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Happy Communicating
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What's so funny?

6/17/2014

1 Comment

 
What is funny to you?
Dave and I periodically talk about this---why does he laugh at certain movies and I laugh at others?
Watching "Last Comic Standing" brings about the topic, as well.  Who do we find amusing?  To what comedic skills are we drawn?
I've blogged before about sitcoms with laugh tracks as in "Three's Company" in which there are always misunderstandings.  I watch those and want to stick a fork in my eye.  But other people cackle like there is nothing funnier on earth.  
My best friends from college (Kelly and Robin) and I could sit in a room and simply tell stories about what happened the day before (or we can do it now and talk about things that happened 30 years ago) and crack ourselves up until our eyes water (and as we get older, we all worry about laughing this hard for other reasons besides our eyes).  But those stories might not be the least  bit funny to those around us, although we can't for the life of us imagine why.
What's funny to you?
How about things kids say?  Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby (along with countless others) made careers off of the stuff kids say.  I just read this one:
“When I was little my dad told me Jesus was there with us in the room. I didn’t understand, so I asked, ‘Daddy, are you Jesus?’ He laughed and said no. Still confused, I then asked, ‘Daddy, am I Jesus?’”
That may tickle your funny bone---maybe not.
How about "The Three Stooges"?  I think it is ridiculous that they hit each other on the head but some people find that brand of slapstick humor the best.  
Misunderstandings never fail to crack me up.  After finishing my preliminary exams for my doctoral program, I texted my husband using voice-to-text to say, "I am now officially a doctoral candidate" and hit "send".  What came up was "I am now officially a doctoral can of debt."  He wrote back and said, "I know ---go out and make some money!"  
Practical jokes either make us cringe or we love them---in which camp do you fall?
Self-deprecating comedians like Rodney Dangerfield endeared us since they were willing to make fun of themselves. 
A dear friend of mine and I still share one-liners from Mitch Hedberg, a comedian who passed away in 2005---one-liners  like:  "A severed foot is the ultimate stocking-stuffer"  
Which brings up another brand of humor---dark, morbid or gallows humor.
Many emergency workers (hospital, EMT, firefighters, police officers) say they have to make light of really tough scenarios in order to make it through their dark days.  

What makes you laugh?
Humor is one of the ways in which we communicate and build relationships with others.

I would love to hear your favorite funny movie, one-liner or joke (if appropriate for general public)---that precludes a couple of you, I know. 
Just for today, find what makes you laugh and enjoy!!!

Happy Communicating!
Shelly

1 Comment
Judith Kennedy
6/26/2014 02:03:40 am

I have gallows humor.I am not a fan of slapstick. Love She'll Silverstein
Never "got" Seinfeld
Loved Sam Levenson, Rowan and Martin, and Laugh in

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