Incorporate

The sound of polite laughter rolled through the auditorium. The room was filled with men and women in severe business dress. The speaker, an executive, had just made a joke that was not funny. Everyone knew the joke was coming by the way the speaker revved up for it. Everyone knew it was not going to be funny, and no one was surprised when it came out flat. They laughed anyway. Some people forgot to laugh, they were noted by security and watched for weeks to come. Most were fired, some promoted. All because of a joke, one that wasn't even funny.