Knowing when humor fits
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Later, a volunteer described losing several days of paid work because the installation date had changed. A joking reply struck the group as callous because it ignored the seriousness of her situation. The coordinator asked for less flippancy while they discussed the problem. There would be room for levity later, when everyone could share the humor without feeling that a genuine concern was being brushed aside.
The director apologized for the callous remark and helped arrange a shift that the volunteer could attend. The conversation then became easier. A small joke about the group's collection of mismatched ladders introduced welcome levity. Unlike the earlier flippancy, this humor did not trivialize anyone's difficulty. It gave the volunteers a moment of relief after they had addressed the practical issue.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.