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Comment by aatd86 | Hacker News Reader

Lol, now you can't even be funny in peace... If you're too funny, you might be diagnosed as depressed... smh.

Tough crowd. :p

Professional comedians are…. Well known to have issues. It’s not a type of direction someone takes if they’re able to get what they need from a normal life.

Just being funny != being a professional comedian.

I wonder how comedians compare to other performers, though. There are plenty of stories of musicians with problems, for instance.

I suspect it's a similar dynamic at play.

What about someone who starts acting classes as a kid and naturally turns toward comedy?

Then again I understand that being compelled to trigger something in someone all the time (laughter) can be pretty demanding. That's also an internal work of the mind and how to deal with one's thoughts and emotions, it doesn't have to be so stressful.

It's not just demanding, it's pretty anxiety inducing as the comedian has no direct control over if the audience will find it funny or not! It's basically the opposite of Stoicism, for instance. Their happiness/success depends on being able to make other people happy/laugh, which... yikes.

Do you have any examples of anyone who has done so long term?

Looking at the list of professional comedians, I'm not seeing any obvious examples.

Stand up comedians have pretty long careers.

A few do. Like actors and musicians. It’s a pretty short list in each field, and a lot of new talent start each year.

I’m not sure how much of that is network effects or what, if they did find a good way to balance it out long term?

When their private lives get exposed, it never seems like there was a good thing going there - but honestly, most people are pretty fucked up anyway, and if it bleeds it leads?

And who cares if someone is a cult headliner or part of a sex cult if they are sufficiently entertaining I guess?

Arent most people who chose to be in the public eye messed up?

Comedians do a job that allows for more exposure of it.

The broader brushes plausably cover the data for me.

The way I understand it is that humor is a defense mechanism. And it's notable that the people who get drawn to or perfect their humor until it becomes an art or profession might have a higher incidence of depression or other disorders. Perhaps because they found humor earlier and/or used it more during childhood.

Yeah, sad is a loaded word too.

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