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Your national sense of humour

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captainbrass2 from the United Kingdom Since: Mar, 2011
#1: May 19th 2011 at 11:18:25 AM

Do the people of the country you live in have a particular sense of humour? If so, what's special about it and do other nationalities "get it"?

Inspired because a Russian once told me that there is a Russian expression translating as "English humour" that people use whenever someone's made a joke that no-one else finds funny, and the symbolic tumbleweed blows through. Ouch.

As a subsidiary point for anyone who is from, or has been to, the US - you sometimes find snarky British journalists writing to the effect that Americans have no sense of irony. Clearly this is a ridiculous comment if you've ever seen any US-made comedy, but is there any basis for this view at all?

"Well, it's a lifestyle"
Usht Lv. 3 Genasi Wizard from an arbitrary view point. Since: Feb, 2011
Lv. 3 Genasi Wizard
#2: May 19th 2011 at 11:22:28 AM

Yeah, the fact that many Americans have a tendency to see the irony or tongue cheek stuff until it comes as a direct insult in which case... RAGE! That being said, Americans also seem to have quite an interest in sexual humor if only because our culture seems to be so schizophrenic about the topic, though that could just be me living at college full of perverted not-quite-adults-yet.

The thing about making witty signature lines is that it first needs to actually be witty.
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#3: May 19th 2011 at 11:24:16 AM

I think there is a British sense of humour, if only because I tend to find British comedies funnier than American or Japanese ones. Not always, though.

Also, unfunny British, American and Japanese comedies tend to be unfunny in different ways.

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Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#4: May 19th 2011 at 11:29:54 AM

It varies very, very much from region to region.

But the one I come from is pretty known for its love of gross-out humour, especially when it comes to sex-related jokes: it's really quite common to hear mild old ladies and gentlemen making jokes or using dialectal terms of a kind that would be extremely inappropriate almost everywhere else.

edited 19th May '11 11:32:01 AM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
SoberIrishman Since: Oct, 2010
#5: May 19th 2011 at 11:33:28 AM

Ireland: where pretend homoeroticism is the height of schoolyard humour, where we laugh at faggots who take things too seriously, and where most people speak with a vaguely sarcastic tone that never goes away.

Foreigners can never detect that last one. Seriously, when I was in New York, I had a conversation with a girl that went something like this:

  • "So, you know the way they say the Irish really love potatoes? Is that true?"
  • "No, it's not true, and you know what? You've just really offended me."
  • "Oh gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!"
  • "Jehsus Chreest love, calm the bap. I'm taking the piss."

edited 19th May '11 11:34:08 AM by SoberIrishman

pagad Sneering Imperialist from perfidious Albion Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Sneering Imperialist
#6: May 19th 2011 at 11:39:46 AM

I have noticed from holidays in America that the humour I saw on TV was...somewhat more unsubtle than its British equivalent. That's not to say it wasn't funny, just that it was a more direct kind of humour and maybe a touch more earthy.

With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#7: May 19th 2011 at 11:41:52 AM

[up][up]That, but replace "Ireland" with "Towns built by the Diaspora" and "Sarcastic" with "Deadpan" (we're still sarcastic, mind, it's just not quite as obviously sarcastic.)

England definitely has a very unique style of humour. Well, several, actually, but the most well known (at least 'crossed the pond) are the dry-British-wit type and the Monty-Python-batshit-insane type.

General American humour tends to be very slice-of-life-ish; our comedians talk about things like family life, marriage, the economy, etcetera, though there's also a lot of sexual humour. (There's also "Jewish comedy" which is definitely its own thing.)

edited 19th May '11 11:44:46 AM by Diamonnes

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#8: May 19th 2011 at 11:42:26 AM

At least in the midwest, somehow the average person has no problem with both making insanely dirty, demeaning jokes about sex, and at the same time preaching about how you should abstain from sex until marriage.

Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#9: May 19th 2011 at 11:43:48 AM

Eh, a pure body can easily coexist with a filthy mind tongue.

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#10: May 19th 2011 at 11:47:00 AM

I have a friend who's Irish, and he reckons the people here (Wales, but there are a lot of English people around here) aren't very good at detecting sarcasm.

I'm not sure how I'd know whether this was true or not; it's possible I don't always notice when he's being sarcastic.

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Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#11: May 19th 2011 at 11:49:08 AM

If Irish sarcasm is anything like Irish-American sarcasm, you'll miss it if you aren't looking for it.

WARNING: don't look for it, you'll become paranoid, then eventually suicidal, and no one wants to see you eating your gun on their lawn.

