poking fun at self to express confidence

mofro

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I guess what I just described isn't really poking fun at, but simply acknowledging issues. When I poke fun at myself I do things like say "you know you could easily get with that guy over there who's got 30 pounds of muscle over me, so I dunno why the hell you picked me instead". Upon which she would rattle off a big list of reasons why I like her...then I would shrug those off and not thank her, in any way, for the compliments. I dunno, it works for me.
 

Bonez

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lol comic_relief...

girls throw their phone numbers at you?

they love hearing you talk, but they can't stand being seen with you.
 

Bible_Belt

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Reagan was good at it, too. After he got shot, and they were wheeling him into surgery to take out the bullet, there's a quote, at least attributed to him, where he says he hopes the doctor is a Republican (Reagan's political party). Notice that it is humor more than it is self-deprecating. I think in rare instances where it is funny or ironic, you can poke a little fun at yourself. One good way is to mix two things that you happen to happen to be very good at, or very bad at. This shows humility and self-respect at the same time.
 
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comic_relief

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Bonez said:
lol comic_relief...

girls throw their phone numbers at you?

they love hearing you talk, but they can't stand being seen with you.
:cool: maybe its just to get rid of me so they don't ahve to see my ugly mug :p (example as well)

And actually one girl did give me her name and number in front of my girlfriend. I took the number and pocketed. Hung out with her for a while and were good friends. My girlfriend is uneasy around her, but whatever. I don't plan on doing anything.

Also, something that I do that usually helps me to make it not look bad. Is that I play up my strengths as well much more then my weaknesses. For every weakness that I have, I have ten strengths that can be played up.

My job alone has enough to talk about that it minimizes my weaknesses. I am the school mascot (no I am not a person inside the big animal costume, but a pirate that is just dressed up).

Being famous at my university, pretty popular, and semi-good looking helps A LOT in this respect.

I'll tell you what, I'll post pictures of me and my friends. You can tell me what everyone thinks about them sometime this week.

comic_relief
 

Bonez

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You post your picture, I'm going to report it as cruel and unusual punishment.

I'll look forward to it.
 

Demon

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Francisco d'Anconia said:
There is a difference between approval and acceptance in the true sense of their definition instead of the merging of today's definitions for the sake of simplicity (American language has deteriorated over the last 10-15 years because of this).
Nonsense. Approve is attested from c. 1340, meaning "to attest (something) with authority;" hence, "favorable reception." Accept is attested from c. 1360, frequently meaning "to receive;" hence, "favorable reception." What does attest mean? In Latin, attested from 1547, "to confirm." In English, "authenticate, affirm to be true, genuine, or correct, as in an official capacity."

  • I approve of this signature.
  • I accept this signature.
  • I attest to this signature.
All meanings are the same. Any difference you see is purely subjective.

This argument, by the way, is mere pedantry.
 

Francisco d'Anconia

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Demon said:
...
  • I approve of this signature.
  • I accept this signature.
  • I attest to this signature.
Oh yeah, I bet you've heard people actually say these things. :rolleyes:
 

Francisco d'Anconia

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comic_relief said:
...Yeah, most of my friends and me use self-depricating humor all the time because we don't like making fun of other people that much. Or we use it as a deflection like "Your such an assh0le!"
Me: "Yeah, I know. Proud of it too. Plus got this ugly crooked nose thing going on too. Why don't we add ugly to the mix too."
Girl: "What?!? no you aren't ugly. You manage to get more girls numbers thrown at you then anyone else that I know."
Me: "I know."
I get not having a laugh at the expense of others but your example isn't really self deprecating, if anything it's c/f.

Here's a few examples of what typical "nice guys" around these parts would say that completely makes me retch:

"Wow, you answered the phone! I was about to think that I had scared you away."

"I'm glad that I you like this restaurant, you probably wouldn't be seen in public with me anywhere else."

"Oh come on, just one hug... I'm a nice guy!"
:rolleyes: I kid you not, these guys actually said this stuff jokingly! Someone said earlier that guy's would do this because they were insecure and needed reassurance or an ego boost and that was exactly what these guys needed. And like you said, they are validated when the woman reassures or validates them by saying something like "Oh no, I don't think you are that much of a toad..."[/quote]
 

Francisco d'Anconia

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Demon said:
In my business, yes I have. Don't believe me? I don't care.
OoooooKKkkkkkkk...... :whistle:
 

Francisco d'Anconia

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Demon said:
That says it all right there.
Yep, that you you have frustrated yourself to now have post envy. Care to share what other types of measurement envy that you may have???? :whistle:

C'mon, is my acceptance of you that important to 'ya?
 

iqqi

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Accept and approve ARE different words with different meanings. They may be similar, and they can be used as synonyms, but they aren't the same.

Quite simply, you can approve something or someone, without fully accepting it/them. Happens all the time with credit cards!

And vice versa. "I accept this, Mary Jane, because I have to. But I don't approve!!"
 

iqqi

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Self depreciating humor is hot, if it is done correctly. Such as Comic Relief. I can think of some actors (or atleast their characters) that mastered this well, if you need more examples.



However this right here is not humor in any context, it reeks of insecurity and would be a turn off:
mofro said:
"you know you could easily get with that guy over there who's got 30 pounds of muscle over me, so I dunno why the hell you picked me instead"
 

eyedogg

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Why the hell would Demon try to battle with Fransisco on this thread? Seriously - Francisco is a scholar and gentlemen, with significant age and experience.

You are obviously NOT AS SMART as you think are!

Nothing you post is significant or interesting.
 

Francisco d'Anconia

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Why do people have to bring up the age thing... Somebody's gonna end up giving me a complex... :cry:
 

Francisco d'Anconia

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iqqi said:
Self depreciating humor is hot, if it is done correctly. Such as Comic Relief.
I still think that Comic's examples were more c/f without him actually believing what he's saying about himself. A lot of guys here in Minnesota want to play the pity card and it's obvious that they're looking for reassurance from what they say whether it's funny or not.
 

comic_relief

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Francisco d'Anconia said:
I still think that Comic's examples were more c/f without him actually believing what he's saying about himself. A lot of guys here in Minnesota want to play the pity card and it's obvious that they're looking for reassurance from what they say whether it's funny or not.
I don't get it, where did your quote come from?

Maybe it could be viewed that way. I suppose if you look at it that way, then it is more c/f. Either way, it is useful and works well.

The reason it looks bad on most people is because they actually believe it or try to use it as a crutch. I let my character do the talking. I don't really believe it, therefore, it is just poking fun at yourself.

maybe just maybe, we should define self-depricating humor so we don't get our definitions mixed up.

comic_relief
 

iqqi

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Francisco d'Anconia said:
A lot of guys here in Minnesota want to play the pity card and it's obvious that they're looking for reassurance from what they say whether it's funny or not.
That would fall under the example I gave of the OP's example of "self depreciating". It was bullsh!t. It was pitiful, and he was looking for reassurance, for sure.

But Comic Relief's comments were indeed ****y, funny, witty, AND self depreciating, in a good way.
 
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