How do I develop a sense of humor? [Archive]

dnivera

08-21-2008, 06:05 AM

Aimahn

08-21-2008, 06:32 AM

I think there is a big difference between N and S humor and personally prefer N humor because it fits with my personal preference of being open ended and making connections. I think probably the best method for learning anything is experiencing what you intend to learn in a casual, less serious manner where the focus is on communicating not listing(playing a sport with profesionals as opposed to reading strategies) and in this regard humor is no different. If N humor is what you prefer I would suggest just watching comedians like Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart and Monty Python.

I would also suggest seeking out people with good vocabularies because having a deep and complex understanding of vocabulary with the ability to apply it effortlessly in a number of different situations often times involves an intuitive understanding and it also lends it self to puns which are also very intuitive. Philosphers are also good in this regard and they are most often in my opinion very humorous in a naturally intelligent effortless manner.

The biggest thing though is experiencing someone who is funny on a moderately consistent basis so that you inturn grasp how to one understand the humor and also to apply it yourself in an unforced way which is IMO the only for something to truly be really funny.

Martoon

08-21-2008, 07:03 AM

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not entirely happy with the type I was born with.
Nothin' wrong with ISTJ. And based on the percentages in your sig, you're pretty balanced - you could almost say XXXJ.
I'm overly serious
Well, it sounds like you don't want to be, so you must not be too serious about being serious.
I take everything personally
Well, that's gotta stop. ;) I think if you really work on that, most of the rest will fall into place. Stop taking yourself so seriously, and so will everyone else. :)
My parents were very serious, formal, no-nonsense kind of people so I never got it from them.
It's never too late to learn. And if you tend to project the same kind of image they did, play to that. It can be amazingly funny when someone like that comes out with something unexpected, especially when delivered in a deadpan way. And people probably won't know if you were trying to be funny or not. Have fun with that. Keep them wondering. People's psyches are playthings to be toyed with. Bat those suckers around like a kitten with a, um, little tiny toy psyche. Or something.

Part of it is that I just don't find a lot of things funny. Bodily humor, I don't enjoy. I don't really like sarcasm and I try not to use it myself, since I find it pessimistic. I mostly enjoy clean, smart jokes, and interesting word usage in unexpected situations (like Mad Libs). Maybe SJ humor was more prevalent pre-1960s; I find earlier TV and writing more funny than whatever's on TV these days.
Don't try to force yourself into humor that isn't your style. Go with what you find funny. That's your best shot at getting someone else to.

Thursday

08-21-2008, 07:04 AM

get on my aim

ajblaise

08-21-2008, 07:19 AM

I'd recommend cutting a little loose in your life in general (which would probably be a good thing on it's own) and your sense of humor will develop. I see someone's worldview and their sense of humor to be very related.

The_Liquid_Laser

08-21-2008, 12:16 PM

I think the first step is to learn to laugh at yourself. If you take yourself too seriously it will reflect on how you view everything else. Try to examine your own life and see if you do things that are weird compared to the norm, especially if you can't really explain why. Appreciate the humor in that and then you'll start seeing it elsewhere too. :)

Victor

08-21-2008, 02:57 PM

Humour is actually very interesting.

In spite of what I first thought, humour is a cognitive function rather than a creative function of the mind.

So for instance. as you turn off the cognitive functions of your mind as you enter a trance, you also turn off humour. In fact one of the signs you are in a trance, is that, temporarily, your sense of humour is asleep.

But from a practical point of view, humour is, most of all, enjoyable.

So it is a mistake to directly try and develop a sense of humour, the better approach is to find things you enjoy and keep on enjoying them. The truly important thing to do in your life is to cultivate enjoyment.

If you follow your enjoyment, your humour will follow - humour follows enjoyment - humour loves enjoyment and enjoyment loves humour.

Udog

08-21-2008, 03:20 PM

Go to comedy shows. Laughter is contagious, and being in a group of people that are laughing may help you to loosen up. Also, downing a few beverages beforehand may not hurt! Both should help make the comic appear funnier than he would be under normal circumstances, and may help you open yourself up to other types of humor.