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.
SoberIrishman Since: Oct, 2010
#12: May 19th 2011 at 1:07:53 PM

[up] Aye, that's what it's like. The only people I met in America who noticed I was being sarcastic were a black security guard from Washington, an extremely flamboyant Hollister cashier, and an Irish-American bartender from Ohio. The latter was pretty sarcastic himself, and also an excellent wingman. Thanks to his persuasive demeanour and my dashing good looks, I got to second base with an American girl with huge tits. That man and I may never see each other ever again; but we formed a bond that day that will never be broken.

edited 19th May '11 1:13:13 PM by SoberIrishman

Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#13: May 19th 2011 at 2:11:24 PM

Canadian humour varies too much to have a national sense of it. Corner Gas, SCTV, and Russell Peters for example.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
Wolf1066 Crazy Kiwi from New Zealand (Veteran) Relationship Status: Dancing with myself
Crazy Kiwi
#14: May 19th 2011 at 3:02:38 PM

Deadpan snarking, sarcasm, playing with (in/sub-verting, deconstructing or playing straight) stereotypes (lazy/incompetent gov't officials or employees, dishonest politicians, thieving lawyers, gruff pragmatic farmers, clueless "townies" etc), self-deprecation, subtle, earthy.

We tend to find American humour (most sit-coms and stand-up acts) too unsubtle/OTT/driven home with a sledgehammer. Subtle Brit humour is much preferred. There are exceptions, of course.

A Texan is visiting New Zealand and says to the kiwi bloke, "y'know, back in Texas it takes me three days to drive my car across my ranch." The kiwi bloke replies, "yeah, I used to have a car like that."

From the early Peter Jackson movie, "Bad Taste": "Use the gun, shoot him." "But he might be Ministry of Works." [A gov't-run road/park maintenance organisation.] "Nah, he's moving too fast for that."

An advertisement for an off-road vehicle has Kiwi Icon and "Good Keen Man", Barry Crump, taking his mate through a "shortcut" that shows off what the vehicle is capable of. They reach the destination and a totally unfazed Barry hands a mug of tea (from the thermos, natch) to his shell-shocked companion and after a pause says (totally deadpan) "ya gate's a bit to the left there, mate." ("gate" is standard slang for "mouth", here.)

DanEile Inexplicable Student from Ireland Since: May, 2010
Inexplicable Student
#15: May 19th 2011 at 3:08:05 PM

Goddamnit. Every time I'm about to post in a thread I find Dia's been there first and expressed my point of view for me.

What a bollocks he is. tongue

"You can only come to the morning through the shadows."
LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#16: May 19th 2011 at 3:34:19 PM

Australian humour... well, we swear a bloody lot. And we love making fun of people in power. I'm not sure what else characterises us though.

I remember reading this Australian play in english class, and one of the reviews said that Australian works tend to have jokes at the height of sadness, to keep things from getting too maudlin.

edited 19th May '11 3:34:59 PM by LoniJay

Be not afraid...
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#17: May 19th 2011 at 3:35:39 PM

I would say there are some distinct forms of humor. America, Britain, and Russia all have their own flavor of humor.

Who watches the watchmen?
MarkVonLewis Since: Jun, 2010
#18: May 19th 2011 at 3:40:39 PM

Yeah different cultures have different things they find funny.

Though despite being an American I love British comedy. Red Dwarf 4 lyfe!

Myrmidon The Ant King from In Antartica Since: Nov, 2009
The Ant King
#19: May 19th 2011 at 3:43:01 PM

Americans generally like British humor.

Kill all math nerds
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#20: May 19th 2011 at 3:57:19 PM

I guess our cultures are perhaps similar enough that we can relate to and laugh at mostly the same things.

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MarkVonLewis Since: Jun, 2010
#21: May 19th 2011 at 4:00:06 PM

This is true, but I've known some cads who'd bash British comedy for just being British.

pagad Sneering Imperialist from perfidious Albion Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Sneering Imperialist
#22: May 19th 2011 at 4:00:37 PM

Haters gonna hate.

With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.
DanEile Inexplicable Student from Ireland Since: May, 2010
Inexplicable Student
#23: May 19th 2011 at 4:01:20 PM

[up][up] British comedy is top class. Interestingly, Irish and British comedy, while distinct, seems to have enough of a crossover for comedians of both nationalities to be quite successful in both Britain and Ireland (see Dara O'Briain, for example).

edited 19th May '11 4:01:34 PM by DanEile

"You can only come to the morning through the shadows."
MarkVonLewis Since: Jun, 2010
#24: May 19th 2011 at 4:08:09 PM

This is true. And if the comedian Danny Bhoy is any indication of Scottish humor, then I'd have to say I love Scottish humor.

Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#25: May 19th 2011 at 5:03:01 PM

Loni: A few of the examples of Australian humour I've seen also involved playing with national stereotypes; IE "How would you protect yourselves in a zombie apocalypse?"

"What do you mean? The drop bears would take care of them for us."

Dan: post faster then, ya twit. :P

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.

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