Article Directory :: Self-Improvement/Motivation Articles That's Funny! The Use of Humor In Persuasion Part Two By Rick Kirschner Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 18Jun2008 Word count: 434 Viewed: 338 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site So just how do we use our wits to keep our wits about us? How do we use humor in our communications in order to foster goodwill, camaraderie and common ground? How do we persuade with humor? For starters, be non-verbal! No, no, I don't mean don't say anything! Although there are people who, without saying a word, can make people laugh, and even change people's minds, because they're funny to watch. Just as there are people who provoke laughter in others by acting funny, looking funny, and sounding funny, regardless of what they say. But I'll say this about the way people look and sound. Nonverbal humor makes verbal humor funnier. And a nonverbal lack of humor can make verbal humor as flat as a pancake, flat as a board, as flat as a tropical ocean on a hot windless day when the sweat pouring from your skin is hot enough to make tea but you have no water to drink because someone convinced you that taking a walk under the cloud cover that is now gone would be great exercise, and you find yourself shouting to the heavens 'THIS IS A VACATION????? DEAR LORD, WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO DIE?????" and your anguished cry has no echo and falls flat and the silence makes the heat seem even hotter than had you said nothing at all. But I digress. The point I'm trying to make is that verbal humor, without nonverbal humor to support it, can be risky business, like writing that previous sentence. It was really funny when I was saying it, but you couldn't see me. I could. Trust me, it was VERY funny. But all you have are the words. In fact, one of the un-funniest things you can try to do with words is write about what is funny. It's painful! But the good news is, pain is funny. Keep laughing at me or with me and I'll explain in a moment. While there are inherently funny words, (newcular instead of nuclear, for example) you will find more funny in a facial expression, a playful voice tone, and an exaggerated gesture. And you can use words to create a funny picture, to imply an accent, or to demonstrate that you have plenty of attitude. Y'all need me to draw you a pitcher? Well, pitcher this. Cartoons ever make you laugh? Oh yes, they did. And how? Through the dishing out of incredible amounts of pain. And why did that make you laugh? The painful fact is, that...the rest of this sentence is in PART THREE! Dr. Rick Kirschner is the author of the 'INSIDER'S GUIDE TO THE ART OF PERSUASION: Use Your Influence To Change Your World,' now available, along with a blog, newsletter and free podcast, at http://TheArtofChange.com FREE! For a limited time, get a $49 audio program on Dealing With Difficult People absolutely free! Visit http://theartofchange.com/promo for details! EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here More articles by Rick Kirschner

Free Report! Ten Essential Secrets Of Article Marketing ... Grab Your Free Copy Now: We respect your privacy. Need Content? Regular Top Quality Content for your Blog, Ezine or Website ... Delivered Direct, For Free! Click For Details Arts & Entertainment Automotive Business - General Computers & Technology Finance & Investment Food & Drink Health & Fitness Home & Family Internet Marketing/Online Business Legal Pets & Animals Politics & Government Reference & Education Religion & Faith Self-Improvement/Motivation Social Sports & Recreation Travel & Leisure Writing & Speaking

More self-improvement articles:

• How To Change The Way You Think (Michael Griffiths)
  Our attitude towards life greatly affects the outcome of our actions. If we think positively, there's a huge chance we can breeze through life easier. Problems are not viewed as stumbling blocks, but rather as small tests of character and patience. Challenges are seen as ways to train one to be stronger and more appreciative of success. Attitude is everything.

• How to Choose a Men's Dress Shirt (Nelson Fountaine)
  Just like men's suits or any other piece of clothing, dress shirts need to fit correctly and be comfortable in order to stay on the good side of men's fashion. Taking several different elements into consideration when you choose a men's dress shirt will enable you to pick one that either helps or makes your entire outfit.

• Crystals - Crystal Healing For Integrating Body Mind And Spirit (Terrie Marie)
  One of the ways in which to re-align your energy is using crystals and minerals integrating all of your energy bodies, Aura and the Ethereal energy field. Choose crystals and minerals which resonate with you. As a reminder it is essential to cleanse all crystals and minerals before you begin any energy healing session.

• The 7 Myths of Life Purpose: What You Must Know to Align With Your Purpose (Roger Kenneth Marsh)
  Once you've found your passions, you've got to get your life pulling for them. Say no to old patterns & behaviors no longer part of the new you & say YES to those that are! This doesn't happen overnight. However, done consciously, it can happen relatively quickly. To help you align your life with your purpose/passions I'll dispel for you 7 of the most commonly believed MYTHS that can hold you back from fully realizing who you are.

• Attaining Spiritual Guidance Through Your Daily Aries Horoscope (Conrad Dane)
  Jordan Canon, International Spiritual Advisor, teaches people around the world to create the future they wish to experience by improving their relationships with spiritual guidance from detailed astrology and horoscope readings.

• Intuition and the Flow of Life - Part 1 of 2 (MJ Schwader)
  What causes the struggle in life? How do you get into the flow? How does intuition play a part in that? All of those questions are answered in this article on using your intuition to get into the flow of life. How do we follow our destiny and step into the current of ease and joy?

• How to Match Men's Shirts to the Suit (Nelson Fountaine)
  Men's suits are typically only found in a handful of different shades, but even with the limited color scheme, it can be quite difficult trying to match men's shirts to the suit if you don't know what elements are important and what you should be looking for.

• Intuition and the Flow of Life - Part 2 of 2 (MJ Schwader)
  What causes the struggle in life? How do you get into the flow? How does intuition play a part in that? All of those questions are answered in this article on using your intuition to get into the flow of life. How do we follow our destiny and step into the current of ease and joy?