Chapter . Advance the Conversation: But the Video Went Viral!

1.1

You’re sitting at your desk when your roommate, Eliza, walks in the door and greets you: “How’s it going? Still working on your speech?”

You reply, “Yeah. I found this hilarious video that I want to use, but I’m not sure.”

“Can I see it?” Eliza asks.

“Sure. It’s here on YouTube.” The video features talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel, who challenged viewers to prank kids with terrible Christmas gifts and record their reactions. Among the prank gifts are a rotten banana, a half-eaten sandwich, and a battery. Without fail, every child is stunned and then melts into disappointment or an outright tantrum. Eliza watches quietly, laughing just a few times.

When the video ends, Eliza remarks, “I think it’s cruel how parents lied to their kids.”

“C’mon,” you say, “they were just teasing . . . the class will crack up when I show it. I have a heavy topic.” You tell Eliza the specific purpose of your speech—to convince the class to give money or time to a charity during the holidays. You believe the video will support a main point in your speech: the holidays are a time when many people think more about themselves than others.

Eliza responds, “That is a serious topic, but there’s got to be other ways to make your point. My dad used to pull practical jokes like that, and I hated it.”

Humor, thoughtfully integrated in speeches, can enhance speaker credibility and persuasiveness (Lynch, 2002). Comic relief can also motivate interest in a message. After reviewing decades of research related to humor and public speaking, Charles R. Gruner (1985) came up with the following suggestions:

• Small amounts of relevant and appropriate humor can lead an audience to see you as likable and trustworthy.
• Humor directed at yourself can enhance your image with the audience. Listeners appreciate speakers who are able to poke fun at themselves.
• Humor may be unnecessary when you have other interesting forms of support, such as suspenseful or engaging stories.
• Excessive humor or inappropriate humor (sick, racist, or sexist) may cause your message to be rejected. Don’t assume that others will share your sense of humor or see offensive humor as “just a joke.”
• Sarcastic or disparaging humor toward opposing views may annoy or offend your audience when you’re trying to persuade them. It’s more effective to make your case using well-reasoned claims.

Before you act, consider the facts of the situation, what you know about supporting materials, and the research on using humor in speeches. Also, reflect on what you’ve learned so far about composing a speech, including supporting your main points and keeping your listeners engaged.