so apparently laughter is “contagious” which sounds like something a scientist made up to explain why i giggle like an idiot every time someone else does. like my brain just gave up on independent thought and decided to follow the crowd. cool.
anyway.
i was watching this video where everyone was cracking up at something that wasn’t even funny and i found myself smiling. not because i got the joke but because their faces looked happy and my stupid monkey brain was like “oh we’re doing this now.” it’s like when you yawn because someone else yawned except instead of being tired i’m just… fake laughing at nothing.
apparently there are mirror neurons involved which sounds made up but whatever. these little brain gadgets just copy what they see other people doing. so when that guy at work does his weird snort laugh my neurons are over there taking notes like,write that down write that down. no wonder i feel exhausted after hanging out with people.
this explains so much honestly
thing is now i’m self conscious about it. like every time i laugh i’m wondering if it’s because something was actually funny or if my brain just saw someone else having a good time and decided to plagiarize their emotions. am i even enjoying myself or am i just emotionally shoplifting from everyone around me.
anyway now i know why comedy clubs work i guess. bunch of people in a room copying each other’s reactions until everyone thinks they’re having the time of their lives. feels like a pyramid scheme.