It Is More Human to Laugh at Life Than to Lament It

[DISCLAIMER]

I’ve paid close attention to the 2026 Iran war (also euphemistically referred to as an operation, hostilities, conflict, etc.) which was started by the United States (U.S.) and Israel—specifically, U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister [PM] of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu.

In particular, I’ve observed quite a bit of propaganda (ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause). Much of what I’ve seen appears to have been generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

This influx of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation makes determining truth about reality unnecessarily difficult. For context, contemplate the term “misinformation” as mistaken facts and the term “disinformation” as deliberately dishonest or misrepresented facts.

As for the Orwellian term “malinformation,” think of it as perhaps valid and reliable information of fact that is disseminated for malicious intent. To provide an example of these various forms of information, I invite you to consider that one source states:

In recent weeks, the Explosive News Lego videos have become inescapable artifacts of an international conflict that was already generating barrages of digital content. The clips have accumulated millions of views and many enthusiastic comments from Western audiences.

They have been re-shared by Iranian-government accounts, promoted by Russian state media, and co-opted by No Kings protesters for their flamboyant anti-Trump imagery. The political messaging on display in the videos is as blunt and cartoonish as the blocky Lego characters.

Lego Iranians [Persians] celebrate missiles flying toward Tel Aviv as an A.I.-generated rap soundtrack plays. (The song is “L.O.S.E.R”; “Taste the ash of defeat,” it goes.) A Lego grave reads “R.I.P. Donald John Trump.” A missile-struck White House lights up in flames.

The videos express a crude solidarity with victims of U.S. aggression, past and present; in one clip, Lego missiles bear messages in English commemorating everyone from Native Americans to Vietnamese villagers and “stolen blacks.” “ONE VENGEANCE FOR ALL,” text declares in all caps.

While I shared the link to the “L.O.S.E.R” rap track, which in my opinion is a banger, I’m not fond of spreading propaganda—even if the content of the pro-Iranian song represents malinformation (i.e., truthful data). Now, I invite you to consider that another source states:

[A] Lego version of Trump is seen chomping on a cheeseburger while talking to Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone. Then, as rap music builds, a distraught Lego Trump watches a parade of caskets draped in the American flag while the lyrics “the slaughterhouse is open” play out.

The video ends on a stark black screen with a message warning that America’s ‘grave mistake of attacking’ Iran will be judged badly by history, followed by the deliberately broken English line: ‘No Thanks You For Your Attention to This Matter.’ Trump usually signs off his social media messages with “Thank you for your attention to the matter”.

This video accused Trump of launching the war to distract Americans from the scandal around his association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It used the word ‘loser’ liberally for Trump, as does the latest one [video].

Even though the pro-Iranian song and video depict my fellow U.S. military brothers and sisters dying in combat, I laughed at the illustration of Lego personnel battling one another. What else could I do? Addressing this controversial perspective, I now turn to a book that I’ve bee reading.  

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

For clarity, REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).

The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

When watching animated malinformation of Iranians slaughtering U.S. and Israeli troops which perhaps illegally and unconstitutionally invaded Persian land, I recognize how little control I have in life (ULA) and over others (UOA), as I control only my reaction to such events (USA).

What else could I do, other than unhelpfully engage in lamentation (an expression of sorrow, mourning, or regret: an act or instance of lamenting—the act of mourning aloud)? Regarding this Stoic consideration, authors of The Daily Stoic quote philosopher Seneca who stated (page 262):

Heraclitus would shed tears whenever he went out in public—Democritus laughed. One saw the whole as a parade of miseries, the other of follies. And so, we should take a lighter view of things and bear them with an easy spirit, for it is more human to laugh at life than to lament it.

I could shed tears during a parade of miseries, as my involuntarily-extracted tax dollars are used to engage in war abroad. However, I laughed at follies which were represented in “L.O.S.E.R”. What else could I do? Of Seneca’s healthy view, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 262):

Is this observation the origin of that famous expression about frustrating news: “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry?” The Stoics saw little purpose in getting angry or sad about things that are indifferent to our feelings. Especially when those feelings end up making us feel worse.

Using the ABC model of REBT, I recognize that undesirable Activating events occur, individuals use unhelpful Beliefs, and then people experience unpleasant Consequences—which the authors use misinformation to describe how “feelings end up making us feel worse.”

Nevertheless, the authors correctly state, “It’s also another bit of evidence that the Stoics were hardly some depressing, bitter group of old men. Even when things were really bad, when the world made them want to weep in despair or rage, they chose to laugh about it” (page 262).

I can’t control or influence matters relating to the war in Iran (and elsewhere, as Israel appears to be intent on taking over the entire Middle East). Thus, it’s more human to laugh at life than to lament it. Of this accommodating view, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 262):

Like Democritus, we can make that same choice. There is more humor than hate to be found in just about every situation. And at least humor is productive—making things less heavy, not more so.

I appreciate the gallows humor depicted in “L.O.S.E.R”. Even though many people have already died during this war, as many more are likely to pass away before it ends, what else could I do—other than to self-distress or self-disturb about matters which I cannot change? Thus, I laugh.

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 the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues 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

Photo credit (edited), Designed by Freepik, fair use

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