Editorial: Laughing all the way to the bank

 

Independent Voices
Sunday 16 June 2013 14:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

It must be a sign of how serious, stressed-out and generally po-faced we have become as a society that more and more people are ready to part with their cash in order to enjoy a good giggle.

As we report today, laughter clubs are a booming business these days, some involving rising at dawn for a pre-work chuckle induced by someone on the other end of the telephone.

Granted, science increasingly attests to the health benefits of laughter, and anything medicinal in this world invariably comes with a price tag attached.

Still, the growth of laughter clubs does suggest that a lot of people’s lives are missing a necessary element of fun. Getting together for a hoot is fine; having to pay for the privilege – well, you wonder who the joke is on.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in