in their hoods), do you think they are exchanging gentle observations on why a triple chocolate cookie does not contain three times as much chocolate as an ordinary chocolate chip cookie?
Do you think they're trading nuances in the delicate exercise of their personal sense of humour, their sixth sense?
Why not? It's free? Humour comes from the streets, from hardship. It is found at its best almost everywhere in Britain, apart from Liverpool.

Or do you think that the hoodies are taking drugs, preparing to fight and if they're laughing at all, laughing at the successful bullying of their next victim.
And this is my point.
The very people born into damage and propelling themselves into further destruction need this resource most of all.
A sense of humour failure is a phrase that was being bandied around in the recent past, but perhaps it should be a diagnosis. And one with a terrible prognosis.

Because without a maturing sense of humour, you cannot prosper.
Without a genuine delight in humour, you simply cannot survive this world. I don't mean survive it well. I mean survive at all.

The only way to avoid adversity dragging you down is, after a suitable period of grief, reflection or general adjustment to the potholes of life, is to laugh at it.
This isn't just a quality to display on a first date.
It's an evolving display of humanity's most primal instinct to survive and prosper.

Those to whom it does not come naturally should put away their Gavin and Stacey videos and give this some thought.