You can also try reading the book "Comedy Writing Secrets", which is a pretty good introduction to some of the concept of humor.

disregard

08-21-2008, 04:06 PM

I think a sense of humor relies upon a joie de vivre (which does necessarily ensure it), which is impossible to attain when you take everything personally and are overly serious!

Work on that. Work on your fear.

edcoaching

08-21-2008, 06:41 PM

I do think there's an S-N difference in humor. Usually Mel Brooks plays to both sides. Monty Python tends to be N. Humor that plays off of real life (watch or listen to Bill Cosby's old routines for example, not the TV shows, as he talks about growing up with his brother, watching horror films, etc.) seems to work for both as well.

N's tend to want to engage the mind with the humor, so patterns and running jokes and fast wordplay and humor where you have to know something to get it are favorites (A philospher sat at a bar. The bartender asked, "Want another drink?" He answered, "I think not..." and disappeared...)

My husband prefers Sensing and thinks Mouse Hunt and some other slapstic stuff is way funnier than I find it. Young Frankenstein and Princess Bride and A Christmas Story are mutually funny.

Edahn

08-21-2008, 07:13 PM

You could start by being less of a total nerd.

I have a feeling that you're putting too much pressure on yourself to come up with the "right" line. Wit and humor are best when they're spontaneous, and those people aren't putting pressure on themselves to be funny. It happens because their mind is free to move into areas of linguistic and situation absurdity. You can't demand yourself to produce something like that because you can't demand that you produce anything natural. So, you really have to be in the right mood, and self-critical or judgmental (same thing, different orientation) is not the right mood.

So, what should you do? I say forget trying to be a funny person and focus on laughing and loosening up. Start to broaden your comedic palette by searching out new comedians and new forms of comedy (physical, slapstick, situational). If you demand yourself to like it, well, obviously, you won't, because you won't be in the right mood (back to self-critical). If you've already set some parameters about what humor tickles you, you also won't enjoy it because you'll be too discriminating (back to judgmental). If you just give a chance, who knows. Maybe it'll suck, but maybe you'll find its extreme suckage to be amusing.

YouTube and ComedyCentral might be some places to start. Renting some movies, watching some shows (Curb Your Enthusiasm), cartoons maybe (Family Guy), too. (I don't like modern sitcoms either, by the way.)

Xander

08-21-2008, 07:33 PM

Try searching yourself up some 'Yes minister' and 'Yes prime minister' if you like word humour.

Oh and echoing Edahn, it's a game. Just play it the way you enjoy playing it. Screw what others find funny. Hell half the time I'm the only one laughing but I can usually jolly people along.

The ISTJ I know usually finds parallels with his vast repository of information funny or amusing switches of words but most often of all he is the straight guy. It's not that he's funny per se but his reactions to humour are. From my point of view I'm happy to have him around because even though he's no Tommy Cooper he is fun... even if it is based on a background of victimisation (as lots of humour is).

dnivera

08-21-2008, 08:04 PM

Don't get me wrong, I actually really enjoy laughter and being silly. I just don't find lots of mainstream humor funny. Saturday Night Live and John Stewart are hit-or-miss for me lots of the time. I don't get Monty Python humor (it's just strange to me, occasionally funny, but not belly-laugh funny). For puns, it depends....some are reallly bad. I do like satires, like Family Guy or South Park, depending on the subject. Most of the time I don't care for those shows.

But I still don't really know how to answer people's witty remarks with retorts of my own. I tend to answer seriously all the time. Eh, I think you're right that I put too much pressure on myself. I think I need to be able to understand N humor (like Monty Python) better before I can do that.

Splittet

08-21-2008, 08:16 PM

Well, I found the thread title hilarious... Maybe you could consciously make similar jokes and develop self-irony?

dnivera

08-21-2008, 08:30 PM

But then you would be laughing *at* me and not *with* me. It's bad enough already.

colmena

08-21-2008, 08:36 PM

But then you would be laughing *at* me and not *with* me. It's bad enough already.

Then take charge and make it a conscious decision.

