Have you ever been in a formal setting and couldn't stop laughing?

Yes I do this all the time and I find it really embarassing when I get stern looks from people, but I just cant help it. Whenever I get nervous or something is really serious I just start laughing, I don't know why I do it but I know a lot of others do the same.

Not often ... but recently, when, someone, I thought was a gentleman ... invited me over, to discuss his family related problems, I went ... believing him to be in real need of solace and advice ... However, it turned out to be a meeting of the nefarious kind ... the really bad eggs of society ... and it dawned upon me that I had gotten myself into a very nasty situation ... by trusting the 'apparent' ... an apparent gentleman's looks, and words. You might call it a personal weakness, but I, always, unconditionally extend a helping hand to anyone in need ... if I can ... if, he, or she, or even an animal, is calling for help, in need, and I can help..I say, "there are things, that have to be done in life ... If these can be Done ... then these should be Done! "Anyway, the scoundrels discussed their "business" plans, as I sat there, withdrawn, waiting for the right moment, to ask their leave ... but sooner than that, it was time for Isha Night Prayers ...The scoundrels, asked the host the one, I thought was a gentleman to lead the prayers!

Imagine his stature, he must have been the top scoundrel, to be asked by the lesser to lead ...But I joined the prayers, believing correctly, that it was God I was praying to ... so I stood up in the second line of the Congregation, behind the head, and lesser scoundrels ... But soon as he began the litany ... doing so very seriously, as if what they were discussing a moment ago, was some holy stuff ... I could not hold my laughter ... and laughed out aloud ... then ran out of the congregation ... the hosts house, leaving them, as they stood Praying ... To whom, I cannot say.

My brother and I were singing a duet on Christmas Eve at our church when we were kids. S voice was beginning to change and he was nervous that his singing would be affected, and as a result he had bad gas. Of course, his voice wobbled up an down, missing the notes entirely.

That was ok, we kept going, then this odor surrounded us, it was awful. I started to chuckle, then the congregation started to chuckle at us trying to sing through the laughter. I was so embarrased at our complete FAIL until the following Sunday.To my mom's delight, 15 or so of the congragation wrote to the church about that night and how it was one of the most memorable and enjoyable services they had ever attended.

I think there is something within that seems to make us laugh at formal settings and inappropriate situations. I think some of the top places and situations include church services, weddings, funerals, ...generally places were it is taboo to laugh. I have found myself in those very situations, giggling, almost hysterically and the harder I tried to stop, the more bubbles came out of my nose.

I think it is a classic case of knowing you can't or shouldn't laugh, or, is it a defense mechanism to help us get through those uncomfortable situations?

Yea, I can't remember if it was a true story or my grandma was just joking around but everyone else took the story seriously. My grandma was talking about how she knew this guy who had died of obesity, but because he was so fat his family had to buy a piano case to place him in. Still he was too fat so they had to "remove" his legs so he could fit nicely in the piano case they bought for him burial.

The family decided to place the legs into a separate coffin. So at the viewing they had two coffins and two lines going to each coffin, one for his legs and the other for his upper body. Honestly, I could not stop laughing and my grandmother went on to talk about my "dark" sense of humor.

I ended up leaving the room.

I just cannot stop laughing if it gets started...many a times it happened and it really embarrassed me.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.