How many times have we come across this phrase and felt uncertain or small? Be it when we're with friends, family, or even complete strangers on the internet, It might just be the most overused excuse in our social lives "So what?", you'll think. Well, very often this phrase digs much deeper than we realize. In a world that never slows down—not even at 3 a.m.— we forget to pause, take a breather, a sigh of relief.
We forget to let our guard down, take our masks off, and give our responsibilities a break. The so-called "joke" can cut deeper than we think and hurt wounds we never knew existed. This phrase has been used to shut down conversations for years and is now being used to excuse hurtful words and actions. In the 21st century where we talk about racism, feminism, and social justice, why can't we talk about what actually hurts?
Why can't we talk about what makes us feel invisible? Is it the taboo surrounding "mental health" or just the doors closed by society? We're asked not to take jokes seriously, we're asked to laugh it off, we're encouraged to ignore it, but what if that very joke breaks me and everything I've worked towards? How long will it be until we break the cycle of silence culture? "It's just a joke" has ended more lives than any war, killed more smiles than any hate needed to, and broken more hearts than any weapon could.
It's about time. Let's be the first to break this cycle. Let us realize that even the lightest jokes can carry the heaviest weight. Let's find another way to make people laugh- laugh without questioning themselves. So next time, let's pause and ask ourselves- who's really laughing and whether it really is a joke or just a stab at someone's worth.