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General => Science => Topic started by: xSilverPhinx on April 02, 2018, 12:41:27 AM

Title: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: xSilverPhinx on April 02, 2018, 12:41:27 AM


QuoteThe lab is sometimes a silly place — and perhaps it should be. A group that behaves in daft ways from time to time tends to be one that is positive, results-oriented and successful, says Michael Kerr, a business speaker in Canmore, Canada, who focuses on humour in the workplace. Jokes and pranks can serve as signs of a healthy workplace, and provide ways to foster trust and good communication among staff, Kerr says.

A 2012 meta-review of studies on humour in the workplace found that it is linked with strong employee performance, effective stress-coping mechanisms and sturdy group cohesiveness.

Continues here (Nature) (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-03802-4?utm_source=fbk_nnc&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=naturenews&sf185765573=1)

Yes, let's go to Camelot, even though it is a silly place. :grin:

I found this interesting article on jokes and humour in the laboratory environment, and decided to start another thread so as to not derail the Women in science and technology (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=15642.0) discussion.
Title: Re: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: Dave on April 02, 2018, 08:22:58 AM
Yup, I reckon humour and play is stimulating and creative at its best and, if safe, wholly appropriate for creative people in a creative environment!

I have often heard it said that there is an innocent but intense curiosity in children that is lost as the realities of the mundane world put a damper on it. Perhaps creative people never fully "grow up"?  A sense of humour is no barrier to genius:

https://youtu.be/xPwTephRqWI

Even Einstein had a dry sense of humour publicly, maybe more flippant privately.
Title: Re: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: xSilverPhinx on April 02, 2018, 01:09:39 PM
^ :lol: That's a good Stephan Hawking compilation, Dave!

High fives!

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fforgifs.com%2Fgallery%2Fd%2F251726-2%2FInflated-gloves-high-fives.gif&hash=220eafa5b260309d3464d912bd76968b8e2ad949)


Title: Re: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: Dave on April 02, 2018, 02:26:52 PM
Seems Hawkin was also well known for his "chairobatics",  spinning it round in corridors and "dancing" etc. Wiuld probably have done wheelies if it was capable!
Title: Re: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: xSilverPhinx on April 02, 2018, 02:42:36 PM
I think it's great that he had a sense of humour given his life must have not have been particularly easy.
Title: Re: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: Dave on June 20, 2018, 08:25:46 PM
Going through the list looking for a doevifuc subject I found this one and, quite suddenly, a memory popped into my mind.

Back when I had the cataract opp, lying there with my head in a saddle to keep it still, with a sedative that barely touched me, ferling the scalpel etc being poked into my eye (merely as a sense of pressure) etc. I could even hear the sll female staff cracking jokes and laughing.

When I mentioned this after the op was over the surgeon started to appologise. "No," was my response, "it's OK, had your voices been quiet and sombre I would have been anxious - your laughter and jokes told me that you were relaxed with the way things were going, so I was relaxed as well."
Title: Re: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: No one on June 20, 2018, 09:14:48 PM
Laughter is rampant in my workplace. Especially when the paychecks arrive.
Title: Re: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: Dave on June 20, 2018, 09:21:12 PM
Quote from: No one on June 20, 2018, 09:14:48 PM
Laughter is rampant in my workplace. Especially when the paychecks arrive.

Maniacal or sinister? Both?
Title: Re: Why laughter in the lab can help your science
Post by: Tom62 on June 21, 2018, 06:07:10 AM
Paychecks are an unknown phenomena here in Germany, but the salary statements here are made of union paper. You look at at and start to cry.