Dark humor is a staple of difficult conversations. Often, when students need to discuss or disclose something upsetting to one another, a grim joke accompanies the information to help it land more softly. Joking about one’s own trauma can be jarring, but it is a normal reaction. Joking about another’s, however, is less appropriate. While the war in Ukraine is jarring to everyone, posting jokes about the crisis is unproductive and inconsiderate.
Humor can be a great way to cope. In fact, Stanford psychologists found that joking about horrific events can significantly improve the well-being of those exposed to them. Making a lighthearted comment to a friend about something tragic may not always be the most tasteful option, but it can help both of you process the situation healthily.
If a private laughing moment is productive for understanding something worrying, that is a psychologically supported coping mechanism. The keyword, however, is private. The war in Ukraine is not touching the vast majority of Americans in any way besides the distant fear of consequences. Publicly coping with the brutal and harrowing events unfolding, especially online, where it could reach those who are genuinely touched by war, is inappropriate.
My advice? Stop posting. It’s that easy. Ukrainians are preparing Molotov cocktails in their homes, hiding in their subways, and learning how to fight because their lives depend on it. You can be stressed, but, living in a safe and comfortable America, your experience is most likely not comparable. Jokes about “Daddy Vladdy” may entertain you, but it is probably less amusing for those persecuted by Putin’s actions.
Some may think this is a soft approach, and it isn’t important. However, the Internet is vast and easily accessible. Who knows who might stumble across your tweet, post or video? Thousands of refugees are fleeing to neighboring countries. Some are even returning to Ukraine to help their loved ones and to fight for their home. Countries bordering Ukraine and Russia are coping with the influx of refugees in addition to their own fears that they might be next. Russian citizens are being thrown in jail for protesting. Hundreds of people are dying. Even those threatened by war in 2022 still likely check their phones. Who is to say your post won’t reach them?
It is deplorable to complicate and undermine the experiences of those consumed by war, especially from the safety of a country that has the freedom to ask “what if?” instead of “when?” about their worries. However, if you need more motivation, consider the consequences of your words. People are warned to watch what they post online or risk it coming back to hurt them in future opportunities from a young age, so this can be easy to cast aside as a familiar warning. However, a 2020 study revealed 67% of employers check social media when hiring, and over half (55%) have dismissed a candidate due to something found on social media.
A tasteless joke, especially about war and what Ukraine is now declaring as genocide, may not cast a favorable light on employers. The world is increasingly interconnected, and you have no way of knowing whose family or friends have been personally impacted, even far away in the United States.
Finally, it undermines the severity of what is going on. Joking about traumatic situations is productive psychologically when coping precisely because it lessens the intensity. Americans, however, need to understand the weight of what is occurring. As of the evening of Sunday, Feb. 27, Ukraine’s interior ministry said 352 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 1,684 have been wounded. This number does not include the number of Russian citizens killed. People are losing their homes and their lives, and when that is reduced to a joke, it desensitizes those lucky enough to remain uninvolved in the horrifying reality that is unfolding.
Turning to online platforms when something of weight occurs is only natural, especially in the digital era. However, if you are going to post, stick to distributing verified information or spreading awareness as to how people can help. Joking publicly about a tragedy others are enduring undermines their experience and may even threaten your own opportunities. Yes, the Ukraine-Russia War is upsetting, worrying and more. Joking about it publicly will only hurt.
Katie Millard is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Katie by tweeting her at @katie_millard11.
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