I had a strange thought today.

Now before you read any further, I must warn you that this really is a random and strange thought, but once you start thinking about it, I will almost certainly bet that you will start to wonder why we do some of the crazy things we do.

Why do we applaud?  What drives us to clap our hands to show appreciation for a performance?

Here are some things I have thought about as far as why we applaud.

We do it to show appreciation.  But...why don't we applaud our spouse when she does our laundry for us?  A simple thank you or a hug usually does the trick.  Why don't we applaud our boss when we get our pay check?  We most certainly appreciate that.

It encourages the performer.  Case in point.  If a performer does a great job and nobody applauds, he or she feels like they did a terrible job.  However, if they receive a grand applause, they usually work that much harder on their next show to garner an even bigger applause.  Why?  Why do they expect that?

It seems like "the right thing to do."  What is really strange, I have been to several churches that handle this different as well.  Some churches, the congregation applauds after a solo is performed.  In some they do not.  It seems strage to ME when they do not, yet some people have told me that it seems strange to them when they DO.  Why?  Does God not deserve our appreciation?  Our church applauds when people get baptized.  I think it's awesome.

We applaud to elicit an encore.  I think next time I got out to eat, when I done with my plate, I may try applauding to see if I can get seconds for free.

Now, before we think applauding is all good and dandy, we also do it to be cynical.  Don't get that "Who me?" look on your face.  You know you've done it in the past.  You were at a restaraunt and the waitress drops a tray with everybody's food on it.  You have to practically sit on your hands to keep from applauding.  Shame on you.

So why do we applaud to mock as well as to encourage?  Where did THAT come from?

Now that you have those thoughts in your head, let's think about this....

Remember the TV shows in the 60s and even some up until the 80s (And maybe even some sitcoms today, though I'd be surprised....).  They used to pipe in laugh tracks as well as applause tracks. Did that make the show funnier?  I recently bought season 1 of Get Smart.  It has laugh tracks and applause tracks.  I hate it.  It detracts from the show.

Do we enjoy a show more if we applaud between acts?  If so, why don't we applaud during commercial breaks on Lost, CSI or 24?

Do we intentionally try to syncronize our clapping with our neighbor, or do we purposefully try to clap on the opposite beat to be a dork?

I have seen all the Star Wars movies.  We applauded the end.  Why?  There were no actors there to receive the applause.

How do we know when to give a standing applause or a standing ovation?  Why?  Is applause not enough so we need to stand as well?  Why?

Anyway, discuss among yourselves and tell me what you all come up with.

Inquiring minds want to know.

And perhaps I'll applaud your efforts.

One of my daughters, Nikki, had a paper to write in school called "If I Were President."  She had to come up with 7 things she would change.  Here are her answers.  (I kept the spelling the way she had it for full effect)

1) I would lower the economy prices
2) I would have stuff cheaper
3) Not have school uniforms
4) Give mony to the pore
5) Keep people safe.
6) I would feed people
7) And water them.

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I am so glad that she would water the people.  They need to grow, you know.  How cute is this?