So what about people who lack a sense of humor? According to this (bogus) article, they are so happy that they don't need jokes!
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If you were looking for jokes that related to the darkness and void of human existence, what search terms would you use?
An economist saying comedians end up in hell is like Donald Trump giving marriage advice.
Shaun Eli Breidbart
BrainChampagne.com
Shaun Eli Breidbart
BrainChampagne.com
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I guess many are in for a good laugh as we deal with a horror of human existence and a joke in its own right - donald trump.
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This is a sick column. And it's Saturday, a day of supposed upbeat joy.
Ummmm.....
Ummmm.....
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Some of the more humorous thoughts can be found every day in the reader comments of this paper, but not the columns.
Jews burn longer? Not funny.
Jews burn longer? Not funny.
I'm puzzled by authors claim "I thought we used humor to deal with the horror of human existence". Humor is one way to deal with sadness but isn't it apparent that most people in impoverished nations don't seek out humor to deal with tragedies. Also, It's quite evident that people who go to comedy shows are predisposed for laughter.
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I did my college thesis on humor: its requisite elements/forms, uses and
“purposes”. Here's what I concluded. The engine that drives all humor
is the recognition/revelation of the things that are WRONG with life
and, especially, with humanity-- life's randomness; pointlessness;
unfairness; uncontrollability; etc., and humanity's hypocrisy,
arrogance; immorality; irrationality; impotence; etc. From the simplest
“slapstick” to the subtlest intellectual humor, every joke has at its
core a harsh reality of life which we'd all prefer to deny (and likely
try to pretend we can avoid/overcome). The man slipping on the banana
peel reveals the human hypocrisy that we're in control of our lives
(which can be easily disproved by nothing more than the low coefficient
of friction between the skin of a fruit and a concrete sidewalk).
The PURPOSE of humor is to assert (even, tentatively) that we are NOT DEFEATED/paralyzed by what's wrong with life and wrong with us; undaunted, we'll strive, hope, and maybe pray to make the most of what we are and the world we inhabit, despite the realities. “Gallows humor” is a transparent example of this; it's why Jews are especially likely to tell Holocaust jokes. While (transitory) human emotions like happiness and sorrow are closely connected to this philosophy of humor, it's clear that they're not its direct cause-and-effect. So, here's the reason that there are no jokes told in heaven: in heaven, everything works the way it ought to.
“purposes”. Here's what I concluded. The engine that drives all humor
is the recognition/revelation of the things that are WRONG with life
and, especially, with humanity-- life's randomness; pointlessness;
unfairness; uncontrollability; etc., and humanity's hypocrisy,
arrogance; immorality; irrationality; impotence; etc. From the simplest
“slapstick” to the subtlest intellectual humor, every joke has at its
core a harsh reality of life which we'd all prefer to deny (and likely
try to pretend we can avoid/overcome). The man slipping on the banana
peel reveals the human hypocrisy that we're in control of our lives
(which can be easily disproved by nothing more than the low coefficient
of friction between the skin of a fruit and a concrete sidewalk).
The PURPOSE of humor is to assert (even, tentatively) that we are NOT DEFEATED/paralyzed by what's wrong with life and wrong with us; undaunted, we'll strive, hope, and maybe pray to make the most of what we are and the world we inhabit, despite the realities. “Gallows humor” is a transparent example of this; it's why Jews are especially likely to tell Holocaust jokes. While (transitory) human emotions like happiness and sorrow are closely connected to this philosophy of humor, it's clear that they're not its direct cause-and-effect. So, here's the reason that there are no jokes told in heaven: in heaven, everything works the way it ought to.
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The secret sauce for my joy in life is found in my diagnosis for cancer and heart disease. I could be a fatalist, but I prefer to be happy and take joy in everything around me.
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You are a hero of humanity. As a nurse of decades, your type is my most admired, and when my day comes, as it will, I hope to highest heaven, if there is such a thing, I will be like you. The best to you and to those around you. How they benefit from your demeanor!
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Be careful analyzing the "The Best Day for a Laugh" data.
This election cycle, both the leading candidates are a joke. They cater to our humor and entertainment needs -- which explain the low numbers around Tuesday (primary day).
This election cycle, both the leading candidates are a joke. They cater to our humor and entertainment needs -- which explain the low numbers around Tuesday (primary day).
Another study that claims to be universal, examining a slice of the population that searches online. Well, sharing Comedy Central stand up comics in the nursing home helped my roommate as much as me.
