Or take aim at the one person you know won't be offended: Yourself. 'If there's going to be a butt to a joke or story, it should be you,' Mr. Dunkelblau says. For example, if you're a marketing manager reviewing a failed campaign you authorized, begin with a line like, 'The guy who signed off on this deal might just be looking for work next week.' That's gallows-humor gold.

　　或者将靶子对准你知道不会得罪的那个人：你自己。Dunkelblau说，要是一个笑话或是故事得有个笑料，那应该是你自己。比如说，如果你是市场推广经理，评价你自己授权的一个失败的广告宣传活动，那你就可以用这句话作为开场白：签字批准这个活动的家伙下周可能就得去找新工作了。这是黑色幽默的精髓所在。

　　'People with the ability to laugh at themselves can give other people permission to laugh at themselves too,' Mr. Jones says. 'And if you can laugh at yourself, you feel better about yourself.'

　　琼斯说，能够自嘲的人会让其他人也可以自嘲。而要是能自嘲的话，你就会对自己感觉好一点儿。