Someone not getting a joke can be very funny. If you emphasise the literal meaning and play it up, it can make it even more funny.

colmena

08-21-2008, 08:38 PM

THE VICAR OF DIBLEY jokes at the end. ^

Can some people in the UK give me a :yes:

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vicar+of+dibley+joke&search_type=&aq=f)

Then just hit them with some awesome T pre and post jokes.

Hmm

08-21-2008, 09:17 PM

Actually, I think you're taking this humor thing too seriously. From the way you've described yourself, you sound pretty normal to me. There is nothing wrong with you. So not everything is funny to you? That's okay. And guess what? When other people are talking to you and being all witty and funny, they usually like to be the "star" or "the funniest person in the room" anyway, so let them. If all else fails, I think Victor's advice was good.

Haphazard

08-21-2008, 09:32 PM

S and N humor are likely different.

A bit of advice -- don't tell jokes in a deadpan. They'll think you're serious. I've gotten into assloads of trouble this way.

And a question for you. Do you find the Ministry of Silly Walks funny?

Mozzes

08-21-2008, 10:11 PM

S and N humor are likely different.

A bit of advice -- don't tell jokes in a deadpan. They'll think you're serious. I've gotten into assloads of trouble this way.

Admittedly that can be pretty funny though.

Edahn

08-21-2008, 10:17 PM

A bit of advice -- don't tell jokes in a deadpan. They'll think you're serious. I've gotten into assloads of trouble this way.

That's bad advice.

Haphazard

08-21-2008, 10:18 PM

That's bad advice.

Jokes are not worth suspension. That is all.

Edahn

08-21-2008, 10:23 PM

Jokes are not worth suspension. That is all.

Hm... y'know what I think?

Haphazard

08-21-2008, 10:26 PM

Hm... y'know what I think?

That I can't tell jokes without being wildly offensive.

I know that's what you think, but it's not true. Just trust me on this one.

Either that, or I just really suck at jokes. I should just stop before I embarrass myself or get arrested.

Edahn

08-21-2008, 10:27 PM

That I can't tell jokes without being wildly offensive.

I know that's what you think, but it's not true. Just trust me on this one.

Either that, or I just really suck at jokes. I should just stop before I embarrass myself or get arrested.

Nope.

Haphazard

08-21-2008, 10:29 PM

Nope.

Fine then. But I'm just going to continue on thinking that's what you think, because you haven't given any indication otherwise.

Carry on. Dnivera, good luck. You'll need it.

Hmm

08-21-2008, 10:33 PM

A bit of advice -- don't tell jokes in a deadpan. They'll think you're serious. I've gotten into assloads of trouble this way.

I love jokes told in deadpan!!! They're hilarious. Even if I don't get it at first (admittedly I'm kinda slow sometimes), once you explain then I think they're really funny. Hap, you can tell me those kinds of jokes anytime. :happy2:

Edahn

08-21-2008, 10:34 PM

Fine then. But I'm just going to continue on thinking that's what you think, because you haven't given any indication otherwise.

Carry on. Dnivera, good luck. You'll need it.

I'll tell you later.

reason

08-21-2008, 10:44 PM

I was once fired from a job for telling a joke.

Uberfuhrer

08-21-2008, 10:53 PM

I was once fired from a job for telling a joke.

I was fired from two jobs for telling a joke. Bureaucrats don't have a sense of humor.

The first thing to do if you're trying to develop a sense of humor is to not take yourself seriously. Also, it's much advisable to trivialize real happenings that most people are too uptight to make fun of.

Edahn

08-21-2008, 10:54 PM

I was once fired from a job for telling a joke.

What was the joke?

Uberfuhrer

08-21-2008, 11:12 PM

What was the joke?

I'm guessing it was the story or phrase intended to make people laugh.

dnivera

08-21-2008, 11:18 PM

Ministry of Silly Walks is moderately amusing to me, but not that funny. I must do more research on this matter! :)

helen

08-21-2008, 11:26 PM

Why should you develop a sense of humor? What is so funny? hehe

See, I haven't got the greatest sense of humor myself. I seldom make others laugh. But when I'm feeling happy I'm more prone to chuckle/giggle over stuff that I normally wouldn't find all that funny. Maybe you could try working on developing a more lighthearted, happy approach to life and humor would fall into place?

