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SoberIrishman Since: Oct, 2010
#51: May 20th 2011 at 10:45:12 AM

If we're giving examples of jokes from our countries. My grandfather told me this when I was a young'un. I managed to rediscover it while looking up bilingual puns.

  • Two IRA members are walking down the Falls Road in Belfast. They see another man walking against them. The first of the men says "Do you think he's a member of the UVF?",and the other man replies "Ní cheapaim."

edited 20th May '11 10:45:35 AM by SoberIrishman

CaissasDeathAngel House Lewis: Sanity is Relative from Dumfries, SW Scotland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
#52: May 20th 2011 at 11:32:09 AM

Scottish humour is ruthlessly sardonic, and exploits the fact that what other nations would consider Refuge in Audacity or Refuge in Vulgarity, Scots simply consider normal attitudes. The fact that the word "cunt" is often used as a term of affection for example.

Frequently we make fun of the English for being clueless posh idiots, the Irish for being clueless genial idiots, and the French for being generally disgusting but a shared interest in hating on the English that makes up for it entirely. The "Three Guys In A Place" situation is the same kind of humour throughout Scotland and England at least.

Typically, the Irishman will be stupid to the point of the The Ditz, or else live in his own world where things do make total sense - as long as you detach yourself entirely from earthly logic. The Englishman will do the common sense, standard thing that most of us would do. The Scot will demonstrate the Violent Glaswegian trope combined with a horrifying intelligence and pragmatism that often causes him to prevail because his approach, while effective, is batshit insane. He'll also be shown as stupidly tight with money to the level of Jewish stereotypes, which often wins financial conundrums as he goes to ludicrous extremes to not lose money. Alternatively, the Irishman might win by being the extreme one. In such cases, the Scot is just a more extreme version of the Englishman. Since sanity is less funny than insanity, the Englishman usually doesn't come out on top.

Scottish humour is also very very aware of the stereotypes and plays them straight/extreme for all their worth. Violent alcoholic philosophers like Rab C Nesbitt for example show the best and worst of Scottish people in the same characters - this is truth in television.

Expect to see pragmatism, and insults against the English. This classic joke demonstrates both at once:

A plane was shot down over Iraq and Saddam Hussain captured a Scotsman,an Englishman and an Australian. Saddam says "I'm not as cruel as George Bush says I am You will be given 50 lashes each but you can have whatever you want on your back"

The Australian goes first and asks for the finest Kangaroo hide there is to cover his back. This is granted and he receives the kangaroo hide before he receives 50 lashes. His back is all torn and bleeding but he survives.

The Englishman says "I will take it as it comes I will have nothing on my back and will be proud to bear the scars" he shouts defiantly"

Stiff upper lip you know eh what" His wish is granted and he receives his 50 lashes, his back torn and bleeding, his ribs fractured and protruding, a terrible mess to behold.

"Now Jock It's your turn you have the same choice as the other two what would you like on your back" says Saddam.

Jock replies quickly and without hesitation "I'll have the Englishman"

edited 20th May '11 11:32:36 AM by CaissasDeathAngel

My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.
feotakahari Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer from Looking out at the city Since: Sep, 2009
Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer
#53: May 20th 2011 at 5:34:23 PM

I've gotten the impression that British humor isn't necessarily better in general than American humor, but does tend to have much, much more sophisticated puns than are typically found in America. Terry Pratchett's a good example of this—he once punningly made the argument that rebellious freedom fighters always become tyrants and get overthrown in turn, using the alternate definition of "revolution" to imply an endless cycle.

edited 20th May '11 5:34:52 PM by feotakahari

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful
BlackHumor Since: Jan, 2001
#54: May 20th 2011 at 7:21:22 PM

Though probably everybody's heard it, Jewish humor tends to be either self-depreciating or else kind of smug.

Random joke I just found on the internet is a pretty good example of both:

Shloyme Silberstein has become rich and wants to show off. So he orders his driver to drive him to this new exclusive golf club with his new Cadillac. But unfortunately a sign at the door unmistakably states that Jews are not permitted access. So the driver wants to return, but not Shloyme!

Shloyme says: "Wait here for me." His driver responds: "But don't you see the sign, they will kick you out immediately!" Shloyme : "But I don't have to tell them I am Jewish." And he leaves for the gate. So the driver waits... One hour... two hours... three hours... Indeed, finally after three and a half hours Shloyme is kicked out by two body-builder type guardsmen. The driver asks: "What happened?" Shloyme answers: "Everything was fine until we played hole number eight! Accidentally I shot my ball into one of these ponds.

