What causes people to laugh -- being an effective joke teller

Laughter is good for the body, mind, and soul.

So, what causes people to laugh?

In a class I was taking, people said that self-depreciating humor is usually the best. However, some people take that as low self esteem.

I guess no matter how you say something, someone will be offended somewhere, and that is sad.

But we are broken as no one is perfect.

In another text on public speaking, the author said that the best way to tell a joke is to have a dead panned expression. In that way, if the joke is not funny, you have not humiliated yourself by standing there with a Cheshire cat grin.

However, I have never mastered that technique.

Many times when I have a humorous true story to tell, I will start laughing and be unable to tell the joke without another start. By that time .... oh well. I am best for telling jokes and humorous stories over the internet where I can smile, laugh to tears, rush to the bathroom, and then take my time writing all without anyone seeing me do so.

Do share your jokes and techniques.

__________________
Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!
O Mary, Full of Grace;
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
For thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

+ + + + +

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory Forever!
O Giver of Life, Glory to Thee!


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I agree that some type of understatement can help in that way (it will usually be better to err by going "too small" than by going "too big"), but ultimately I think every joke is a risk, like stepping up to the plate in baseball. Nobody gets a hit every time.

Originally Posted by Chesterton

I agree that some type of understatement can help in that way (it will usually be better to err by going "too small" than by going "too big"), but ultimately I think every joke is a risk, like stepping up to the plate in baseball. Nobody gets a hit every time.

Oh, yes, every joke is a risk.

One has to make sure that the joke has no ethnic, religious, or racial stereotypes as that is not politically correct and just plain wrong.

So, a lot of jokes used in the 1950s and 1960s are taboo.

I still hear some insensitive jokes occasionally, but I can see from the tension on people's faces and their reactions that people are more aware and more sensitive.

Not only that, the entertaining speech during meals should not have too many jokes because people can choke on their food. So telling jokes can be medically risky.

I try not to tell jokes while people are swallowing food or drinks. I have choked before when others have told me jokes or when I have heard funny incidents.

__________________
Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!
O Mary, Full of Grace;
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
For thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

+ + + + +

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory Forever!
O Giver of Life, Glory to Thee!


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

If you think it may offend watch who you tell it too. I usually am never offended.