verklingen

I thought I posted here earlier but I guess not. Thanks for the clarification, ziplock. I could stand to clarify a bit also.

A joke is a communication that works through the mechanics of linearity. The joke-teller possesses all parts of the joke simultaneously, and as such it can be said that his grasp on the joke is non-linear. To humor the listener he reveals elements of the joke in a progressive manner, setting up the punchline.

A punchline, to me, is simple satisfaction. In our lives, a punchline can be something like driving to the store just as another shopper is pulling out of a space right in front. So while "behind the scenes" things like this require some kind of set-up, the entire set-up is not comprehended as must be the case to enjoy a joke. In other words, you can enjoy having the nice parking space without having to wonder who left it and why. Indeed, from your perspective a long series of punchlines can be experienced subsequently without ever paying mind to whatever gradual transitions were necessary for them to occur.

This is something called "living in the moment," a concept which I've long heard about but am only just now beginning to comprehend.

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”