Fine tune your sense of humour

[JuanWannabe]

We've all got a sense of humour, some of us make the occasional joke and get people laughing, while others can go on for hours.

I have a very sharp wit, but I was finding that my ideas were running out. I also found that I was using the same techniques to get people laughing. My mom, dad and sister didn't really laugh at my jokes too much anymore (I wasn't repeating the same ones, just using the same techniques to try and get laughs).

So I went out and bought my first comedy CD EVER:
Jerry Seinfeld - "I'm telling you for the last time"

Man, that guy cracks me up. You know what?
I'm funnier for listening to that. I got my family in stitches a few minutes after I'd finished listening (MAINLY BECAUSE OF MY GOOD MOOD! - see tip #4). And I'm making people laugh again. I'm not using Jerry's jokes, it's just that my wit has been reawakend after listening to it.

So, here's my 8 TIPS FOR FINE-TUNING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR:

1. Listen to and watch COMEDY when ever you can. Sitcoms are great. But stand-up comedy works the best if you want to work on entertaining your friends. Only watch it if YOU find it funny.

2. Hang out with funny people. Haven't you noticed how your funny friends have funny dads/aunts/uncles? That's because they spend every waking moment with them!

3. Make a habit of buying a comedy CD\video every now and again. (This'll also help with tip #4). Try different comedians and see which one's are most like you, or which you would most like to "impersonate"

4. Listen to comedy in the morning on the way to work\university. Wether it's your CD or something on the radio. Make sure it's something that really gets you laughing. It puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day and people will enjoy your company more because you'll be more cheerful. (You don't even need to be funny to benefit from a good laugh). You can only be funny if you're in a good mood.

5. I personally don't like telling "other peoples" jokes. (Two seals walk into a club...) I avoid them mainly because I always screw them up =). If you're a good joke teller then DO IT! These kinds of jokes NEVER fail, if someone else told it and made you laugh, chances are whoever you tell will laugh at it too! You're sense of humour WILL benefit.

6. Don't feel intimidated if you don't get a laugh. It's been said before, and I'll say it again here : "Even the best comedians have their bad days."

7. Don't try too hard. I often find my worst "funny" days are when I'm TRYING to make people laugh. DOn't LOOK for things to comment on! As your wit "sharpens" you'll sense things that are funny and will make people laugh without trying.

8. Comedy is all about looking at the world from a different perspective. When you give everyone a glimpse from your point-of-view you get laughs!

Hope I helped

 

[REd-xL]

Well put, JW! It's too true about contagious emotions; people tell me all the time that they love talking to me because of my insight, wit, and good humor. Becoming a magnet of attraction is crucial if you want to transfer that attention toward seduction.

To add to the list:

9. Master the art of timing. Find the holes in peoples' rhythyms and jump through the loops. If you stutter, the timing is ruined. Your bark needs to be as sharp as your wit to master the art of timing.

10. Pay attention to the mood of your audience, whatever size. Mimic this mood and slowly lift them out of it. Don't rush in with jokes to bring miserable people out of a rut; they will just grow more irritable.

11. Jokes will always be funnier ten-fold if not staged. This means don't tell people a joke about a guy who went into a bar...instead, use it when the subject of a bar or alcohol comes up. This explains why some things are only funny "if you were there." Spontanuity is the fabric of humor.

Rx

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REd-xL (19)

Character is destiny.

Character shows in four virtues: Fortitude, prudence, temperance, and justice. A person with good character will persist and endure, chose carefully and thoughtfully, control emotion with reason, operate with equity and fairness. By contrast, a person with poor character will quit easily, behave thoughtlessly, allow mood to conquer intelligence, and act selfishly.

"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions."
- Mahfouz, Naguib

 

[Mach 12]

I have another one to add that helps me...

--Have a big vocabulary! Using random synonyms for words, in conjunction with timing, can make people think you are funny without even telling a joke. It also makes you look smart. Some words are just plain funny, because no one uses them. I don't know why it works exactly, but it works for me.

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"What is past is prologue" - Oliver Stone, JFK

 

[syncmaster]

Well, I think we could all benefit from a little humour. You know what's fun, improves your vocabular, your enunciation ( spelling?), and posture... Sounds like a miracle????

Just video tape yourself singing.

You'll hear what you sound like and everyone's voice is funny to themselves. You can pick out all your mistakes with a fine comb. You can look at your posture and improve that. ( good posture if VERY important). You can also just make something up on the spot. Try and use synonyms... or if your adventerous, antonyms.

. I know it personlly puts me in a good mood. When I sing I'm happy. It'll improve your voice. ( girls like a sexé voice) and whatever you think will help.

All is good in fun and games.
WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T LET HER GET THE TAPE. SHE'LL THINK YOU'VE ESCAPED FROM THE BETTY-FORD CENTRE!!! :d:d:d



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Syncmaster signing out.
a.k.a ... Adam

 

[ACTION]

Originally posted by syncmaster:
...WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T LET HER GET THE TAPE. SHE'LL THINK YOU'VE ESCAPED FROM THE BETTY-FORD CENTRE!!!

Are you speaking from experience?