T.V. bores me. You could try reading some comical stuff.
I have laughed aloud while reading: Barbara Pym, Anne Tyler, P.G. Wodehouse, and Anthony Berkeley. They are really good writers in addition to being humorous. You might like to give 'em a try.

Athenian200

08-21-2008, 11:32 PM

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not entirely happy with the type I was born with. I'm overly serious, I take everything personally, and I don't joke around with others. I admire people who can keep up witty repartee.
So, my question is, how do I develop a sense of humor? My parents were very serious, formal, no-nonsense kind of people so I never got it from them. I hate being a robot.

I know everyone will recommend spending time with funny people (I've been trying to find them among my circle of sarcastic scientists) and maybe watching sitcoms. Is that really going to help? What else can I do?

Part of it is that I just don't find a lot of things funny. Bodily humor, I don't enjoy. I don't really like sarcasm and I try not to use it myself, since I find it pessimistic. I mostly enjoy clean, smart jokes, and interesting word usage in unexpected situations (like Mad Libs). Maybe SJ humor was more prevalent pre-1960s; I find earlier TV and writing more funny than whatever's on TV these days.

I do enjoy some of the witty banter here on some of the lighter threads and wish that I could do that myself! If only I knew the right thing to say. I can never come up with a response fast enough, and I seem to think of responses too slowly. :( Maybe S humor and N humor are different?

Well... I don't know what to tell you. This is the one area Ps have an advantage over Js, it seems. I really don't think not having a great sense of humor is a big deal, so don't beat yourself up about it. Really.

I don't think you can really help what you find funny. Your sense of humor is how it is. Now, you can cultivate more of what you already have, but you can't learn to appreciate something you just don't get at all. That's how it is, I think.

If you really want to work on it, though, you just have to throw something out there when you think of something, even if you think it's stupid. It will seem awkward, badly timed, and not very funny at first, but if you keep at it, you should get better at it. It's one of those things you have to stumble through if you want to master it... not very appealing, but it can be done.

reason

08-21-2008, 11:40 PM

This thread is boring ... and therefore amusing. That doesn't make sense!

Jen

08-21-2008, 11:44 PM

This thread is boring ... and therefore amusing. That doesn't make sense!Sometimes when I'm bored, I start laughing so hard, I start crying. Has this every happened to you?

reason

08-21-2008, 11:46 PM

Sometimes when I'm bored, I start laughing so hard, I start crying. Has this ever happened to you?No. But then I have never been you bored.

Jen

08-21-2008, 11:50 PM

No. But then I have never been you bored.See? Now that's funny. :laugh: Imagine being someone else bored. It's so sadistic, it's funny.

Splittet

08-22-2008, 12:08 AM

Well... I don't know what to tell you. This is the one area Ps have an advantage over Js, it seems. I really don't think not having a great sense of humor is a big deal, so don't beat yourself up about it. Really.

Actually it is extroverted people who are supposedly funnier than introverted people. That's the correlation I have seen, at least...

Jack Flak

08-22-2008, 12:11 AM

Most of my fav. stand-ups are probably introverts, fwiw.

Splittet

08-22-2008, 12:15 AM

Most of my fav. stand-ups are probably introverts, fwiw.

I was surprised seeing it as well, which is probably why I remember it. Doesn't mean all extroverts are funnier than introverts, or that introverts can't be comedians...

Hmm

08-22-2008, 12:29 AM

What does fwiw mean?

Here's a nice article.

Developing Your Sense Of Humor (http://ezinearticles.com/?Developing-Your-Sense-Of-Humor&id=181073)

Jack Flak

08-22-2008, 12:30 AM

Fabulous wankers imbibe whiskey.

spirilis

08-22-2008, 12:31 AM

What does fwiw mean?

Here's a nice article.