I shouted: 'Oh, my G-d, what shall I do now?' And then the waters separated and everybody knew..."

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
#55: May 20th 2011 at 7:28:49 PM

Ahh the Russian troper I know that is Russian. Got any good jokes that translate well into English? The one I remember most is about animals, a party committe, and getting a bridge built...the wrong way. I have found some Russian humor to be very dark and ironic but still easily amusing.

I grew up on a mix of American humor and British humor. I have watched Black Adder, Red Dwarf, Allo Allo, and are you being served for a very long time.

Who watches the watchmen?
CBanana Tall, Dark and Bishoujo Since: Jan, 2001
#56: May 20th 2011 at 7:37:51 PM

The Canadian sense of humour tends to be more self-deprecating and self-aware.

and that's how Equestria was made!
BestOf FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC! from Finland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Falling within your bell curve
FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC!
#57: May 20th 2011 at 9:27:25 PM

I read in Wikipedia that Russians apparently like to poke fun at the new generation of nouveau riche, people who became wealthy when they (or their parents) were able to capitalise (usually through mafia connections) on the fall of the USSR.

One joke, IIRC, went like this:

There are two rich guys, both of them riding a new Ferrari.

They both have the same model, colour and year, and since they happen to stop next to each other in traffic lights, rich guy number one asks "Where did you buy yours?"

"I got mine in Milan; it cost €300 000."

"Oh, you imbecile! You could've gotten one for €400 000 in Paris!"

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.
honorius from The Netherlands Since: Jun, 2010
#58: May 20th 2011 at 11:13:11 PM

There is one like that on the Russian Humor page, about a tie.

The one I like the most is the one about the father and his son, chief of the poultry farm.

If any question why we died/ Tell them, because our fathers lied -Rudyard Kipling
wuggles (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#59: May 21st 2011 at 11:16:56 AM

Well, people have already covered American and Canadian humor. The only other thing I grew up with is Guyanese humor, which I really don't know how to describe. I guess a lot of it is making fun of other West Indians, like Trinidadians or something.

lordGacek Since: Jan, 2001
#60: May 21st 2011 at 12:11:07 PM

[up] Are there any joke-specific stereotypes of various peoples from the region? If yes, then please go on and describe them.

Nayrani Sight of Eternity from Überwald Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: Crazy Cat Lady
Sight of Eternity
#61: May 21st 2011 at 1:53:52 PM

Slavic humor: taking a piss out of everything significantly possible, but mostly out of our neighborhood countries because of the simple fact that we absolutely must share a border with them.

A Slovenian, Croatian and Serbian find themselves on a island after the ship sinks. They are captured by native people who put them under the guillotine. First up is Slovenian, but the blade stops 20 cm before his neck. The natives believe this is a sign from god, so they let him go and give him three wishes; a boat, 12 paddlers and a box of gold. Next up is a Croatian, but the same thing happens to him. For his wishes, he says: Give me a boat, 12 paddlers and a wrench to fix the guillotine before you put the Serbian on...

Why do policemen carry spoons? So they can mix in with the crowd.

What do you get if you cross a monkey with a turtle? A policeman with a helmet.

"Liar liar on the wall, give the world to me..."
CaissasDeathAngel House Lewis: Sanity is Relative from Dumfries, SW Scotland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
#62: May 21st 2011 at 2:44:26 PM

A classic example of the Englishman Scotsman Irishman variety:

An Scotsman, an Englishman and an Irishman go into a bar and each orders a pint of beer. And into each of the three drops a fly. The Englishman returns his to the bar, requesting a fresh one. The Irishman downs his instantly, fly and all. The Scotsman grabs the fly by its wings and angrily stares at it, shouting "Spit it oot, ye wee bugger!"

Note that the same joke told in Ireland will swap the roles of the Irish and Scotsmen. Since English snobbery tends to be the focus of such jokes, his role stays the same.

My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#63: May 21st 2011 at 2:56:35 PM

If that joke had been told in England, we'd probably tell it the Scottish way, because of the stereotypes that you usually hear in those jokes (Englishman being bland and a bit prissy, Irishman is always The Loonie and also drinks a lot, Scotsman playing up the "mean Scot" stereotype).

That's mean in the stingy sense, not the Violent Glaswegian sense.

