Staying straight-faced while the table laughs at somebody costs you a minute of awkward. Laughing along costs more later.

Joining a laugh is the cheapest way to belong, which is why it is so easy to do. The price shows up later, when you remember what you helped make funny, or when the person remembers who was laughing. Holding still costs a few seconds of feeling conspicuous and nothing after that.

If a table turns on somebody this week, aim for neutral rather than heroic. Keep your face still, look at your food, ask about something else. You do not need to make a speech to end up on the right side of it.