For Scott Dikkers, former co-owner and editor-in-chief of the nationally known satirical publication The Onion, humor isn’t just a natural talent, but a skill that anyone can develop.
The Onion is a satirical news outlet known for its parody articles that mimic traditional journalism while commenting on politics, culture and everyday life. Its first editor-in-chief, who later bought the paper, Dikkers, said he helped to shape its signature deadpan style.
In a conversation hosted by the Kennedy Political Union at the Mary Graydon Student Center on April 9, the satirist and former editor encouraged students to stay true to themselves, emphasizing the freedom to guide one’s own path.
According to Dikkers, comedy is a process. He said that being funny comes from paying attention and trying new ideas, all while having the willingness to fail. Often, the people who seem to be effortlessly humorous are the ones who began experimenting earlier, having built confidence through repetition and risk-taking, Dikkers said.
“I believe that everybody’s funny. I think humans are funny,” Dikkers said. “If somebody wants to be funny, they work at it.”
Dickers said that the willingness to take risks is an especially big advantage for young people, and can be shaped through experience. Without the added weight of failure or self-doubt, aspiring comedians are more likely to bounce back from rejection and continue creating, he said.
“You get this rocket fuel of confidence that can withstand just about any roadblock,” Dikkers said. “The world hasn’t crushed your spirit yet.”
Dikkers said this mindset extends beyond comedy, influencing how people approach challenges in general.
In a time filled with constant news and uncertainty, Dikkers said comedy can also help us process events. He said satire especially allows people to confront serious news, like political corruption or societal conflicts, without becoming overwhelmed by them.
“In order to get through these terrible dark times, we need to be able to laugh at them,” Dikkers said. “Satire is putting all that stuff out there to make us laugh at it so that we can get through it.”
For Erin DeSantis, a KPU member and freshman in the School of Public Affairs, that impact is especially meaningful in a time when such difficult conversations feel almost unavoidable.
“Making light of serious and sometimes scary situations can be really impactful and helpful in processing the world,” DeSantis said. “The Onion is a great outlet for noticing the humor in a lot of these situations and not taking everything so seriously.”
Dikkers also encouraged students to look at the world as a source of inspiration, rather than waiting for ideas to come to them. He said creativity comes from observing what is already happening, which makes it nearly impossible to ever run out of ideas.
“The world keeps happening. Just look at the news, and you’ll get all your new ideas right there,” Dikkers said.
Throughout the conversation, the focus returned again and again to the value of laughter, a simple gesture, but something Dikkers said is necessary for coping and connection.
“You can’t laugh too much,” he said. The audience smiled in agreement.
This article was edited by Natalie Hausmann, Payton Anderson and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman, Mattie Lupo and Jaden Maitland Anderson.
