It just comes down to posing. Creating an image to hide what is really going on. Some people take an arbitrary stance or try to find humor in someone elses tragedy to cover up their own fears or shortcomings.   

We all whistle past the graveyard to hide our own fears, and some people choose to laugh at tragedy because thet realize that they make the same mistakes and it could have been them.   It is a shame they can't face their real problems.