A lot of us are seriously missing normal social interaction right now. We’re all locked away in our houses, going crazy talking about the coronavirus with the same few people over and over again.

It seems like all the things that bring people together are out of commission.

You can’t go see your favorite band in concert, sports aren’t coming back anytime soon and you can’t even go out to eat. 

Comedy is the one thing still around to scratch that social itch for humans.

No, you can’t head a few blocks over from campus to catch a show at The San Jose Improv Comedy Club, but that’s OK. 

How many COVID-19 memes have you sent and received in the last month? Probably too many to count. 

Memes are the new observational stand-up comedy and group texts are the new comedy clubs.

For the first time in our lifetime, we all have something in common. 

Whether you’re Black, white, gay, straight, rich or poor, young or old, you’re in the same situation as everybody else. If you scroll through meme pages on social media, most entries are something that’s relatable to everybody. 

For example, r/Coronavirusmemes on Reddit, which had over 80,000 members as of Tuesday, is full of jokes and memes that are poking fun at the current situation. 

The current top all-time post is a tweet from
@danifellan reading “when I am watching ‘Covid-19’ movie in ten years, I hope I will see Matt Damon panic buying toilet papers.”

Another top post reads “Buying a planner for 2020 has been the most financially wasteful thing I’ve done this year.”

These dumb jokes are funny because we all get it. Many of us have been victims of mass toilet paper shortages. If you’re like me, you bought a planner that hasn’t been updated in about three weeks. 

In a time where there’s such panic and pessimism in the world, it’s still important to take a step back and laugh with others about the ridiculous situation we’re all in right now.

It’s just a natural human response, according to psychologist April Foreman, an executive board member of the American Association of Suicidology.

“Using humor is just how people cope in grim circumstances, and it’s a very healthy response,” Foreman said to cnet.com. “Human beings are wired to cope, and we’re wired to be funny – even darkly humorous.” 

And who doesn’t love some dark humor?

Of course, being funny doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk. There are lots, and I mean lots, of people being negatively affected by this global tragedy.

So while you practice social distancing, practice some social courtesy too. Don’t send your memes to people who have sick loved ones. Show some respect instead. 

But if you’re just itching to show someone that stupid toilet paper joke, send it my way. I, like most people, could really use a laugh right now.