Learn to joke but talk. What if there is no interesting news? How do writers come up with jokes then? What does a good joke mean

Resting in the zone after lights out.
Suddenly from one side flies: 32.
Everyone is shaking with laughter!
Then again: 12.
The camera gasps.
A newcomer asks a neighbor: What are the numbers?
The old one replies: You see, we have been sitting for many days, we learned all the jokes so as not to repeat them, we gave numbers. You say the number, everyone remembers and laughs.
New yelling: 17.
Silence…
He asks: Why isn't #17 funny?
Old-timer: You see, the joke is funny, it’s just that there are people who know how to tell, but who can’t eat!

Let's not have long and tedious academic conversations about the types of jokes and how to use them. This in itself kills all the romance and the desire to joke. A joke, it is born spontaneously, at the right moment in right place, invented houses and memorized patterns will not work, they will unsettle you, make you switch from a general conversation, get hung up on your thoughts. And what is the result? You, your hard-won, tortured, undeniably beautiful creation, blurt out inappropriately, off topic.

An interesting fact is that the human brain reacts to a joke, as well as to pain, or rather, the same area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe brain is responsible for the reaction. The frontal lobes are involved in any non-standard situation. From this, two important conclusions can be drawn:

The brightest joke is unexpected, that is, humor is a non-standard reaction to a familiar situation. The adaptive effect, we like people who are able to think and act out of the ordinary, this is the key to the survival of mankind. And the cooler, more creative you wrap, the more fun it will turn out, but you should not break the logical chain, otherwise they will laugh at you, considering you a fool.

The reaction of opponents to your joke does not have to be violent and loud. It rather depends on the internal qualities of the interlocutor than on your ability to joke. good example is a reaction to the same pain. Someone swears loudly, swears, and someone endures everything silently, gritting his teeth. Accordingly, the reaction to the joke different people different. Moreover, too stormy, vivid perception of the story by your interlocutor will be more likely evidence of show work, tension. From this, we can conclude that laughter is caused not so much by the quality of humor. How many other factors (flirting with superiors, an attempt to win favor). good, good joke able to cause an inner smile and as a result, good attitude to you, without resorting to grotesque forms (laughter to tears, rolling on the floor).

To start joking at ease and have fun, follow these recommendations:

Relax. The first and most important rule. Do not squeeze out a joke, let it be born on its own. All you need to do is listen to your inner self.

Do not be shy. natural timidity main enemy good joke. Red, with sweaty palms, a joker is more likely to cause a smile of pity than a joyful laugh. We decided to joke, do not look back, cut recklessly. Perhaps not all jokes will turn out, but a self-confident humorist has much more chances - an insolent one.

Meet by clothes. Even here. Much depends not even on the quality of the jokes, but on your status, how you are perceived. If you are your own, then jokes will be quoted higher. The perception factor (positive or negative) is very important. This is especially noticeable in
a girl in love, she will laugh at the most stupid joke of her lover, if the guy is unpleasant to her, only his mistake, an awkward situation, will cause laughter. And that's a completely different story.

Brevity is the sister of talent and the foundation of a good joke. Keep your jokes short, to the point, bright. Half-hour monologues tend to sleep rather than make you smile. People are better at talking than listening. Your interlocutor, listening to you, often ponders his answer, he is not ready to perceive a long speech.

Joke on topic. And back to the company. The soul of the company, a joker, a joker ... So they say about a person who is not only the most cheerful and sparkling, first of all, this person is the keeper of traditions. Often he stands to protect the foundations of your friendly team. What is his secret? Natural sense of humor? If you dig deep, it turns out that these people are always aware of the main events in the lives of others, they are sensitive to the needs and problems of their comrades. This means that their popularity is not based on natural talents, but on the understanding of other people.

Choose the right moment. One of the most important components of a good joke is the ability to pick up the moment. Try to properly join the current conversation, without breaking the rhythm and flow, but on the contrary, amplifying the moment, emphasizing it.

Serious look. Joke with a serious face, it turns on others. Such jokes seem funnier, more original.

Conclusion

As you can see, the ability to joke beautifully, juicy directly depends on your internal state, confidence and relaxation. Don't joke all the time, it's a little annoying. Alternate serious conversation with light banter common topics. The easiest way to be funny is to joke about the shortcomings of people you know. But do not overdo it, it is very important to remain tactful here. Do not step on the callus. Sometimes your interlocutor will not show that he was offended, he will harbor anger in the depths. A win-win joke about yourself. If you are incapable of making fun of your faults in a good way, do not try to make fun of others.

