A while ago, I was talking to a woman about the world, and I said that
there is too much irreverence in it... People do not take things seriously
enough these days.
  Her response was "There's too much seriousness, and not enough
lightheartedness."
  Here is seen the difference of opinion that's so common of people with
different opinions. Each side has a view, and in this case, they were
complete opposites.
  What motivates each side? People love to laugh. It makes them feel good. It
makes them feel happier. It helps them to forget about sad things. Many
people actively try to laugh and be funny whenever possible; They see this as
a life attitude.
  I, too, used to be this way. I used to try to laugh at everything, no
matter what it was. I figured if you were always happy, you could never be
sad. Nothing could bring you down.
  As has been the case so often throughout my life, I was wrong. I learned
the hard way that there are some things you cannot laugh at. No matter how
hard you try to laugh at everything, there will come a time when you can
laugh no more, when trying to deal with things by laughing them off is no
longer an effective tactic.
  But many people still think it is the best way to deal with sadness. Why
dwell on it? Just shrug it off, look on the bright side, smile, laugh. How
easy. How much better it feels. And also, how ineffective it is. For
happiness breeds complacence. When you feel happy and full of laughter, you
feel like the world is a great place. You feel that everything is good. You
feel like even if there are some things wrong, they can be laughed off rather
than dealt with.
  Little wonder that there are so many problems in the world today being
ignored. People look and laugh. It's so much easier than trying to change
things.
  I believe that acknowledging a problem is the first step to dealing with
it. I believe in calling something for what it is. If something bad happens,
I will not try to look on the bright side. I will call it bad. Only when you
feel something is wrong will you be motivated to change it.
  I have a sense of humor. I laugh sometimes. I even make jokes sometimes.
But this is not my goal in life. And if I see something wrong, I believe in
calling attention to it, rather than looking away. Otherwise, how will it
ever get better?
  There is a time to be funny, and a time to be serious. Each has a place in
life. Each is appropriate for certain situations. When everything is
wonderful, then is the time to laugh and be merry. When everything is wrong,
then is the time to wise up and take action.
  So is there too much seriousness in the world, or too much irreverence? I
don't know. I still say people tend to laugh things off too much, rather than
realizing the seriousness of serious things. In the end, everyone must make
their own decision. Just remember that the next time life serves you a lemon,
laughing does not make lemonade (to mix metaphors a bit).