Developing Your Sense Of Humor (http://ezinearticles.com/?Developing-Your-Sense-Of-Humor&id=181073)

For What It's Worth

Hmm

08-22-2008, 12:41 AM

For What It's Worth

spirilis, when I read your response, I had already forgotten that I asked that question and thought you were giving your opinion on the article I posted and just hadn't finished your sentence. Like...

spirilis: "For What It's Worth........"

<crickets chirping>

spirilis

08-22-2008, 12:45 AM

spirilis, when I read your response, I had already forgotten that I asked that question and thought you were giving your opinion on the article I posted and just hadn't finished your sentence. Like...

spirilis: "For What It's Worth........"

<crickets chirping>

Haha, I left ya hanging didn't I :hug:

proteanmix

08-22-2008, 12:49 AM

I find a lot of humor has to do with ingroup/outgroup status, is culturally specific and depends on your frame of reference. The most universally appealing type of humor tends to be physical, like someone slipping on a banana peel. I know I love watching those crazy Japanese game shows and even though I don't understand the language it's hilarious. I do think there is a S and N difference in humor, but all those zany connections that Ns like to make would fall flat if there is no repertoire of knowledge available to make the connection. I find that much of what people say is N humor is dependent upon what they know to make a connection to. S humor I do think tends to be more physical and grounded, but seems actually seems more versatile.

Most of the comedians people mention on the forum I've never really heard of or I don't find them funny. Using Monty Python as a measure of what's funny is kinda lame to me. Likewise if I dropped a few names that I find funny, I doubt people would have heard of them. I notice with my film group, people tend to think British comedies are the pinnacle of comedic excellence.

The whole Dave Chappelle thing is a good example. He quit his show because he felt mainstream culture didn't "get it." The whole laugh at, not laugh with.

Just to echo what some people have already said, don't put the pressure on yourself to be funny and witty. I know people that swing to the other extreme and never take anything seriously even when you want them to. Just don't be a wet blanket. :)

Uberfuhrer

08-22-2008, 12:51 AM

I actually don't think any comedians are funny.

Hmm

08-22-2008, 01:07 AM

Fabulous wankers imbibe whiskey.

Thanks! I should have guessed that. :doh:

Victor

08-22-2008, 02:40 AM

I think a sense of humor relies upon a joie de vivre

Yes, humour arises out of the joy of life.

So it is important to focus on the joy.

Ask your mind the question, where is my joy?

Don't try and answer the question, just let it rest in your mind.

And without any effort, you will start to see joy around you.

And then you are bound to be good humoured.

Victor

08-22-2008, 02:46 AM

Here's a nice article.

Developing Your Sense Of Humor (http://ezinearticles.com/?Developing-Your-Sense-Of-Humor&id=181073)

This is a good article.

booyalab

08-22-2008, 06:05 PM

Actually it is extroverted people who are supposedly funnier than introverted people. That's the correlation I have seen, at least...

I haven't found that to be the case. Jokes by extroverts usually get the polite smile from me, or a polite chuckle if I'm feeling charitable. But jokes by introverts are usually dry and more original and half of the fun is seeing the subtle wit go way over the heads of all the extroverts in the room.

Thursday

08-22-2008, 09:16 PM

Tallulah

08-22-2008, 09:45 PM

I've always loved comedy and when I was a kid, I can remember almost studying the comedians I liked best, trying to figure out what make a joke work, noticing timing of delivery, what words are inherently funny, etc. There really is an art to comedy, but if you break it down too much, it ceases to be funny. Try to notice the reasons a joke works while you're watching tv or a funny movie. Notice the setup, the joke, the facial or physical reaction, the timing, the emphasis on certain words. That will give you a set of guidelines, which the lack of may be contributing to your lack of confidence in your sense of humor.

My favorite comedy on tv right now is 30 Rock. It's got a mix of "smart" comedy, social commentary, over-the-top goofiness, puns, strange characters, farce physical comedy, just everything, really. I think it'd be a good one to study. Frasier might be a good one, too, but you'd have to rent those on netflix or something.

