Potato, potato (sorry it's more of an aural phrase)

The other day I was wondering what exactly the difference is between a humorist and a comedian. I was so curious in fact, that I turned to Wikipedia. Not that it takes a lot for me to turn to Wikipedia- the other day I was drinking a Tab, and I started wondering about what other sodas you don't hear a lot about these days. I thought, Pepsi Blue, is that still around? Nope. Then I got into clicking around through other commercial failures. I personally remember and like the Arch Deluxe. And I was quite tickled and delighted to learn that Michael Ian Black was the voice of the Pets.com sock puppet dog! *fist pump* Knowledge!

But I digress. Wikipedia basically says that comedians try to entertain people by making them laugh, and a humorist writes or performs humorous material. You'd think they were the same at this point, but whoever wrote the humorist article says "The material written and/or performed by humorists tends to be more subtle and cerebral than the material created by stand-up comedians and comedy writers. The intention is often to provoke wry smiles and amusement rather than outright belly laughs."

I thought about which definition applies to me. Certainly I think being a comedian is the lifestyle I want to have- seems more glamorous and trashy and real. Humorists are people I think more of as behind their typewriters (yes, in my head all humorists use typewriters and never computers) writing and rewriting until they turn out an article for the New Yorker or one of those prose pieces you always hear on NPR being read by the author. Sounds like an OK life as well, but more grown up and respected. Who really needs that, I ask? I'd rather be adored by New York hipsters than wryly smiled at by people's fathers in the Midwest.

But I think there's just no telling whether something I say or write is going to make someone laugh out loud or if they're just going to smile or get the urge to poop. It's the same way I'll watch comedian Jim Gaffigan sometimes and chuckle lightly to myself, and yet read Dave Barry and have to put down the newspaper while I catch my breath.

So I think my point is, whatever. To each his own. Can't win 'em all. When in Rome.