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It really depends upon what you think is funny. I laugh at what I consider my jokes, but usually my wife or friends just want to kick me out of the car. But if I started to cry bitter tears that is what they would do any way. Perhaps I should just shut up and give the NYT comment reviewers a break.
Are you sure you are not making conclusions using data from google searches by middle schoolers? Dead baby jokes and this pathetic Holocaust not-a-joke is not how I or any adult friend I know find relief in humor.
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How to take the humor out of humor - explain it.
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Far be it from me to argue with the results culled from Prof. Google, but in the over four decades that I have been in Israel I have I never heard a Holocaust joke in any language, neither when threats to Israel were low or when they were high.
Personally, and this may be due to my apparently impaired sense of humor, I see nothing to joke about, but that is just my view.
Personally, and this may be due to my apparently impaired sense of humor, I see nothing to joke about, but that is just my view.
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I hope you will continue this study through this year's presidential election. If Trump should win (God forbid), I think that "joke searches" on Wednesday November 9th will be anything but "average."
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Is Seth Stephens-Davidowitz a Donald Trump with a PhD? He boasts
of feats of comprehensive data analysis, but presents them in a
way that makes you wonder just how focused he is. This in turn
casts doubt on his credibility.
Consider his assertions about the effect of the Boston Marathon
disaster. He says the searches on "jokes" "dropped nearly 20
percent." From his chart he apparently means that he compared
April 16, say, with the average of the same day in the previous
four years. You and I don't have inside access to his Google data,
but to the extent we can verify them using Google Trends, it
looks like there was a major decline overall throughout 2012
that puts the whole of 2013 about 20 percent below the whole of
2010. So it's likely that many other days throughout 2013 could be
found that qualified as being 20 percent below their corresponding
previous-four-year averages. How many of the other results in
his article are this flaky?
Incidentally, searches on "jokes" are actually quite constant
throughout the year, except for a HUUUUGE spike around April Fools
Day.
of feats of comprehensive data analysis, but presents them in a
way that makes you wonder just how focused he is. This in turn
casts doubt on his credibility.
Consider his assertions about the effect of the Boston Marathon
disaster. He says the searches on "jokes" "dropped nearly 20
percent." From his chart he apparently means that he compared
April 16, say, with the average of the same day in the previous
four years. You and I don't have inside access to his Google data,
but to the extent we can verify them using Google Trends, it
looks like there was a major decline overall throughout 2012
that puts the whole of 2013 about 20 percent below the whole of
2010. So it's likely that many other days throughout 2013 could be
found that qualified as being 20 percent below their corresponding
previous-four-year averages. How many of the other results in
his article are this flaky?
Incidentally, searches on "jokes" are actually quite constant
throughout the year, except for a HUUUUGE spike around April Fools
Day.
3
As a 12 yr expat working in middle/up middle class México I would like you Seth to please (when you have time) get into this further in terms of cultural uses of jokes & humor the way you indicate about Israel. Its a well known high point in language/culture adaptation when one can truly "get" jokes and make them in a foreign society. Course like the Jewish jokes and Af-Am jokes - and even say PMS jokes you have to be very very careful when not of the culture/race/gender to get into this territory - if you want to be a decent person that is.
1
I find myself looking for comedy and/or happy relief after spending a couple of hours reading the news every day. Laughing babies is a good search because nothing perks one up like the sound of a baby giggling unless it's fifty of them with videos. Anyone who is looking for a laugh this morning may find it at the link below. If the link doesn't work you can copy and paste it into your browser - it's well worth it. The title is "Never Forget 7-11". Happy Day Everyone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtGOufHwvas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtGOufHwvas
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When reflective and insightful genius like Kierkegaard, Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain all agree on something they are known to understand, they are probably not all just wrong. There is something more complex going on.
Internet searches for humor is a very specific thing. When we look on the internet for new jokes may not be when we most feel the need for humor. I need some new jokes may not be the low point. It also may not be for the same sort of humor we seek use when feeling down.
I trust that this research was carefully done and the result real, but I wonder if he has found exactly what he thinks he found, or something else related to it.
Internet searches for humor is a very specific thing. When we look on the internet for new jokes may not be when we most feel the need for humor. I need some new jokes may not be the low point. It also may not be for the same sort of humor we seek use when feeling down.
I trust that this research was carefully done and the result real, but I wonder if he has found exactly what he thinks he found, or something else related to it.
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