A little humour here and there

Human behaviour is as intangible as intangible can be. A recent study in human behaviour found that virtuous people do not get jokes and are seen as prudish. ‘I once farted in an elevator. It was wrong on so many levels’ was one of the jokes included in this study.

There is no humour in heaven, was famously said by Mark Twain. The concept of heaven is that only virtuous people will ever make it to heaven. But virtuous people don’t get jokes. What is life without a little humour? If life without humour is insipid on earth, virtuous residents will make it dreary in heaven also. So forget the concept of heaven or forget the findings of such studies on human behaviour.

“No cheating,” the invigilator ordained. “If you cheat here, you will cheat on your partner also,” we were told. The boys smirked and the girls giggled. As the examination progressed, we got more lessons on morality. Anyone trying to play smart was reprimanded.

Soon, the dean of studies arrived. He wished us good luck. Before leaving he also told us not to cheat. But he was more pragmatic. “Don’t cheat. And if you cheat, don’t get caught,” was his advice.

One can prepare thoroughly but can’t predict a question paper. In one of my examinations, there was a question where we were asked to discuss ‘preventive genetics’. Another question was on the ‘benefits and harms of vegetarianism’. Most of us answered the question on vegetarianism with a little bit of science and a lot of philosophy. As far as preventive genetics was concerned, our utter lack of knowledge prevented us from writing anything, even philosophical, about it.

One of the examinees tried to interact with a friend sitting across from him. The incharge of the examination centre told him not to speak. Already frustrated, one of us loudly said, “How could we cheat? No one knows the answer. Not even the examiner.” A good amount of laughter followed. I request you not to ask about the result of this particular paper.

Once I happened to be in-charge of an examination centre. It was supplementary examination of graduation in mainstream medicine with only four candidates. The boys were doing well in the bedside practicals, but their poor scores in theory papers let them down time and again. With just four examinees busy writing, three hours is a long time. I remained busy on my laptop. This time, all of the boys passed with respectable scores. In times of 4G internet, Wikipedia is a good source of information, I learnt later on.

You can take your call, but I love humour. And a little cheating too.