The necessity of this psychic stepping back (or up) to the metalevel is probably what is meant when people say that a sense of perspective is needed … - John Allen Paulos

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The necessity of this psychic stepping back (or up) to the metalevel is probably what is meant when people say that a sense of perspective is needed for an appreciation of humor. It also explains why dogmatists, idealogues, and others with one-track minds are often notoriously humorless.