 

[syncmaster]

Of Course!

No, but I can imagine what would happen if she saw the tape.

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Syncmaster signing out.
a.k.a ... Adam

 

[Persuader]

Just a small addition. Listen. I can get on rolls with certain people and groups by simply paying close attention to the conversation then repeating back part of it with a slight "twist". ie.So you're a bartender, that means you serve men liquor and food, but there's no sex. I thought you reminded me of my Ex.

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The man that claims a thing is impossible is often interupted by the man doing it.

 

[Albion]

There are three types of humor.

First is expense humor. This is the kind of joke that's made at someone’s expense. This kind of humor can be very funny but you have to be careful with whom you use it. With the wrong person you could end up with a black eye. And, I defiantly hate expense humor when people use it on someone who can't defend himself or herself. If you're going to use this kind of humor make sure the person you're ripping on is in front of you...

Second is ironic or twist humor. Most of the jokes you get on the Internet in e-mail are twist humor. You tell a story that has an obvious ending and twist it or give it "A punch line"

And the third is obvious humor. This, in my mind, is the best improv humor. Watch "Who's Line is it Anyway." sometime and you will get the jist of obvious humor. You take a very obvious everyday event and talk about it. It's even funnier if the event is embarrassing for most people to talk about like masturbation, sex, or sitting on the sh|tter.

Example: "Ever have your mom walk in on you while you're wankin' it? She asks what your doing and all you can come back with is "oh nothing..." while you've just spun around having problems tucking your johnson back into your pants with sweat dripping off your face and a picture of Anna Kornakova naked on your computer monitor." What's even worse is when your girlfriend catches you and all you can come back with is, "Awe baby, no internet porn can live up to you... pictures can't cook!"

-al

 

[Ashlee Angel]

Try watching some Chris Rock or Chris Tucker they are funny too.

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The more girls you ask out the more chances of you getting a yes.

 

[glowstix]

lenny carlson

 

[Ronin]

Norm Macdonald

 

[polgas]

Hey REd-xL!

You forgot something to add! How about the thing on 'mastering the art of timing'?
Sure, it's easy to say but hard to do. So, how about givin' us a tip or two on that. You can't have humor if u can't have the timing to supp that, right? For the benefit of those hapless blokes with a still developing sense of humor (including me), I hope you'd post it here on d mssg brd.

 

[jtws]

"Humour"
"Humor"

Seems like we have a brit dj here

 

[Anubi]

hey albion, there are more than 3 types of humour btw... like sarcasm (sarcasm can get lame if overused)

anyways, thought i might add a few examples.


your in mcdonalds and your friend is looking at a promotional coupon he just got.

saying "they only work before 11am" is not funny.
but saying something like "careful buddy, dont trust these bastards...(pause, look suspiciously at the coupon)... there! (read out from the coupon) only available before 11am (pause) on the third moon" is funnier


another example when someone is teasing you...
saying "shut up" is not funny (well it can be funny if you sound really enthusiastic)

but saying "(stare, pause) how bout a warm bucket of (said in a calm tone) (slight pause) shut the **** up (more enthusiastic tone)(pause)(then mime throwing a bucket of liquid on him, make it seem heavy)

 

[Anubi]

oh, did i mention that my friend's uncle is chris rock and that i might get to meet him sometime soon?

wooo

 

[wheelin&dealin]

The funniest guy ever is Steven Wright.

 

[karmavsDogma]

I hate to recycle other people's jokes, but here's a couple that should get you laughing.

(very monotone)"I finally got around to reading the encyclopedia. It turns out the zebra did it." ~Steven Wright

(hope this doesn't offend, but I found it hilarious)"There's hundreds of other countries in the world, and they all know we [USA] could beat the s*** out of them, but they still hate us. What we should do is send them all big screen TVs and a satellite dish. Then let them watch just five minutes of ESPN2. That way, they'll see that we build monster trucks in our spare time. We build rocket-powered jet cars that go from 0-330 in 5 seconds when we're bored. Now imagine what we'll build when you piss us off!" ~Chris Titus, speaking on the events of 9/11

Definitely find out if your location has a comedy club, and check out a few shows. Also, splurge for HBO, but only if your package includes HBO comedy. It only takes a few minutes of stand-up to put you in a great mood.

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"Workers of the world, get off my couch." ~Andy French

 

[Shadow Dancer]

Good post on humour my friends!

A couple dope ass comedians that no one mentioned. My two all time favs, as stand up: Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.

Check out their stand-up stuff. Oh shhhhhiiiiet! hahahah. I NEVER get tired of seeing their stand-up. Murphys Delirious was much better than Raw. An instant phucking classic. Don't sleep on those two guys. Check em out!

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I danced till midnight when the sky turned black,
It is hard to dance with the Devil on your back.
They buried my body and thought I'd gone,
But I am the dance and I still go on.

 

[Don Pablo]

If you have broadband, I suggest you get on the K-Word (*****) and download some stand up. The Comedy Central Presents line is very funny.

 

[DJUofS]

Lewis Black, George Carlin, and Mitch Hedberg are my favorite comedians. They all have very different, unique styles as well. I highly recommend all three of them.