For centuries, people have used comedy both as a means of entertainment, and as an outlet for dealing with current issues in their society. When a particularly perplexing or even frightening issue arises, one can automatically declare it evil and run away, or attempt to gain control of the situation by making fun of it. With the rise of technology, comedy is more pervasive than ever. Technology provides not only an ever increasing audience through print and electronic media, but also a seeming endless supply of comedic material. Comedy in today's world is often used to point out hypocrisy and other wrongdoings in society, and by doing so promotes awareness of these problems. It also forces us to examine ourselves and the everyday world in which we live. Laughing about shared dilemmas helps to foster a sense of community (
Mintz) and, in feeling that we are not alone in our insecurities, we are better prepared to begin thinking about making things better.