My sister is an ISTJ, but she grew up in a family that was always joking and being goofy, so she has a great sense of humor. We don't always have the same taste in movies now, but growing up, we tended to find a lot of the same things funny. She comes up with things I'd never have though of, but she can make me laugh a lot. I have another friend who is ISTJ, and she reminds me of Lilith on Frasier. She's very formal, very monotone, which is kinda funny in and of itself. She has a sense of humor, but it's very dry and deadpan, and sometimes she has to let you know when she says something that was supposed to be funny. It's actually pretty charming, though, because she knows that about herself, and has a good sense of humor about herself. She knows that sometimes we laugh at something she says that wasn't meant to be funny, and she just rolls with it as if she'd told a joke.

Splittet

08-22-2008, 10:30 PM

I haven't found that to be the case. Jokes by extroverts usually get the polite smile from me, or a polite chuckle if I'm feeling charitable. But jokes by introverts are usually dry and more original and half of the fun is seeing the subtle wit go way over the heads of all the extroverts in the room.

Ah, didn't mean it was the correlation I had noticed personally. I read it in my personality psychology book (five factor model research)... Personally I never really noticed much of a difference, but it's probably true...

Alpha-6

08-23-2008, 05:21 PM

So, my question is, how do I develop a sense of humor? My parents were very serious, formal, no-nonsense kind of people so I never got it from them. I hate being a robot.

I know everyone will recommend spending time with funny people (I've been trying to find them among my circle of sarcastic scientists) and maybe watching sitcoms. Is that really going to help? What else can I do?

Part of it is that I just don't find a lot of things funny. Bodily humor, I don't enjoy. I don't really like sarcasm and I try not to use it myself, since I find it pessimistic. I mostly enjoy clean, smart jokes, and interesting word usage in unexpected situations (like Mad Libs). Maybe SJ humor was more prevalent pre-1960s; I find earlier TV and writing more funny than whatever's on TV these days.

I do enjoy some of the witty banter here on some of the lighter threads and wish that I could do that myself! If only I knew the right thing to say. I can never come up with a response fast enough, and I seem to think of responses too slowly. :( Maybe S humor and N humor are different?

I feel your pain. I haven't laughed in years, but I make people laugh. Just smile, fake laugh, use slang/hip phrases, be sarcastic and don't hesitate to steal jokes. If they catch you stealing a joke, just deny it. Its that simple.

Mort Belfry

08-24-2008, 03:12 AM

I actually don't think any comedians are funny.

I prefer stand-up tragedians.

You know, the ones that start off, "Hey, great to be here, only because it lets me escape from my real life where I'm in love with a girl whose parents are trying to seperate us and I doubt we'll ever have the happiness that we in life crave."

Jack Flak

08-24-2008, 03:34 AM

I prefer stand-up tragedians.

You know, the ones that start off, "Hey, great to be here, only because it lets me escape from my real life where I'm in love with a girl whose parents are trying to seperate us and I doubt we'll ever have the happiness that we in life crave."
I thought R&J was a comedy.

LostInNerSpace

08-24-2008, 12:19 PM

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not entirely happy with the type I was born with. I'm overly serious, I take everything personally,

People are crazy. People will think all kinds of things about you. You can't let it get to you. You will get on well with some people, and not so well with others. You don't like everyone, do you? Then why should you expect everyone to like you?

and I don't joke around with others. I admire people who can keep up witty repartee.
So, my question is, how do I develop a sense of humor? My parents were very serious, formal, no-nonsense kind of people so I never got it from them. I hate being a robot.

I know everyone will recommend spending time with funny people (I've been trying to find them among my circle of sarcastic scientists) and maybe watching sitcoms. Is that really going to help? What else can I do?

Part of it is that I just don't find a lot of things funny. Bodily humor, I don't enjoy. I don't really like sarcasm and I try not to use it myself, since I find it pessimistic. I mostly enjoy clean, smart jokes, and interesting word usage in unexpected situations (like Mad Libs). Maybe SJ humor was more prevalent pre-1960s; I find earlier TV and writing more funny than whatever's on TV these days.

