The Four Stages of Comedic Grief Embarrassment: For anyone to which it's happened, they'll be the first to tell you that getting caught making fun of somebody behind their back while you're doing it is never a good feeling. It's considerably worse when the person is a total stranger, and you're joke is quite a bit on the puerile side. So, there you are, debagged and radished with nothing to say for yourself because...I mean, that wasn't a very nice thing to say (even if it was funny). Shame: Contrary to what one may think, the shame isn't an extension of the initial burst of embarrassment. Rather it stems from the fact that having been caught in the act you chose to flee the scene rather than to, at the very least, be a fucking man about the whole thing. If you can't face ignominious defeat with some modicum of grace you've got some growing up to do mister! Sorrow: This stage usually sets in after about 24 hours, once the shame has faded. This is when you realize that a golden comedic moment was left flapping in the breeze by your incompetent hands. As long as you were busted you might as well have gone screaming across the line of good taste to build a monument of inappropriate behavior and actions. Get the story to end with you in the hospital and you're set! Sadly this was not the way for you. You, cowardly sot, headed for the hills never to return. Acceptance: This is the final stage and occurs when you realize that no matter how well you retell it, the story about how you were caught uttering the phase "...to ask him what it was like plowing Jennifer Love Hewitt." by Carson Daily is only really funny if you were there.
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