I Heard You Laughing

I did not have to look very far to hear people laughing.  I am a desk assistant in my dorm so without even trying I often end up hearing many conversations (and laughter) as people walk in and out of the building.  In just one shift I witnessed two prime examples of people laughing at others.

Monica was sitting at one of the tables in the Great Hall working on homework when Jordan came in and stopped to talk to her.  As they were talking Manoj snuck up behind Jordan and barely touched the back of Jordan's neck.  Jordan rubbed his neck as if trying to brush off a fly.  After a little bit Manoj touched his neck again and Jordan repeated his fly-swatting action.  This continued as Jordan talked to Monica, who began to giggle.  What I found interesting was that Jordan did not turn around for quite some time even though Monica was laughing pretty hard during their conversation that was not remotely funny.  Eventually Jordan turned around and saw Manoj, and everyone had a good laugh.

The second laughing incident is one that is a reoccurring theme during my shifts.  Right by the desk there is a handicap button that opens up the front doors.  Michael and Wyatt think it is quite hilarious to push the button when they see someone coming and then run away.  They often run down the stairs and then nonchalantly come back up seconds later as if they are just entering the great hall so they can see people's reactions.  I have a great vantage point to watch all of this and it is quite amusing.  Not just watching people's reactions, but watching how much glee Michael and Wyatt get out of taking turns pushing the button and then hightailing it downstairs.   Some people appear totally confused and look around for who could have pushed it (these are the best), while others make a funny face but don't attempt to look for anyone.  A few people appear completely unfazed as if they expect every door that they approach to magically open for them.  

Both of these instances of laughter that I witnessed involve people laughing at the confusion they cause to others, prime examples of superiority theory.  Jordan looked silly trying to shoo away a fly when Manoj was standing right behind him.  In Michael and Wyatt's case they were doing people a favor by opening the doors for them, but Michael and Wyatt were amused by watching how people reacted to the unexpected.  While both of these examples show superiority theory as people laugh at other's reactions, they were both in good spirit.  Jordan is friends with Manoj so he saw it as a funny joke while Michael and Wyatt are opening doors for people, even if they are getting a laugh out of it.