Dave Barry On Getting A Laugh

By Doug White
Online Reporter

Dave Barry can induce belly-busting laughter but he also makes readers think.

Dave Barry

Poynter.org: In addition to being elected Class Clown by the Pleasantville High School class of 1965, were you also involved with the school newspaper? If so, were there any journalistic lessons learned during those years that have stayed with you and helped you in your professional career?

Barry: I did write an article for the Pleasantville High School newspaper, which I think was called The Panther. This article described, in what I thought were hilarious terms, an actual sporting event called Loadball, in which most of the male members of my senior class played an enormous chaotic game of football while impaired by beer (not that I IN ANY WAY approve of this). The main thing I learned from this is that even though you may find something to be funny, the authorities will not necessarily agree with you.

Poynter.org: In high school, many students take a shot at writing humor columns. Is humor something that "just comes naturally" or are there ways for writers to develop their funny bones?

Barry: I think you can develop as a writer, but if you don't have a knack for humor to begin with, you'll never be a good humor columnist. (Of course, I regularly get letters from readers who assure me that I'LL never be a good humor columnist.)

Poynter.org: You write laugh-out-loud commentaries that are both funny and thought- provoking. What should a humor columnists' first objective be: to make people think or make them fall out of their chairs giggling?

Barry:  Definitely the latter. I have no real interest in provoking thoughts, beyond getting a laugh.

Poynter.org: High school administrators and teachers are not exactly known for their appreciation of humor. What are some ways for students to write funny articles without resorting to scatological or offensive humor? Is it every OK to be offensive?

Barry: I think it can be OK, in the sense that just because somebody is offended doesn't mean that person is right. I mean, everything I write offends SOMEBODY, so to avoid being "offensive" I'd have to quit writing altogether. On the other hand, I think there are some things -- racism, for example (I mean real racism, as opposed to the racism detected everywhere by the hypersensitive PC Police) -- that are never acceptable. As for getting the administrators and teachers to cut you some slack: Hey, good luck with THAT.

Poynter.org: The first piece I ever published in high school was a "humorous" commentary titled, Help! I’ve Lost My Pants. It was about the importance of locking up your valuables while in gym class. I don't think anyone got past the headline. Do you remember what the first humor article you ever wrote was about? How did your peers react?

Barry: I guess it was the Loadball article. My peers thought it was great, of course, my peers engaged in Loadball.

Poynter.org: Who would win in a catfight: Britney or Christina?

Barry: Aretha Franklin would crush them both with one forearm.