So, who among us participated in the much-maligned “Pity Party” last week? If you did, you are a brave soul indeed.

From the moment the event was announced a hue and cry was heard both far and wide deriding the unique affair, and many felt that it was more than a mere waste of taxpayers’ dollars. Some felt that it was an embarrassment to the city.

In case you hadn’t heard about it, the event, sponsored in part by The City of Somerville and the Somerville Arts Council, and created Greg Cook, took a somewhat satirical stab at the traditional outdoor festival by calling on performers and participants to role play in sad, depressed and generally miserable modes of behavior.

As the promoters stated, the event featured “sad musicians, melancholy poets, and depressed comedians” and encouraged attendees to show up in their finest (or worst) disconsolate regalia.

It was, of course, all in fun below the surface. Sort of an orchestrated flash mob event, in celebration of self-pity and wretchedness. An exercise in making fun of feeling bad. Not such a bad idea, really.

Many objected to public funding of such an event, however minimal that amount might be. Others rejected the whole concept, feeling that it put the city in a bad light.

When you think about it, though, was this particular event any more off-the-wall than certain others, such as the Fluff and HONK festivals? Perhaps a little tolerance and acceptance might help those who participated in the event feel a bit better about themselves. Hopefully.