A Joker

Growing up days is always a challenge. There is pressure to excel in all areas where you are expected to put your hand in. Socially, it is the defining moment in any kid’s life as it basically labels him/her. It defines the social persona which the individual tends to abide by as the growth sprouts into adulthood and so on.

In our school days, joining a group is always the difficult part. In fact, it is the most challenge part for any child. Some kids tend to get through without any major problems. There are some who need a holding hand, while there are some who aren’t sure of what his/her role is in life. There is another category who, in a bid to seek approval, provide the role which is actually the most interesting aspect of any group – laughter.

Think about any group you have ever seen or been in. There is always the king and queen, the advisor to the king, few minions to the king and queen and there is a joker. The “job” of the joker is very simple – keep the humour levels up and the frustration levels down in the group. The joker is someone who always has to be quick witted, always someone who makes the queen laugh and cry tears of joy and always is the one who suffers the wrath of the king and his minions.

Time passes, people grow up, but the persona (king, queen, minions) remains intact within the mind and mannerisms of the people who once were a part of the group. There are a few who crash and burn but that’s a topic for another day. Similar to others, the joker persona sticks to the individual all the way into his golden years.

The tricky thing about the joker persona is the seriousness. No one really takes a joker seriously. Everything which he says is construed to be a joke even if it is a cry for help or a personal disclosure. People often share jokes cracked by the funny guy. However, when these jokes are actual reality, the joker’s life is put on full delay for the entire world to make fun of!

What I feel is that the joker persona is an extremely unfair one. Just think about it. A person who just tries his/her best at a social acceptance by cracking a lot of jokes will never be the one who would be taken seriously in any group he/she is part of. The persona is just some entertainer who would be enjoyed while it last and then be forgotten once the “show” is over.

Essentially the joker always walks alone. He/she has the most difficult “job” in the world. However, the caring aspect, the “feeling of a part of the group” aspect is never tagged to this character. It is always someone else who just flexes his way through anything that commands some care and love but never the joker. Jokes come and go. The moment you seem to be losing it, the interest in the persona reduces and the person just stops being important. So much so, that he/she is ignored altogether!

In my opinion, if there is a persona who is capable of really putting a smile to your face in times when you need this, this persona needs to be supported, cared for and maintained. I believe the jokers are the bravest people around as they are the ones who put a smile on your face, the ones who can laugh on themselves. It shouldn’t be assumed that being a joker is a complete waste of time. The jokers of the world do make it big. Personally I have seen them make big with the wit and charm which is their soul but they have gone through some terrible social rejection. In fact they still might be going through it. However they always face rejection with a small joke and a great big smile!