Funny AF Woman #17

Robin Wilding

This gal is an original. My favorite essay should be a Pixar movie. Her latest pieces are about her recent dating exploits; one made me blush— I didn’t have to apply makeup that day. She’s a one woman urban dictionary that she created herself. I’m honored she took part in this interview and I love that she makes no secret of her physical trials. Comedy saves, doesn’t it?

Direct from Canada, here’s the hilarious Robyn Wilding… 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

What were your life events that lead you to realize, “Hey, I’m pretty funny.”

I never thought I was super funny to be honest. My family only thinks I’m moderately funny (or they’re sick of my shit by now), and I’ve always had funny friends. So perhaps I just blended into my humor environment.

I didn’t realize people thought I was funny in writing until I tried it a couple of years ago.

Did your parents encourage your funny side?

Yes, we always had jokes in our household. My dad had the typical dad ones. Mine skewed weirder though, but they always encouraged me to be myself.

How did you nurture your funny side?

During the pandemic is really when I dove feet first into comedy. While other people were baking sour dough bread my lazy arse was watching Netflix. When I binged through all the standup comedy specials then I went to YouTube and discovered a bunch more.

Before I knew it all my feeds were standup comedy.

I started writing taglines for their jokes. Then started writing my own humor on Medium.

Humor came to me during the pandemic when I was lonely, but I was also coming to grips with my illness. I turned to laughter instead of sadness and it changed my world. That’s why I haven’t looked back since writing humor, I want to bring that joy to others.

Did being funny ever get in the way of a close relationship?

Consistently. However in my experience, if someone doesn’t have a good sense of humor, then we will never be that close. When you use humor as a coping mechanism, it can put people off — so they have to understand that about you. And ideally, share it.

Was anyone ever threatened by your humor?

Yes. Men. In my experience, men say they want a funny chick in the same way that women want ‘a nice guy’. It’s what we think we want but the reality is quite different. I’ve heard time and time again from female comics that they can’t get a date to save their life. And that’s been my experience too. In my experience, men want a woman with a sense of humor to laugh at their jokes — not be funnier than them.

Can you tell me about a time when you turned something painful into something humorous?

Every time I write about my illness. There’s sadness and suffering there, but I find comedic moments to lighten the mood. When you use humor alongside something dramatic or painful, it makes it a more engaging read. It also gives the readers a bit of a rollercoaster.

Can you tell me about a time when you couldn’t muster anything funny and how it affected you?

I can go days at a time without being able to write something funny. It often coincides with a flareup from my illness. It’s harder to be funny when you’re as tired as an Octomom on picture day. Thankfully, it passes and I get back on the comedic horse.

Can you describe the type of humor you possess? Clever Wit, quick-with-a-joke, physical, goofball, aggressive, self-enhancing, self-deprecating, dark, observational, or one I didn’t think of?

I hope that my wit is clever, but I’d say it’s more comedic wordplay, often sunny-side-up comedy but occasionally it turns a little dark. It’s almost always self-deprecating. I rarely make fun of others and when I do, it’s never punching down.

Was your humor ever mean? What happened? Any regrets?

I don’t think my humor is ever intentionally mean. But when you use humor as a coping mechanism, it can come off as uncaring to anyone who doesn’t understand why some people use humor to cope.

For example, I had a friend, Peter, who died from cancer a number of years ago. He was one of the funniest, most magnanimous people I’ve ever met in my life. His outfits, like lime-green suits were as flamboyant as his personality was. His battle with cancer was rough, and he lost. Before he died many of us gathered at a bar to have his ‘You’re Not Dead Yet’ funeral.

We roasted and toasted him. Some people in the restaurant looked at us in disgust for doing that to him — but he was happier than a pig in shit and laughed for hours. To others, our dark jokes (including cancer ones) seemed cruel, but to him it was an ultimate display of love and appreciation.

What would be the title of your life right now?

‘Meh’. Or ‘Manah mameh’ if that Muppets song isn’t copyrighted.

Who is your role model? If you could say anything to this person, what would it be?

Definitely my mom. She’s my hero and my best friend. But I talk to her constantly, so there’s not much left unsaid.

BIO

I’ve been a professional writer for over 15 years, but two years ago began writing for myself. I ventured into humor writing and never looked back. I write funny poetry, about my life n’ shiznit, giggle-filled life tips I’ve learned, and sometimes apocalyptic shennanganery.

I am currently writing dick and other jokes on Medium.com. Recently I brought my humor to Substack, and have been kickin’ arse and taking names there for the last 6 months.

Despite having Ehlers-Danlos¹ and other shitty chronic health conditions — I try to help people see the bright side of life. We might as well laugh at our time spinning around this blue marble, because none of us are going to get out alive anyway.

It’s question and comment time; I’ll start—

1. Any plans for a humor memoir?

2. Who’s the pooch? Dog lover here.

3. And a message to your mom— You rock.

1. “Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome are a group of 13 inheritable connective tissue disorders. The conditions are caused by genetic changes that affect connective tissue. Each type of EDS has its own set of features with distinct diagnostic criteria. Some features are seen across all types of EDS, including joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility.”

—The Ehlers-Danlos Society