A funny thing is happening

[Pluto]

G'day all,

Long story short, I have started actively researching the topic of humour for the first time. I did an internet search for "How to be funny". It was not a nice feeling to have to type that - very humbling to say the least.

Something that I have noticed in the past is that good humour is a fairly universal language. It is especially prevalent in communities where people are less educated; it's amazing to see such people, though less sophisticated, actually have more fun.

Humour seems even more fundamental to human interactions than the polished intellectualism or moral purity that have always been my preferred mainstays, and makes up an enormous part of what makes people attractive as prospective friends. In seeking a partner, particularly for men, it is unquestionably the #1 most important quality to offer. From a mental health perspective, It is often a force which can turn seemingly negative situations into a source of comedy (within reason).

This article is what I have started with, though it's going to be an ongoing process and require practice, etc. Some of the strategies, like saying the opposite of the truth, are very easy. Next time someone at work asks me how I am going, I'll say I'm very disappointed that I have to go home for a few hours and leave the paradise of the warehouse for the chore of rest.

How to Be Funny: 7 Easy Steps to Improve Your Humor

Some people are naturally funny, but being funny is also a set of skills that can be learned. Check out these 7 easy strategies on how to be funny.

www.scienceofpeople.com

 

[Weebster]

Why don't you have a funny bone?

 

[chocolatebar]

It was really hard for me to "fit" in society and humour was the key behavior that I learned. It was difficult for me to understand it and even today I have trouble understanding some jokes ( the complex ones are easy for me to understand, but the simple ones don't really make any sense). Recently, I discovered that I'm autistic, but I didn't know about it back then.

Making jokes has made me pass as a normal person and even evade several difficult situations. It also helps to look more pleasant and get to know new people. Well, it helps with everything.

Oh, and even bad jokes are useful! I love to use them to finish conversations or to get out from somewhere. For example, An old colleague saw me on the street and started talking to me, but, it's taking too long and I want to say goodbye. I simply tell a really really bad joke and then the person usually says something like "well after this one, I'm going home" and goes away. It's really useful!

Making jokes is like playing with reality or with words. I could explain it in details, but it would bore us all to death and, believe me, this is a terrible ctb method.

 

[Velvet Fortress]

Good on you for pursuing this!

Remember that comedy is a very visceral thing. VVE gives great advice, but analyzing it won't necessarily make you funnier. If you want to be funny, you have to learn to make yourself laugh above all else.

Take it from a self-proclaimed dumbass who sometimes gets positive clicks for his memes (cringe, I know, let me meme in peace, it's my copium), did theatre school and gets the occasional IRL laugh too: the less you take yourself seriously & the more you have the ability to amuse yourself, the more heartedly felt the laughs will be. Good humour starts with the acknowledgement that you're as silly as the other humans.

I'll say I'm very disappointed that I have to go home for a few hours and leave the paradise of the warehouse for the chore of rest.

lmao sarcasm is a great start, maybe a little less sophisticated with the phrasing, there's a reason it's called a "punchline"; should'n't take more than 0.1 sec to decipher the comedy in something. Don't overthink it

Watch some stand-up and/or sitcom, see what you like, and learn to nurture the little clown inside of you by emulating that stuff. Feel it before you think it.

Oh and don't get discouraged if your jokes don't land. Part of comedy is trial and error. Extremely funny people bomb all the time, but they keep spitting jokes until it lands. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

Heyo now I'm starting to feel bad for throwing out unsolicited advice, but I guess that's what I wish someone would have told me when I went through something similar. Anyway, enjoy the laughs and remember to have fun!

 

[GentleJerk]

Comedy is an art and being truly funny is a certain type of alien intelligence imo.

 

[Al_stargate]

Abstract thinking is a sign of intelligence. It also shows goodwill and being able to relate.

 

[whatevs]

I think the quickest way to understand and perhaps "learn" humour is to be around people that make YOU laugh. Articles online will do very little for you in that regard, in my opinion.

 

[motel rooms]

It's too late for grownups to learn to be funny/creative.

 

[Al Cappella]

Looking at what you find funny and going from there is a good idea. Now, what many sources won't tell you is that comedy is the best way to bitch about everything. And comedy has moved from the stupid one-liners (think Dangerfield) to homing in on really complex social/personality issues (think Bill Burr). Personally, I love deadpan delivery, and can't stand joke telling. I love someone that can riff off what's happening around them. That's hard to do. And making fun of yourself always works.

 

[neitherherenorthere]

From a theoretical perspective, you might find Freud's "Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious" of interest.

From a practical perspective, taking improv classes might help, though that probably costs money.

 

[onlyanimalsaregood]

 

[Enigmatic Sailor]

Why be funny when you can get money, honey.

 

[WhiteDespair]

good luck!

be careful. you are NOT as funny as you think you are. I wasn't. it takes time to get there.

that's when challenges such as being misunderstood, reading the situation wrong or being unintentionally offensive come into play.

but, once you do learn to be funny you can be golden.

be aware that you'll need to slog through failed jokes and bad outcomes before you get it.

you'll need to fight rejection sensitive dysphoria. you'll need to pick yourself up after each failed joke. it's not that easy to do.

a good idea is to have stock phrases and answers (especially for questions you can't answer).

Them: Hey, WD!
Me: What did I do?

Them: How are you?
Me: I'll figure that out later.

These are 2 I get a lot of good use from. And, I usually get laughs from them.