Fri, Oct. 23rd, 2009, 08:09 am
Writer's Block: So funny I forgot to laugh

If a friend cracks a corny joke, do you force yourself to laugh politely? What about if it's your boss or teacher? Do you get annoyed if someone else pretends to be amused?

Submitted By [info]maxwearsboots


View 818 Answers



God no, I don't force myself to laugh politely.  I LOVE corny jokes--the cornier, the better!

Did you hear the one about the jump rope?  Skip it.

What I don't have the patience for is those jokes that are constructed like stories, and you have to pay attention through a long set up to get to the punch line.  Even if they're good and the story is interesting, somewhere in the second minute of this long, winding set up I start getting bored and tuning out.  And sometimes I resent having my time wasted with a story that doesn't matter to the person telling it, that isn't about them or how they live their lives or see the world.  Oddly, I don't mind having my time wasted by sit-coms.  But the patter on sitcoms is faster moving and there is usually a pay-off every...what?...30 seconds or so.  I don't know why I should resent jokes so much.  I guess it's because I know I can turn off the tv at any time, but once a joke has started I feel trapped until the punch line comes.  Usually then I laugh out of sheer relief.

Also?  I hate getting jokes by email.

But I love puns.