Seriously Funny

a reply to: Kandinsky

Anything taken too seriously is open game...

I find some just going for shock value or controversial; kind of pathethic. It's like the cheap unexpected jump in a horror film; instead of working to build that tension and suspense... that's what truely makes it an art form. Taking the stage to intentionally insult as the basis; is the job of a hack. I was speaking with a female commediane several years ago; she contacted me in the form a romantic pursuit; it seemed like it would be an ok thing; but her conversation and act consisted of all of "the losers" she had dated. I thought; it was more likely she is more interested in material than actual romance; since she was so focused on discussing such... I bid her adieu; as it became more tedious and boring than interesting.

I've dated a couple models and actresses but it is rare they take their work home with them; and if they do there's typically a heads up that they were trying to get in a particular shape for the runway or some role; sure I was happy to help them prepare by changing up the meals or playing stand in... I wouldn't have minded helping the commediane come up with a different routine just from seeing situations and giving a different point of view; but she seemed to have unwittingly typecasted herself and well focusing on such and expecting such out of every man she met to be the new loser; is what she and the audience was going to get, no matter who it was.

a reply to: Phage

Political comedians seem to get more applause. It's like a self-congratulatory circle-jerk. The jokers get the laughs. The best get by on both.

Gervais is one of those who (imo) runs high on smug and the crowds applaud his tired stuff out of a sort of worship. "He's so clever!"

a reply to: Kandinsky

There's nothing really clever about it.
Politicians make it too easy.

a reply to: BigBrotherDarkness

There's been some historical *thing* that women can't be funny. Fewer women comedians etc. In that context, I think quite a few women focused on ex-boyfriends, sex and hormones because they weren't good enough to rise above. They didn't have all the audience and aimed at the female side instead. Where are they now? Same place as all the second rate 90s comedians!

No harm with washing dirty laundry on a stage or using it for therapy (Stephen Fry et al). Big problem when it's all they got.

Schumer still ploughs the female stuff and elevates it into something guys can laugh at as well. Leggero too.

Just reminded me. Joan Rivers told a few shocking jokes. I'd forgotten about her.

a reply to: Phage

Been a big Bill Burr fan for years and gone off him now he's switched to being a political comedian. Trevor Noah too. Both funny guys whose politics are boring.

a reply to: Kandinsky

I would say statistically speaking women have done a lot better than males in comedy; if specifically looking at the numbers involved.

a reply to: BigBrotherDarkness

By what measure?

a reply to: Kandinsky

Just the sheer numbers involved in it over time; way more failed male commedians than failed female ones. Sure it may be easy to take the woman's only perspective as a trap that would set one up for failure... but not all of them fall into that trap however some of them can do it with a sort of style and grace that is funny even if it is expected or cliche for it to occur.

That also means there are a lot of unsung heros out there that have gotten passed over; back in the 90's I gave a friend a VHS of Robert Schimmel and forgot about it; like 15 years later... I just ran across this new commedian that is so funny; yeah who? Robert Schimmel. I said are you serious? I gave you a VHS of him like 15 years ago... I don't remember you doing that. No wonder it was 15 years ago... too bad you;re now just getting around to enjoy him.

a reply to: BigBrotherDarkness

I'm not so sure. It tends to be the men who dominate the circuits and especially these crazy stadium tours. They make more money.

The failure rate could be similar. Speculating...it could be 95% of male and female comics fail even though fewer women try stand up. I'm guessing.

a reply to: Kandinsky

That's what I mean; since it is so male dominated; more of them have failed to see the spot light than women have.

Remember how horrible Andrew Dice Clay was? So offensive that a female commediane bit his entire routine and even wardrobe to make fun of the Andrew Dice Clay stereo-type... successfully I may add.

a reply to: Dark Ghost

There was a Time when Society Not Long Ago Did Not have Such Thin Skin as it does Today when it came to Certain Expressions of Humor . WTF Happened ? .....)

a reply to: BigBrotherDarkness

Yeah I got your point and was saying maybe 95% of a 1000 men fail and the same for 100 women. That'd make their failure rates similar.

Oh dear on Dice Clay. He had a few jokes and the rest was garbage. IMO of course

a reply to: Zanti Misfit

I think more people became aware that quite a few actually are serious about that hate and discrimination as being real; instead of something people were just joking about to not take things so seriously. Comedy being political in nature even if the act isn't politics? Like the OP says it is still politics.

There's quite a few people; that cannot fathom why women or ethnicities typically make less for the same work; or have fewer opportunities in this day and age; seeing that such a thing was intentional and entrenched as pure hate being the motive for it; and that such a thing continues to go on? Has pissed a lot of people off where it's like everyone is so focused on nonsense that has nothing to do with the value of the person beyond the external or percieved stereotypes.

Especially in the digital age where many people have been exposed to so many other cultures beyond language barriers and borders and are down with eachother for how they are and what they are into instead of the superfical obvious; oh you're this ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation... those things two decades ago were a big deal; now it's like grow up there's more to people than this stereo-typical nonsense and they've grown tired of it... so much so many deemed millenials will intentionally tease and comment and troll to activate that buzz word called "trigger" to see if someone is going to get weird about it; and then laugh at them if they do because it is not something they really honestly take so seriously so taking it seriously has become the joke... because it honestly is stupid and that such a thing is allowed to go on in society? Is something that is concidered even more stupid.

So out of touch is basically what the big whoop is; a couple generations floating out there "in power and control", that make a big deal and discriminate in hate, and the last few that do not hold these view at all... so who is really out of touch? The last couple of generations are wholly disillusioned; that whoa thats the reality to you older people... that's just a whole bunch of suck you need to let go and just cut out, because no one chose their skin, or nationality, gender, or who they love/are attracted too, but every single one has chosen belief, and hanging onto that crap is just a bunch of useless stress.

