Is it natural for a person to laugh when two adults are screaming at each other in the next room?
Let’s start off with my age. I am currently thirteen as of February 2. I live in a house with seven people including: my three cousins (ages 3,5,6) my brother, my mother, my uncle, and my dad. My uncle’s ex-wife got back together with him as of late. His ex-wife isn’t the best person to be with. She is very bossy and acts like she is the law of the land. She’s always screaming at my cousins because they forget to do this… or they hesitate for a second… or SOMETHING. It’s very annoying. She yells at my uncle for not doing as she says.
My uncle was doing the laundry today and asked her a simple question: “Which ones are school clothes?”
She went on a whole rant on how he doesn’t ‘participate’ in the house and blah blah blah. He screamed at her saying “I AM NOT YOUR SLAVE!!!” she started throwing his stuff out of the house because he was walking away. He started screaming at her again saying that he thought they agreed if they ever got in another argument, they should just walk away. He was doing just that, and she was screaming at him for it. It escalated from there, but there were no fists thrown or anything like that, my uncle has self control, mind you.
I was laughing in my room the whole time. Siding with my uncle on this. He went on a whole rant on how their definitions of ‘participation’ were obviously different. I found it amusing, and I’m wondering why.
Any answers will help in my lifelong quest for knowledge.
-BBawlight
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17 Answers
Is it natural to laugh in a situation like this? Probably not, as it is an intense emotional scenario. The couple’s words can have a long-term impact on their children. Are there those that will laugh? Yes. Sometimes it is an emotional reaction to a stressful situation. Another, and it sounds like this might be your case, is that you are able to step away from the anger being displayed and look at the bigger picture. The topic of the argument is just plain silly.
Yes, it’s natural. You get to see idiocy right in front of you.
No. The natural response is to enkindle your internal flames of unadulterated rage, your mind releasing muffled curses and screams telling them to ”Shut the fucking hell up, you degenerate abominations!”
It’s not an unusual reaction to a high-stress situation that you can’t control. Yes, it’s natural.
Nervous laughter is very common.
PS: You write well for your she. Welcome to Fluther.
I’m not sure if it’s necessarily normal but some arguments between couples can get pretty darn petty, ridiculous and nonsensical. This may have been one of those. It’s really hard to say without having been there.
The fact that a feeling a reaction is natural or not is neither here nor there.
If you are asking if it makes you kind of evil no it doesn’t.
I think you were probably laughing because your uncle was setting her straight, as he was being the civil one of the two. And you were happy about that. If it were the reverse you probably wouldn’t have found it funny.
I am sorry you are going through this. Clearly there is a lot of stress in the house. One family is going through some hard times and it is spreading to another. Hopefully that will be temporary.
In the meantime, you can help by recognizing this as a chance to learn and grow. Be a helper. Do your homework. Clean your own mess. Don’t act out or be a pain. Be the best you can be.
Breathe… and take care of the things under your control. All of you will get through this.
I wish you well.
Like @LuckyGuy I send my commiseration that you have to witness such a chaotic home environment. I’m thankful it isn’t your mom and dad locking horns. To answer your question, no; it’s not the least strange to laugh out loud when adults behave in an utterly ridiculous, petty fashion. Just don’t ever let the war-horse aunt hear you giggling.
What’s your alternatives? I’d say laughter is ok.
Yes, sorry for the stressful situation, but, I agree, IMO, your laughter is proff of your sanity. Nothing like witnessing childish lunacy to bring out the laughter, albeit it is a sad and dysfunctional scene, still…congratulations, you’re still sane kiddo. Hang in there. ;-)
It’s not unusual to laugh in a situation like this, whether it’s nervous laughter from a high-stress situation or because you think the argument is just stupid.
I would laugh, but I also laugh when I see people get hurt, so I don’t know if I’m the best comparison.
I’m not sure if laughter is the right reaction. The whole situation is ridiculous .. but not in a funny way .. really pretty sad.
I would be careful .. if they see you laughing, you might become their next target.
I’m not sure how you react to other stressful situations… nervous laughter might just be the way you “deal” with them.
Honestly, I would talk to you mother and father about this. It seems like a bad environment for kids in general. Maybe they could help you deal with it in a way that might help you cope. It’s really anything but funny.
Well, she flew so far of the handle it is kind of funny in a ridiculous sort of way.
Sometimes things are so absurd and ridiculous (grown-ups acting like spoiled children), that all you can do is laugh. I’d stay out of her way. You might want to tell your parents how you feel, and what your reactions are to all this nonsense. Just realize that you are not the problem.
It’s called nervous laughter people do this when they are in a stressful uncomfortable situations, it’s a way of shifting the real underlying feeling and situation along and out of the way.
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