I am a secret Roast Master General.
I emotionally regulate by writing “roasts” when I am unable to cope.
I love to spread, well, love! It brings me joy to share a little kindness in the world. However, like every person, I can get frustrated with situations, people, and life. When I feel that rage, I write jokes. It is my form of emotional regulation.
Do I think I would ever stand up and roast people on a stage? Nonetheless, do I really think my social anxiety would let me tell jokes that are insulting by nature?!
No.
However, I am actually good at writing out roast material. I have a sense of humor that I appreciate. Often, I use it to cope with the world around me.
Whether I am telling a nurse that my clothing size is “four person tent,” or just trying to let off a little steam.
Yes, I really did say that Sunday night when I was asked. I needed scrubs to wear in the MRI. They didn’t offer butt-airing gowns for some reason.
I am really good at turning crappy moments into a laugh. Just for me!
Creating Jokes That Would Make Jeff Ross Blush Always Makes Me Smile.
I feel like you could ask any comedian and they would tell you the same thing:
Telling jokes is a form of positive mental health. It takes the power away from the words and allows you to make them your own!
That is exactly what I do. I take the horrible things I hear and make them my own. I collect all of the frustrations I have with the world and turn them on their head. Most importantly, I can roast the heck out of someone who is treating me poorly in private.
It allows me to present myself responsibly. I am not unnecessarily cruel, but I still stand my ground as needed.
I turned 41 yesterday. I don’t need to go out there and start telling people they are “dooty heads” because they ticked me off.
Writing roasts allows me that freedom.
TL;DR?
- Jokes are a form of emotional regulation.
- Jokes take harmful words and reframe them into something that can make you smile.
- Jokes are a form of coping when life is hard.
- Jokes are a positive way to take something bad and make it your own.
- Lastly, no one can hurt you if you’re right there making the room laugh before they can speak.
I believe Eminem said it best in 8 Mile during his rap battle. It starts with:
This man ain’t no mother-fuckin’ MC
I know everything he’s got to say against me
I am white, I am a fucking bum
I do live in a trailer with my mom
My boy future is an Uncle Tom
I do got a dumb friend named Cheddar Bob
Who shoots himself in the leg with his own gun
I did get jumped by all six of you chumps
And Wink did fuck my girl
I’m still standing here screaming “Fuck the Free World!”
He shared every single bad thing that could have been said about him. He took their power away by making them his words.
Then the final lines really speak volumes:
Fuck a beat, I’ll go A Capella.
Fuck a Papa Doc, fuck a clock, fuck a trailer, fuck everybody.
Fuck y’all if you doubt me.
I’m a piece of fuckin’ white trash, I say it proudly.
And fuck this battle, I don’t want to win, I’m outtie.
Here, tell these people something they don’t know about me.
ℹ️ These quotes are from IMDb
He made every insult his own. He made damn sure no one had anything negative they could throw at him. He owned it. He rewrote it to fit his narrative.
That is what comedy does for me, too.
Leave a Reply