Oh, and over here that joke would probably be regarded as mildly un-PC, though not sufficient for a normal person to get offended.

edited 21st May '11 3:00:51 PM by BobbyG

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CaissasDeathAngel House Lewis: Sanity is Relative from Dumfries, SW Scotland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
#64: May 21st 2011 at 4:12:40 PM

Yeah, you do sometimes have to watch who you say those kind of jokes around. While British humour is often self-deprecating, the attitude is frequently that only those of a particular nationality or group may make fun of those within it. If you're not in that group, eg if you're Scots and making fun of the English, you may be perceived as xenophobic if you do so around the English.

This is often a legitimate perception, as the line between friendly banter/rivaly and genuine bigotry can be quite fine with some people, who are well aware of this and use the former as a diguise for the latter.

My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.
wuggles (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#65: May 21st 2011 at 6:47:58 PM

@Lord Gacek

The only stereotype I can think of for sure is that Trinidadians are tricksters. Not that there aren't any more, but I just can't for the life of me think of them. Also, generally the jokes try to make the person from the other country sound stupid or ignorant.

LilPaladinSuzy Chaotic New Troll from 4chan Since: Jul, 2010
Chaotic New Troll
#66: May 22nd 2011 at 6:31:04 PM

I like Jewish humor. It's a lot of Self-Deprecation and Dead Baby Comedy.

A Frenchman, a German and a Jew walk into a bar. "I'm tired and thirsty," says the Frenchman. "I must have wine."

"I'm tired and thirsty," says the German. "I must have beer."

"I'm tired and thirsty," says the Jew. "I must have diabetes."

Also:

"During the days of oppression and poverty of the Russian shtetls, one village had a rumour going around: a Christian girl was found murdered near their village. Fearing a pogrom, they gathered at the synagogue. Suddenly, the rabbi came running up, and cried, "Wonderful news! The murdered girl was Jewish!""

edited 22nd May '11 6:32:58 PM by LilPaladinSuzy

Would you kindly click my dragons?
Anthony_H Since: Jan, 2001
#67: May 22nd 2011 at 6:55:44 PM

I'm not really a fan of Mexican comedy: it relies too much in "characters" (see El Chavo Del Ocho) and is unexpectedly racist, and not even the "racial tension" kind of comedy, but the "Hahaha, Blacks are savages, Chinese have funny eyes" kind of thing.

Maybe too modernist for a posmodernist? It just feels...backwards compared to the awesome British Surrealism and American Slice of Life observations

Thank God I'm a Jew...our comedy rocks! cool

Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#68: May 24th 2011 at 9:51:09 AM

Surrealism is also what is called Pythonesque right?

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.
captainbrass2 from the United Kingdom Since: Mar, 2011
#69: May 24th 2011 at 10:59:06 AM

Kind of. Pythonesque means "like the kind of comedy purveyed by Monty Python", and since that was pretty surreal, the two tend to be closely related.

"Well, it's a lifestyle"
CaissasDeathAngel House Lewis: Sanity is Relative from Dumfries, SW Scotland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
#70: May 24th 2011 at 11:43:33 AM

Yeah, not all Monty Python was actually surrealist. Life Of Brian being one example where there's plenty of humour that isn't surreal (at least not in the same way as, say, Meaning Of Life was)

My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.
BestOf FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC! from Finland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Falling within your bell curve
FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC!
#71: May 24th 2011 at 2:01:30 PM

Since we're talking about Python, am I the only one who thinks that Meaning of Life is the best Monty Python film?

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.
BlackHumor Since: Jan, 2001
#72: May 24th 2011 at 2:42:00 PM

No, but only because it was the only one that most people don't spoil.

CaissasDeathAngel House Lewis: Sanity is Relative from Dumfries, SW Scotland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
#73: May 24th 2011 at 5:16:04 PM

It certainly has some of their best work - the Lumberjack song for example (always considered trying to parody that based around tropers...)

My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.
BlackHumor Since: Jan, 2001
#74: May 24th 2011 at 5:56:47 PM

Go ahead and try.

(But the lumberjack song wasn't from Meaning of Life.)

edited 24th May '11 5:57:04 PM by BlackHumor

BestOf FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC! from Finland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Falling within your bell curve
FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC!
#75: May 24th 2011 at 10:44:20 PM

The Lumberjack Song is in the series.

Meaning of Life does include some amazing songs, such as Galaxy Song, Every Sperm Is Sacred and ... well, that's it, actually. But the scetches around both of those songs are awesome. As is the one about WWI.

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.

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