That's my take on it; there's people nearly drinking age that have not ever lived a day, without hearing about war. So thinking about that perspective and others beyond all that superficial only leads to more insight and understanding into what succeeding generations are all about. Gen X has pushed a lot of the envelope towards what used to be an automatic reject comes as now acceptance; and then of course seeing those not long from the grave fighting to make that back into rejection; has kinda pissed quite a few people off... they don't see it as progress or evolving to go backwards in social realms.

I only speak of this in the idea of know your audience... my parents generation of belief and values all out just suck; they and their friends are racist, sexist, homophobic and paranoid about everything. Their clock has been flashing 12:00 noon for decades; just simply stopped it got too complex to understand or want too so everything they don't understand or want too is pure evil something out there after them wanting to get them. Of course the boomers right after them and both being in power? Leaves those afterwards kinda stranded in a twilight zone sort of existence... like this isn't my or our reality; how is this reality for others it makes no sense whatsoever? 12:00 noon flashing not that the older generations wouldn't want it to display the correct time; they just have no idea how to set it; it is too complex.

I already know and accept at 44 even though I have tried to stay up to date on everything; social and technological even with college degrees for some of those fields... my clock is flashing 12:00 noon and if I didn't accept or see that? I too would become one of those just holding the future back.

a reply to: BigBrotherDarkness

I think more people became aware that quite a few actually are serious about that hate and discrimination as being real; instead of something people were just joking about to not take things so seriously.

Of course they are real. And they are ridiculous. While laughing about hate and discrimination is deplorable I don't think that laughing at them is. Ridiculous things are laughable.

That's my take on it; there's people nearly drinking age that have not ever lived a day, without hearing about war.

I'm way past drinking age and can't remember not hearing about war. I grew up practicing diving under my desk at school for protection against nuclear annihilation. Funny? No. Ridiculous, yes.

a reply to: Phage

Agreed the bias that got ingrained in the system and politics in many places is rediculous; and the point to make fun of... like Strom Thurman practically died in office a senator for over 70 years cranky and racist as they came when he bit the big one. The disporia is that he was allowed to go on in such a post over the public for so long holding those views above the pubic in appointment; Jessie Helms another that held N.C. hostage for over 50 years.

But nearly 21 years at war and not hearing about it; is what I was getting at... I didn't say at as the specific because the children aren't the ones that have been there fighting it. It seemed like six lifetimes to get to 21 when I was younger time passes by so very slowly when young and most all activity such as kneeling under a desk with a plywood top in the possibility you will be kissing your ass good bye whether it could stop the ceiling falling on you made little difference where atomic blasts are a shock wave and radiation, at least several other classmates would likely be impaled right along with you melting together like a crispy shadow into the wall from the exterior wall getting bown inward as the roof then collapsed afterwards.

But yeah, thinking that nearly drinking age now; such images of get under your desk and kiss your lil ass good bye as a real everyday possbility or a flock of terrorists may jump out of the bushes with AK-47's instead of Watchtowers leaves quite the impact... of course they are going to say ffs can't we all get along; kinda tired of this as a daily threat... especially while teachers and everyone else are saying: think about the future... when it's dude; for the last however I have been alive there may have not been a tomorrow, piss off with that noise.

a reply to: Phage

How about you die laughing!

Cognitive and emotional demands of black humour processing: the role of intelligence, aggressiveness and mood

According to a new study published in the journal Cognitive Processing, your reaction could indicate your intelligence. In the paper, a team of psychologists concludes that people who appreciate dark humor— defined as “humor that treats sinister subjects like death, disease, deformity, handicap or warfare with bitter amusement and presents such tragic, distressing or morbid topics in humorous terms”—may have higher IQs, show lower aggression, and resist negative feelings more effectively than people who turn up their noses at it.

Exploring the relationship between attractiveness and a good sense of humour

Much research has shown the importance of physical attractiveness and a good sense of humour when choosing a mate. Evidence has shown that aspects of our appearance, such as symmetry or sex hormone markers, can be a sign of good health and fertility to potential mates, therefore it is highly adaptive to recognise these cues. It is however less clear what a good sense of humour communicates to others and why it is so important and attractive in potential partners. Some researchers have suggested that humour signals ‘good genes’, similar to the function of physical attractiveness, thus demonstrating how funny you are may increase how attractive others find you. However, other researchers suggest that we use humour to ‘indicate interest’ in individuals we are attracted to, meaning that physical attractiveness may enhance perceptions of funniness.

originally posted by: ancientthunder
a reply to: Phage

How about you die laughing!

This, for some reason, reminded of Lama Anagarika Govinda.

During an evening discussion on 14.1.1985, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck that traveled downwards. He lied down on his right side and died laughing.

originally posted by: Dark Ghost
Is it actually possible to make a joke that does not offend any one of the 7b+ people on this planet? Actually, no it's not possible. EVERY single time a joke is made, somebody or something is being made fun of.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Who or what is being made fun of?

originally posted by: Nothin

originally posted by: Dark Ghost
Is it actually possible to make a joke that does not offend any one of the 7b+ people on this planet? Actually, no it's not possible. EVERY single time a joke is made, somebody or something is being made fun of.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To see if the egg was on the otherside.

originally posted by: Nothin

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Who or what is being made fun of?

Are you kidding me?!?

Those jokes are sooooo offensive to poultry!!!

That kind of humor represents fowlism at it's very worst!!!


Man! I bet you're one of those fowlists that trots out the turkey jokes every November too!!