Find comedians you like and listen to their jokes. Tell their jokes, and modify to create your own joke. With practice you will come up with your own.

I do enjoy some of the witty banter here on some of the lighter threads and wish that I could do that myself! If only I knew the right thing to say. I can never come up with a response fast enough, and I seem to think of responses too slowly. :( Maybe S humor and N humor are different?

You worry too much about what other people are thinking. You need to let go. Practice making a fool of yourself sometimes. A huge part of humor is delivery. If you are confident and relaxed, i.e. don't particularly care whether or not people find your humor funny, you well on your way.

S and N humor is different. That does not mean N will not find S funny, or vice versa.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not entirely happy with the type I was born with.

I just remembered something Keirsey said. He said temperament is your hardware, character is your software.

Keirsey Temperament Website (http://www.keirsey.com/temperament_vs_character.aspx)

If you work hard enough at it, you should be able to develop some of the character of an Artisan which is what I believe you are after.

booya moon

08-25-2008, 08:44 PM

I read somewhere that humor is the product of both sides of the brain, so I think it`s probably your upbringing that is responsible for the lack of humor, not you being ISTJ :unsure: Maybe unconsciously you think it is bad to make jokes, because your parents were so serious and gave you that impression when you were young.
I have ISTJ friend who is like you, but only when there are many people present. When we are alone or in a small group of people she knows well, she is really funny most of the time.
Maybe you should try your humor in a "safe" environment with people you know well first and than move to larger audiences :D

Cimarron

08-26-2008, 03:17 AM

Ministry of Silly Walks is moderately amusing to me, but not that funny. I must do more research on this matter! :)
You know what's funny? I just noticed that your avatar is not what I thought it was. It looked like a bunch of coffee mugs sitting upside-down on top of a person's head, overlapping with each other.

dnivera

08-26-2008, 03:46 AM

You know what's funny? I just noticed that your avatar is not what I thought it was. It looked like a bunch of coffee mugs sitting upside-down on top of a person's head, overlapping with each other.

I'll give it away: Hamamatsu Photonics.

At least you didn't say squid tentacles!

sophiedoph

08-30-2008, 02:10 AM

Read funny books. Terry Pratchett is a good start.

dnivera

08-30-2008, 03:39 AM

That's a good idea. I've never read him before, any recommendations on where to start?

I've read some Douglas Adams, I'm guessing they're similar?

sophiedoph

08-30-2008, 05:07 AM

Guards! Guards! Is my absolute favorite starting point--and the whole Guards series is wonderful, culminating in Men at Arms, one of the best books I've ever read, period.

I used to not have any sense of humor. Reading funny, sarcastic authors really helps me start thinking in a humorous way.

Probably similar to Douglas Adams, yep! Here's a reading guide/map: The Terry Pratchett Read Order (http://www.voidspace.org.uk/cyberpunk/pratchett_order.shtml)

Small Gods is hilarious too. They are all wonderful, but some are absolutely outstanding too.

sophiedoph

08-30-2008, 05:09 AM

PS-my dad is ISTJ and likes to use popular jokes/funny stories for humor. (Readers Digest funnies, etc.) He uses funny accents and tones of voices for various things and he's quite popular.

Also, he loves Terry Pratchett. I pass along all the books I read to him. :D

lookoutbelow84093

09-02-2008, 03:52 PM

Hmm a sense of humor...
I would embrace your emotions. I think most humor has to do with people letting out their emotions in a socially acceptable way.

iamWong

09-07-2008, 04:35 AM

How To Develop a Sense of Humour

Step 1: Brush up on jokes. If required, obtain joke books.

Step2: Watch more comedies. Eg: french and saunders. Little britain.

Step 3: there are no steps to developing a sense of humour silly.
It comes naturally. There's no faster way of killing it than trying to create one.
Just stick with the little jokes you like - punning, anyone ?

Good luck on this one.
May you find your inner funny.

Some wise guy once said
"Many strive to be funny, many practice being funny, many remain boring sods"

Lighten up, man. I'm sure you'll find your inner funny someday (: