“I am a member of a 50-piece wind ensemble. We have a break for cookies and coffee on practice nights, once a week. I have made homemade cookies for our break for more than 25 years.
In May, we have an outdoor concert. I have brought cookies each year for after our performance. This year one of the newer band members asked me if I had “rat poison” in them!
I was shocked and asked him to repeat what he said to make sure I heard correctly! His response, “It was just a joke.” I don’t understand this type of humor. I have continued to make cookies for the band, but I think about his comment each week.
Shall I continue to make cookies for our breaks in 2017? — Shocked on the West Coast”
Dear Shocked,
Yes, you shall continue to make cookies for your breaks in 2017.
This person was just trying to inject a little levity into the situation. If you knew him better I’m sure this joke might’ve hit the mark better. Instead, he chose to be a bit morbid with his humor and it caught you off guard. He is a newer member so he might be trying to interact with as many people as he can and make new friends.
He obviously doesn’t think you’re poisoning him and your reaction is a bit of an overreaction. “I don’t understand this type of humor” comes off as stuffy. People have different sense of humor. Some like dark humor, others like slapstick.
It was a small joke. Make some more cookies and move on.
John Kidde Writes 