I love to laugh at silly things like when Phebe introduces herself as "Phebe, like from Friends". I think laughter is a great cure to many different illnesses. There have been studies done that show how people who lead stressful lives live for a shorter time than those who have less stressful lives who lead happier, healthier, and longer lives. However I will say that there is a difference between comedy and happiness and what people feel about the two day to day.
When I am hanging out with friends and we are all talking and having fun I will tend to laugh for almost no reason at all because I am enjoying myself. I wouldn't necessarily file this laughter under comedy, but rather happiness. When I'm in a good or elated mood I find myself more giggly even at relatively unfunny things proving my outlook is more happy than comedic. Like how beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is comedy. On any given day the same exact thing could be comedy gold or a dull travesty depending on the mood of the beholder. So I say keep your spirits up and have a good and lighthearted outlook on things to live a longer, healthier life.
Perhaps this is why depression has an association in the minds of many with comedy: it's not that comedy causes depression, but depressed people seek it out perhaps. Toole is perhaps a good example of this.
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