Gallows Humor: Nihilist Penguin

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Photo credit (edited), fair use

Admittedly, I enjoy gallows humor (a style of comedy which makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are typically considered serious or painful to discuss, aiming to influence discomfort, serious thought, and amusement for their audience).

Since having begun the informal practice of life coaching in 1991, beginning formal practice of psychotherapy in 2011, I’ve come to realize that many professionals within the field of mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) don’t share my style of humor.

Too bad! I find use of humor an invaluable tool when providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)—a psychotherapeutic modality that serves as a form of self-help through use of the ABC model and unconditional acceptance (UA).

Unfavorably, some professional mental health practitioners appear to irrationally believe that joking about homicide (a killing of one human being by another) and suicide (the act or an instance of ending one's own life voluntarily and intentionally) is unacceptable. I disagree.

I’ve even heard some professionals within the mental health field irrationally (not in accordance with both logic and reason) argue that dark humor causes the outcome of nihilism (the belief that existence is without meaning or value). I’ve seen no credible evidence to support this claim.

Nevertheless, I grant that black comedy may correlate with nihilism. For clarity, correlation demonstrates how two variables can indirectly co-occur (i.e., an association), while causation implies that one variable is directly responsible for a change in the other (i.e., an origin).

Now, consider that one source states, “Nihilism is a family of philosophical views arguing that life is meaningless, that moral values are baseless, or that knowledge is impossible. Thus, such views reject the basis of certain ideas.” One who advocates nihilism is generally called a nihilist.

While I may grant the nihilist perspective regarding the meaninglessness of life and subjectivity of morality, I fundamentally disagree with the proposition that “knowledge is impossible.” Although many (if not most) topics are ultimately unknowable, not all knowledge is impossible.

In any event, as it pertains to the current blogpost, I can comprehend the view of existential nihilism. Concerning this topic, one source states, “Existential nihilism is the philosophical theory that life has no objective meaning or purpose.” This is a core tenet of existentialism.

Of note, I said in Existentialism, “Through practice of [REBT], I invite people to consider the limits of their existence – the fact that one day they will die. In consideration of this inevitability, I encourage them to consider what they may do to lead a purpose-driven and meaningful life until then.”

Suppose an individual adheres to the principles of existential nihilism. Maybe one is told by other mental health professionals that bleak comedy about death—regardless of whether or not it involves homicide or suicide—is morally reprehensible. Yet, one rejects the claim of immorality.

This person likely acknowledges the inescapable nature of suffering (the experience of pain or acute distress, either physical or psychological, in response to a physical trauma or a significant event, particularly one that is threatening or involves loss [e.g., the death of a loved one]).

The individual thus dismisses the claim based on morals (of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior) when joking about life’s unavoidable oblivion (the state of being destroyed). Rather than self-disturbing about this perspective, the person adopts an existential outlook.

Using this approach, one finds purpose (the aim or goal of a person) in suffering by empowering oneself to create one’s own meaning (implication of a hidden or special significance), thus transforming pain into an opportunity for growth, authenticity, and resilience.

In this way, instead of viewing suffering as entirely negative, the existentially nihilistic person healthily believes that one can choose a constructive attitude regarding the inevitable oblivion of death. After all, each and every living being will inescapably die at some point in one’s lifetime.

When serving in the United States Marine Corps (1996-2007), I learned of a morbid humor quote in this regard. For context, one source states:

In June 1918, as Marines swept across the wheat fields of Belleau Wood during World War I, Dan Daly added another piece to his legend. Serving as a first sergeant with the 73rd Machine Gun Company, he urged his men forward with the immortal words, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” These words were related by journalist Floyd Gibbons of the Chicago Tribune. In a statement in 1931, however, Dan Daly denied the Gibbons’ account.

All throughout my military service, when faced with unpleasant circumstances, I heard the Daly quote evoked. For instance, when the military police with whom I served placed our lives in danger (e.g., clearing buildings for potential bombs), Daly’s words served a humorous purpose.

I wonder how many of my fellow mental health field colleagues would deign to place their lives in danger while having the existential nihilist resilience to mock death. When further contemplating this matter, I’m reminded of a meme about which one source states:

Penguin Walking Toward Mountain or Nihilist Penguin, also known as Lonely Penguin, Wandering Penguin, Nietzschean Penguin or Werner Herzog’s Deranged Penguin, refers to a viral video originally from the 2007 Antarctica nature documentary Encounters at the End of the World by filmmaker Werner Herzog, which features a lone penguin disoriented and heading toward the interior of the Antarctic continent to its certain death. The clip initially garnered attention online as early as 2010, spreading over the following years. […]

In the scene, which takes place roughly an hour and 13 minutes into the film, Herzog narrates a segment about penguin insanity. He asks a silent ecologist if penguins ever experience mental instability. The documentary then shows a penguin that refuses to enter the water, instead turning toward the center of the continent (a 5,000-KM or 3,107-mile march to certain death). Herzog’s narration famously states:

“But he would not … he is heading towards the mountains. But why? … He will head towards the interior of the vast continent, with 5,000 kilometers ahead of him, and he’s heading towards certain death.”

In this impermanent and uncertain life, fallible human beings have exceedingly limited guarantees. One thing you can count on, you sons of bitches, is that all of us are “heading towards certain death.” It’s only a matter of time before that unavoidable outcome occurs!

As such, I like the gallows humor meme of the brave penguin heading in the direction of treacherous mountains. Delude yourself all you’d like, though you’re headed in the same direction! Personally, living forever (in this life or hereafter) sounds like a bore.

I’d rather assign purpose while finding meaning to my limited time alive, which is rife with suffering, until drawing closer to a proverbial mountain range and further away from the waddle, raft, or colony (i.e., group of penguins in various capacities). Besides, each of us is going to die.

Why not make jokes about this inevitability while valuing purpose and meaning until that outcome? This is the practice of UA. And if any of my professional peers self-disturb with unhelpful beliefs regarding my healthy perspective, then too bad! I don’t want to live forever!

Even if I did, I can’t possibly achieve that end in my human form. Neither can you! Therefore, I invite you to contemplate the psychoeducational lesson of the supposed nihilist penguin that chose the path less traveled by. Perhaps that choice could make the difference of a lifetime.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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