Since I started this blog a couple years ago and began transforming it into my own personal stage for entertaining anyone who happened to drop by my nest, I’ve received a number of comments from my readers noting that I’ve somehow managed to give them a good laugh (other than the reaction to my hideous fourth grade artwork). Now I’m not going to pretend I didn’t already know I have a knack for inciting chuckles… but there are times when I just quietly shake my head and admit to myself “Aw, I’m not THAT funny.”
Frankly, I don’t find you to be the least bit funny!
This past week, for example, I got more than my fair share of overly generous compliments on my sense of humor… and even one very nice email from one of my readers. I must be doing something right… after all, these replies are left mostly by long-time followers of my blog who could just as easily sneak off and read something much more interesting if they didn’t really enjoy my posts here. So why in the hell am I so funny, and why is it I refuse to believe my comedic skills are really that polished?
Too many paint chips as a kid.
I think the main reason I can be so funny in almost any endeavor I put my little rodent mind to is the fact that I really don’t take anything very seriously… and first and foremost would be myself.
I still wouldn’t dance around in my skivvies, though…
I am one of the most self-depreciating people you will ever come across. Those who have read a lot of my blog posts probably already know that… I can be just as “brutal” mocking myself as I am the subject I am posting about. And I put brutal in quotes because my humor is never meant to be mean or cutting, it’s always very unserious and in the spirit of fun.
Maiming possums is always good for a lighthearted laugh.
There has been so much talk in my lifetime about the importance of self esteem, and how we need to have everyone so overbrimming with self esteem that they are vomiting rainbows and pissing sunshine over themselves. It’s certainly healthy to feel good about yourself, but when that self esteem isn’t balanced out with an equal dose of self depreciation, the result is usually someone who is a real asshole. Some of the most insufferable people I’ve known are that way because they have such a thick wall of self esteem built around their egos that not even Miley Cyrus’ wrecking ball can knock down. And the generation who was taught they needed to love themselves unconditionally and never let anyone put them down has graduated from being bratty little insufferable kids to bratty little insufferable adults.
Nyah nyah! Your shit stinks and mine doesn’t!
A person who is not willing to recognize and appreciate their faults is living in a fantasyland of self perfection, and it’s only a matter of time before the timer hits zero and shakes up their perfect little world…
See what I did there?
It is impossible to constructively criticize someone who believes they can do no wrong. Even violating the basic laws of biology is perfectly OK for our self esteem junkies…
I told ya! It doesn’t stink!
These people all have no sense of humor at all. Oh sure, they might think they’re funny when they talk about how everyone else just isn’t as prefect perfect as they are, but don’t you dare try to make a joke about them unless you are prepared for the Medusa glare. You can’t truly be funny if you are unwilling to laugh at yourself.
Rainbow Donkey is laughing at himself on the inside.
And so while I take aim at retro ads, pop culture, common views, and even other bloggers… I sprinkle in a hefty dose of shots at myself as well. Sometimes my self-shots are so harsh that I’ll get comments that I’m being too hard on myself. There are certainly people who would write such things about themselves for whom that observation would be true… but the most important thing to note when listening to or reading someone else’s words is the mindset of that content’s originator. You can rest assured my brain is always set to “completely not serious” when I am verbally ejaculating (shoutout to Becca!) on this blog…
Which is better than my brain being set to Yahoo Serious.
And so all of my faithful readers can rest assured that I will continue to check my ego at the door, and not take myself or anything else very seriously whenever I pick up the reigns to The Nest… and that will somehow translate into me accidentally being as funny as hell for your future enjoyment. It is my pledge to you, my dear readers, and you certainly deserve it for having to put up with my lame ass for so long now.
TWO! FOUR! SIX! EIGHT! Who do we SELF-DEPRECIATE?
What I like most about your blog is your unsinkable willingness to say whatever the fuck you think. You have an opinion and you put it right out there, regardless of who might agree or disagree with you. I think that goes hand in hand with one’s ability to be honest with one’s self, and not take one’s self too seriously. The icing on the cake is that you often have a hilarious way of putting things. Your mix of honesty and comedy is what keeps your readers coming back for more. I think you were the first person to follow my blog, and I’m glad of that, because that lead me to your blog. I’m glad I didn’t miss it.
The unsinkable Evil Squirrel says whatever the fuck he thinks! That might make a great tagline!
Thank you! I am honest to a fault, and love that trait in others. I am not a fan of phonies…
I’m not a fan of phonies either. While I try not to be rude about it, I tend to say what I think.
You are hilarious…maybe flea ridden, but hilarious….
Awwww, would you scratch my back for me?
Anytime! 😉
I like the way you see the world… and your way to look behind the scenes …specially when it comes to vintage ads :o)
I don’t think the world was meant to be looked at with a straight view…. and certainly not those old commercials! I need to start thinking of what ad I’m going to roast tomorrow….
I love your perspective, your attention to details and of course, twisted and hilarious sense humor. Plus you are, after all, my Robot Chicken Buddy now. I can’t leave you in that world alone.
I’m still going on binges of checking out classic RC skits! Considering it has all three of those qualities you mentioned, it’s no wonder we both enjoy it!
A squirrel, a possum and a vampire walked into a bar…
You can have the honor of saying “I make vampires laugh out loud.”
Great post on so many levels.
LOL! I may need to turn that into a badge!
I’m sorry, were you talking? 😉 Honestly, I’m just partial to squirrels and the idea of an evil squirrel is highly appealing. LOL! Nah, I think you’re funny as fuck and you don’t have any problem saying what you think. I respect that.
Hey, nothing wrong with just the first part of that! Anyone who’s partial to squirrels has to be the perfect person!
When I grow up, I want to be as un-perfect as you. Thanks for the laughs.
LOL, I would have to grow up first… and I hope that never happens!
Rainbow Donkey is so purdy…nice shoes!
I agree that the ability to make fun of one’s foilables is a prime quality. It works prefectly ;o) as a pre-emptive strike and leaves the douchepickle speechless cuz you can ask, “what were you gonna say?”, and respond, “Well, duh.” to whatever it says.
I love your humor and honesty and will keep coming back for more.
LOL at douchepickle! “Douche” is one of the best prefixes ever, and I think that’s the first time I heard it attached to pickle before!
Disarming douchepickles is so rewarding!
You let everybody along for the ride, and we have fun. That’s good enough, ESN.
Yep… and I have no “You have to be THIS tall to ride the ride” signs either… we squirrels take those height requirements a bit personally anyway….
“Vomiting rainbows”…NICE! 🙂
Such a pleasant visual!
It’s just fun … and your artwork is better than you think!
So they say. When I get a squirrel into The Louvre, I’ll believe it!
your astute, insightful observations have a depth of compassion for hoomuns that shows through no matter how much you might be ‘canning” them. Is “can” a euphemism in the USA for dunny?
If it is I am funny too. If not I shall redeem myself by pointing out your artwork and comics are a treat.
Aunt Sharon. 😀
LOL! I had to look up what a dunny was! Yes, we do sometimes call our dunnies cans!
And regardless of the dunny humor, you are funny too! It is very hard for creative people to be creative if they take the world around them too seriously. An unfunny person could never come up with zombie bunnies or Sponkies!
😀
What have you done to poor Rainbow Donkey 😦 I hope he recovers in time for the next comic!
I…. er, Erin actually did that to him a year and a half ago. At least he isn’t getting squished…
I laugh at myself as much, if not more than, other people.
If you can’t laugh at yourself, you have no right to laugh at others….