Can Real Estate Related Topics Be Funny?

I have been thinking about humor a lot lately because of Todd’s contest. Todd Carpenter, decided to run a contest for the funniest Re.net blog post for 2007.

Predictably there is some disagreement as to what is funny and what is not. Some of Todd’s readers did not find the nominations to be funny. There is a post on the list that I don’t think is funny but I understand why others see humor in it.

Last March I scandalized some in the real estate community when my practical joke, the blog of mass destruction, cleverly disguised as a hot dog stand was released on the Internet by a well meaning friend, with a great sense of humor.

Things got so ugly that at one point I deleted the blog. I had a lot going on at the time and did not have the energy to deal with the mess the blog created. Some of my friends talked me down so to speak and I put the blog back up. They reminded me of my values and that I am not a coward, or someone who can be easily influenced or bullied.

I received email and comments from the RE net letting me know that having a blog like The Real Estate Weenie was not acceptable. That is also when I leaned who the bullies on the playground are. There are cowards out there too, who immediately distanced themselves from the situation rather than risk their reputations. I have more respect for the bullies because at least they are honest bullies. I also learned that I have some friends that I didn’t know I had. I continue to learn from the hot dog stand and I know that it still has more to teach me.

My blogs are a creative outlet, which I need because I am more creative than my job is. The real estate weenie represents freedom of speech, or maybe just freedom. Real estate is a serious topic, but there is humor in it too and humor is a big part of my life. There is no greater joy in my life than to make someone smile or laugh. I recently joked with a client who found me through my blog that I wonder why I attract smart a—’s as clients. He was horrible, but very funny, and we laughed our way through a difficult transaction. I loved having him for a client.

My humor is usually directed at myself, the real estate industry, technology, social networks, and rarely at individuals unless it is someone that I know well enough to know that the post will make them smile. I don’t have to take myself seriously and to be honest no one can make me. Peer pressure doesn’t work. Using humor on a business blog is risky, it takes courage and a certain amount of strength. I respect people who do not want to use it on their own blogs.

I recognize that some don’t get my humor or like it. There are some very popular blogs, and bloggers out there that I don’t get at all. I never mention it, I just don’t read them. I can’t please everyone and gave up trying shortly after junior high.