Good humor is based on deep knowledge, you can certainly get by with superficial, vulgar jokes, but believe me, you won’t get far on them. Good joke below the waist, said at the right time, will go with a bang. Too much use of this technique will lead to the perception of you as a narrow-minded vulgar. Read a lot of good, positive literature. It won't hurt anyway.

As Leacock S. said: “Humor is good-natured contemplation and artistic image the absurdities of life."

Nadia Zima

Copywriter and journalist. Interests - fiction, culture and psychology.

From joy and euphoria to gloating and bitterness, laughter can express the entire spectrum of human emotions. If we consciously try to control the manifestations of anger, then a sincere smile usually does not meet psychological barriers and, appearing spontaneously on the face, becomes the key to personality.

The gaiety of a person is the most outstanding feature of a person, with legs and arms. You won’t see through a different character for a long time, but a person will laugh somehow very sincerely, and his whole character will suddenly appear in full view. Only with the highest and happiest development does a person know how to have fun socially, that is, irresistibly and good-naturedly.

F. M. Dostoevsky, "Teenager"

How quiet and ambitious people laugh

To correlate the manner of laughing with the inherent human traits, it is not necessary to be a psychologist. Watch people from a close circle, and you will notice that the smile of each of them corresponds to the image that has already developed in your imagination. ABOUT personal qualities accompanying laughter and facial expressions speak eloquently.

• Covering the mouth with the palm of the hand indicates that the person is not too confident and is trying not to attract too much attention. Most likely, he is sensitive to, prone to reflection and introspection.
• Throwing back the head indicates that the laugher is open to new things, easily involved in what is happening and enjoys life. He is not offended over trifles and tends to see the world in a rosy light, often possessing leadership qualities.
• Theatrical grimaces and emotional gestures indicate that you have an ambitious person in front of you. He knows how to infect with fun, but he craves from the audience the full return in the form of general attention and compliments. Despite seeming openness, he can be distrustful and cautious.
• Capricious and infantile people laugh, wrinkling their noses. They have seven Fridays in a week. They tend to change their views, hobbies and priorities.
• If a person suppresses a smile, this indicates that he controls emotions, is as focused as possible, and this prevents him from enjoying the moment. Such people are able to achieve their goals, but nevertheless need the support of loved ones.

Humor and its targets

A developed sense of humor is one of the most desirable qualities modern man. Our ability to respond to funny and jokes is tested at every step - when applying for a job, joining a new team, communicating with friends and establishing relationships with the opposite sex. Stock up on a couple of jokes for different contexts, and you can fill in an awkward pause in an original way and make a favorable impression.

How to develop a sense of humor

A good sense of humor can be considered a form of giftedness, but like any other talent, it can be developed. Even if you need a sign that says "Sarcasm", joke inappropriately and take other people's witticisms literally, you have a chance to become the soul of the company.

The means of comic accessible to everyone were described by the teacher and inventor Yuri Tamberg in the book “How to Develop a Sense of Humor”. Here are a few universal advice, following which you can learn not only to joke sparklingly, but also just enjoy life.

1. Learn to see the comic

Wit implies the ability to distinguish good from bad - to know the norms of behavior and recognize deviations from them. You can joke about stupidity, laziness, careerism, greed, infantilism and other human vices. But, making fun of shortcomings, do not get personal - humor should remain kind.

2. Use Associations

Learn to find common ground between heterogeneous phenomena. The ability to draw paradoxical analogies will help both to joke witty and look at the world from a different angle.

Remember school curriculum. trails and stylistic figures(metaphors, metonymy, hyperbole, personification, rhetorical questions) - an excellent basis for a witty remark.

3. Don't be afraid of the absurd

“Impenetrable stupidity” uttered at the right time can defuse the situation. People with a sense of humor will definitely notice a logical error and appreciate your ingenuity.

4. Try to rhyme

Jokes in poetic form are remembered for a long time and speak of the versatility of the author. Few people know that A. S. Pushkin was the master of this genre (“I am captivated, I am fascinated, in a word - I am enchanted!”).

For those who defy classical rhyme, there are Internet folklore genres “pie” and “powder” (lazy, fat and cheerful / a seal lies on the shore / I’m not a seal, but just the same / I can).

5. Broaden your horizons

Wide erudition contributes to the development of a sense of humor - communicate with smart people, replenish your vocabulary.

6. Fight the enemies of humor

Do not allow yourself to be discouraged, give up the idea that the world is dominated by negativity, and find time to rest, because mental and physical fatigue discolor life.

Having learned to joke witty and aptly, you can win over any audience, save yourself and others from the autumn blues and survive any life's hardships. Remember that many doors open for those who go through life laughing.

Why does a person need to be able to be funny? This question can be answered in different ways. But, one way or another, any of the answers will lead us to the fact that humor is important in any area of ​​​​our life, and is also highly valued by others. If a person has a sense of humor and wit, life is much easier for him than for someone who does not have this.

People with a poorly developed sense of humor are often rational and straightforward, which often makes them difficult to communicate. social adaptation and communication. For such people, even minor troubles end in stress. But if there is a sense of humor, then psychological defense mechanisms perform their functions much more efficiently. Agree: after all, how good would it be if we could always easily perceive what was happening and find something funny in any situation? This is one of the reasons many people want to develop a sense of humor.

But the benefit lies not only in the fact that people who know how to laugh in broad sense of this word, they perceive even the most difficult life situations much more calmly, but also in the fact that they quickly and easily establish contact with other people. And this can be called the second, but no less important reason. What do you think, who is easier to communicate with: a shy, insecure and timid little one or someone who knows how to joke funny in a company, laugh at himself, cheer, attract the attention of the opposite sex cool joke? In our opinion, the answer is obvious.

Advantages developed sense humor can be listed for a very long time, but we think that the two considered are quite enough to draw certain conclusions, although we will talk about the benefits of humor. In the meantime, let's think: is it possible to develop a sense of humor and wit at all? Does a person who never knew how to joke or was completely distinguished by gloom and lack of cheerfulness have a chance to change and let the positive into their consciousness? We have bad news for you - it won't work overnight. But we also have good news- if you wish, you can do this, and you don’t have to move mountains!

Of course, there is no doubt that a sense of humor is passed on in the genes. However, this is not at all a reason to give up on yourself if the ancestor was not Mikhail Zadornov or Charlie Chaplin. After the birth of a person, the development of a sense of humor already depends on the characteristics of the environment where he grows up, the subtleties of education and other conditions. But we do not set ourselves the task of climbing into the very jungle of influences exerted by reality on human consciousness.

We want to say that anyone can develop a sense of humor and learn to be funny at almost any age. All that is required for this is to learn the basic laws of the comic as such, and to study practical information, including techniques, methods and ways of developing a sense of humor. And this information is right in front of you - in the course, the introduction to which you are now reading.

What is a sense of humor

sense of humor called psychological feature a person, which consists in identifying all kinds of contradictions in the world around and their subsequent assessment from a comic point of view. It begins to manifest itself and develop already in early childhood under influence environment, comic manifestations of other people, funny situations and other prerequisites. If there are no such prerequisites, a person develops a straightforward character, which can lead to many social and psychological difficulties.

Thus, we can conclude that a sense of humor allows a person to:

• Easier, troubled and challenging life circumstances
• Find faster mutual language with others
• Find like-minded people in the community
• Don't be too serious

Assessments were made (and continue to be made) from the position of psychology, sociology, linguistics, anthropology and other scientific disciplines. And among the hundreds of theories of humor, there are those that say that the function of the sense of humor is to relieve tension and stress, as well as to encourage the search for new interpretations. life situations. Based on these theories, all jokes are accompanied by increasing attention as they are presented and the subsequent discharge when the joke ends. The reason for the emergence of new interpretations is that jokes entail unexpected associations of unrelated and even conflicting circumstances.

There are also theories in which humor serves as a means of defusing aggression and negative emotions. Although in certain circles, for example, among military personnel, doctors, officials, criminals, etc. has its own, special humor, from which it follows that the sense of humor is to some extent subjective.

In general, the sense of humor should be understood as the ability to see the funny in situations, people, environments, stories, etc. The protective function of humor is distinguished by almost all researchers.

• cognitive function. Humor is interpreted as a means of knowing the world and assimilating ideas about it. Humor, which is prescribed the most cognitive value, shows reality in its true light, without deforming its phenomena and without trying to modify it. The cognitive component of humor makes a person's knowledge of the world and other people deeper, teaches them to distinguish between the content of phenomena and their form, and also warns against hasty conclusions.
• entertainment function. Everything is simple here - humor has the ability to cheer up and cause laughter and positive emotions.
• therapeutic function. It consists in the ability of humor to be a consolation of a person in his personal disappointments and failures. Self-irony is a form of protection both from outside influences and from oneself, i.e. from their own pessimism, despondency, doubts, etc.

But it would not be superfluous to say about another function of humor, which the famous German poet and playwright Gotthold Ephraim Lessing once spoke about:

• educational function. Healthy humor serves as a measure of the development of morality, and therefore through it you can instruct, teach and educate children.

All this is just basic information about the sense of humor, and if you go into this topic in more detail, you can collect a huge amount of data that examines it from all sides and angles. If you are interested in this topic, the Internet and libraries with dozens of encyclopedias are at your service. We will continue to talk about the practical side of using a sense of humor.

Sense of humor in practice

After all that has been said above, you certainly will not argue with the fact that a sense of humor refers to the most important qualities that a person should have. But still it makes sense to say a few more words about his practical application.

First of all, I would like to point out that it allows you very quickly, and it doesn’t matter: it’s a girl or a guy you like, a potential business partner, a work colleague or a simple plumber who came into the house to change the toilet.

A person who can skillfully and colorfully joke will always be witty and attract attention, start a company, and bring a positive attitude to society. Among other things, a sense of humor can be attributed to the qualities of a leader and someone who will often, if not always, be listened to and reckon with his opinion.

But to have a sense of humor means not only to be able to joke and be witty, but also to understand the humor of other people, to be receptive to jokes addressed to oneself, to have the ability to behave comically, parry sharp remarks and save face in any tricky situation. It is also desirable to have the skill of expressing humor in writing and even in drawings - these are tangible bonuses in the piggy bank for those who have a well-spoken tongue.

practical feeling humor is also the ability to distinguish one form of the comic from another. Can you, for example, distinguish irony from sarcasm, joke from banter, stand-up from miniature? An experienced humorist is familiar with many comic forms, genres and techniques.

As a result, in order to boldly consider yourself a witty person with good feeling humor, one must possess near certain qualities, namely: fast reaction, advanced thinking(by the way, take a look), ironic attitude and positive perception of the environment, self-confidence. For some, a sense of humor is a gift, but for people who work on themselves, it's just another skill that they are able to master. But here it is necessary to do this not anyhow, not spontaneously, not chaotically, but regularly, consciously and systematically. If you have firmly decided for yourself that you want to learn how to joke and improve the quality of your sense of humor, then you are on the right way We'll tell you everything you need to do.

How to learn it

Undoubtedly: the ability to develop a sense of humor and use it for the benefit of yourself and others does not come from nowhere. Of course, someone coolly humors and entertains others and themselves from an early age, because heredity is heredity. Such people, by the way, very often devote their lives to humor and become professional comedians, and they don’t have to learn how to be funny (although even they hone their skills and improve their skills, as they say now). The rest need to work to "catch a fish from the pond", try, practice and develop. But it is not necessary to perceive this process as an impenetrable barrier - you can learn everything, and on your own - there would be a desire.

As with any topic, there are two sides to developing a sense of humor:

• Theoretical side - includes information theoretical required to create a base for practice
• Practical side- use of theoretical information in practice

The difficulty, however, often lies in the fact that many people, having mastered the theory, quit what they started halfway, and never move on to practice. And the reason for this lies not only in individual features each person. The fact is that any training course, any training, any theoretical material should be created with a basis for subsequent practice. Otherwise, knowledge will simply become dusty on the shelves of memory, covered with cobwebs, pushed into the far corners and will not bring any benefit.

Guided by this idea, we have developed the presented course on the development of a sense of humor. We have two goals: the first is to provide you with quality material to read and study, and the second is to teach you how to use it in life. Therefore, each of the lessons of the course is distinguished by a two-sided focus: they have both a theory, without which practice is simply impossible, and practice - tips, recommendations, exercises and techniques - tools for moving from words to deeds.

Do you want to test your knowledge?

If you want to test your theoretical knowledge on the topic of the course and understand how it suits you, you can take our test. Only 1 option can be correct for each question. After you select one of the options, the system automatically moves on to the next question.

humor lessons

We already have a lot of courses and trainings in our arsenal, behind our shoulders we have good experience in the development and compilation of teaching methods. It has already become a tradition for the 4Brain team to conduct case studies, organize material, choose from huge amount sources the most important and interesting, adapt the data obtained for easy perception and fast application and give it all a beautiful shape. We have done exactly the same now.

In the next six lessons, we will consider the most significant topics in our opinion regarding the development of a sense of humor, the most effective techniques, tips from professional comedians and easy-to-use exercises.

How to take classes

As already mentioned, our humor lessons are fully adapted for practical activities, and are also suitable for anyone who wants to develop a sense of humor. However, our task is to give you a base, and only you are responsible for what you will do with it. We are talking about the fact that you can take at least a hundred courses and stuff your head with a bunch of information, but still not do anything worthwhile in your life. Therefore, try to project everything from the field of knowledge into the field of action.

To make it more convenient for you to take the course, break this process into several stages. You can do this - study two lessons during the week:

• One day - learning the first lesson
• Two days - putting knowledge into practice
• One day rest
• Further - according to the same scheme

Of course, this is just an example, and you have every right to come up with your own system that is more suitable for your employment. The only thing we want to point out once again is that it is important to go through the lessons very carefully and with an understanding of why you are doing this.

As for the practical component of the course (exercises, techniques, tips, recommendations, etc.), they imply not a single, but multiple repetition - this is the only way you can learn the full-fledged material, consolidate and hone the acquired skills.

Try to develop a useful habit of reminding yourself that you are developing a sense of humor and learning to joke, then and in real life with experiments on this topic, you will not have any problems. With practice, the application of knowledge will become automatic, and the need for careful self-control will disappear by itself.

We want to complete the introduction to the course with statements famous people about a sense of humor. For some, they will become an additional incentive for self-development, while others will simply like it and broaden their horizons.

Celebrity Quotes About Sense Of Humor

“If I didn’t have a sense of humor, I would have committed suicide long ago” Mahatma Gandhi

“Imagination is given to a person to console him with what he does not have, and a sense of humor is given to console him with what he has” Oscar Wilde

“There are three manifestations of God on earth: nature, love and a sense of humor. Nature helps to live, love helps to survive, and a sense of humor helps to survive " Mikhail Zadornov

“I really appreciate a sense of humor in people, because often this is our only weapon against all the nasty things and injustices of life” Pierre Richard

“If a person is not considered handsome, he can still be successful if he has a few jokes in his pocket. And lots of pockets Andy Warhole

"A man loses everything if he loses his sense of humor" Ayn Rand

"Tell me what you're laughing at and I'll tell you who you are" Marcel Pagnol

“Whoever lacks a sense of humor is overwhelmed with a sense of resentment” Sergei Vedene

"Sense of humor - great thing. Going through life without a sense of humor is as ridiculous as riding in a wagon without springs.» Henry Ward Beecher

They say that a sense of humor is related to the level of intelligence - the smarter a person, the funnier the jokes.

This statement is ambiguous, but it has a truthful basis. The wider a person's horizons and broader interests - the more situations he is able to beat with the help of humor.

Healthy humor, as well as sarcasm, and other varieties of amusement eloquence, should be appropriate. It is the relevance and timeliness of the joke that ensures its success. And in order for the joke to be relevant, it is important to pronounce it not only in the right situation, but also in the right society. Different cultural characteristics, worldviews and ethical norms dictate different conditions for humor.

And how does this relate to intelligence?

Intelligence is not just a number, the result of an IQ test, but a body of knowledge. The ability to correctly analyze the situation and the cultural characteristics of society in order to adequately assess the situation will allow you to respond witty, joke funny and not hurt anyone's feelings. But the joke must also be remembered in order to apply it. Thus, thinking and memory are directly related to the sense of humor.

You can develop a sense of humor through broadening your horizons.

Cultural education, the study of the characteristics of various social groups- through literature and art - will allow you to navigate the situation in order to effectively joke and be understood. Mind flexibility and attention to detail are essential to mastering this art.

Thus, in order to joke funny and appropriate, you must:

Expand your horizons
- develop memory, attention and thinking,
- keep the brain in good shape.

All of this requires regular exercise. Service Wikium offers Game simulators based on scientific research comprehensively develop the sharpness of the mind and stimulate thinking.

On the example of famous and successful stand-up comedians, this relationship can be traced - they all have a broad outlook, in the course current news, competently analyze the situation and very aptly choose the moment for a joke. It is useful to watch them, for example, watch regular releases The Ellen DeGeneres Show or speeches Louis C.K. or Jimmy Carr on YouTube. In addition, everyday, universal humor is clearly shown in TV series, for example, in the legendary "Friends"(Friends 1994-2004).

intelligence happens different type. Perelman is not joking in principle. The creators of new weapons in Russia too. Their sense of humor was appreciated only by nuclear physicists, who began to explain to the world that it was not real for a rocket to fly around the globe with these parameters, and apparently did not call on the road. In every profession at the professional level there must be a flair. Here comedians have it. They just feel from what the hall will explode, why not. At the same time, this does not apply to some individual, which, for example, in principle, cannot be laughed at in certain situations, this applies to the general mass of their jokes are often stupid and vulgar, but people already form a reflex. And Atkinson can just pick his nose - they are already laughing. The same effect with Zadornov, Zhvanetsky and Galkin. They may already be talking nonsense, but it will seem beautiful, because the image of a clown has been formed. It is the same in individual situations, if you know a person well, then you know his weak points, you understand what he feels. Therefore, they say that people are selected not only by smell, but also by what they laugh at, if they can relax together, then this is a couple, and if they strain each other, then this is a business partnership.

There is no such girl who, when making a list of basic requirements for the guy of her dreams, would forget to mention the presence of a sense of humor. However, you already know that it is very pleasant and honorable to be the most witty in any company. Like any other skill, the ability to joke can be developed. A sense of humor is just a tricky muscle that can be pumped up. Perhaps with the help of our article you will have time to do this by the next beach season.

5 sure ways to say funny things

Humor only seems to be a free, spontaneous and exuberant form of creativity. If, however, you wipe the stupid smile off your face and analyze with a serious look what exactly causes laughter, you can isolate ready-made formulas for the funny. Here are the most common and easiest to use of them. And although they are all used, if you take them into service, it will greatly help your c / u.

1 They have been swapped

The most mechanical and easiest way to create a joke (or at least its semblance) is to swap two of some elements. It can be letters in a word ( president - dresipent), letters in the phrase ( sweaty hands - mouth farts), words in a sentence ( hit from a distance of one hundred meters into the eye of a squirrel - hit a hundred meters from a distance of a squirrel) and therefore similar ( Fedor Konyukhov - groom Fedorov). The main secret in the application of this formula - speed. I heard a phrase suitable for a shifter, immediately turned it over - earned a smile ( "And don't forget to wash the dishes and take out the trash!" - "Fine! I'll throw out the dishes, wash the garbage!). Of course, 99% of your shifters will turn out to be meaningless nonsense, but even nonsense can cause positive emotions. Any boring news from the Vremya program will play if drezipent Vedmedev participates in it.

2 A new word in ...

Hundreds of phraseological units that you constantly use are so worn out from use that neither you nor your interlocutors notice them. Blow the dust off them by replacing one of the worn parts with a new one. Instead of "be pissed off with fat" say " freak out with cholesterol", instead of the "carrot and stick method" - " whip and pizza method", instead of "glue flippers" - " glue skis (Skorokhod boots)". Pay attention: the more appropriate the replacement, the more fun it turns out. If you replace the name of the flower in the expression "God's dandelion" with "baobab", it will sound especially funny when the size of the old woman approaches the dimensions of the said tree.

3 How does it sound?

The direct meaning of words and expressions is a rich field for jokes. ( "How are you after yesterday?" - “Like a cucumber! Green, and some suspicious pimples appeared on the chest.) The essence of this method is not to pay attention to the context and circumstances, but to focus on one, albeit not very significant detail (“Hold the door” - “Do you think if you let go, she will run away somewhere?”). Listen to everyday speech - you will be amazed at how many reasons for such stupid jokes hidden in almost every phrase ( "You're two hours late again! How does is called?" - “Um… I give up. Well, what is it called? This is the first time I hear this riddle!).

4 Yes, more, more!

If you read us carefully, you must have noticed that we have already used the technique of comic exaggeration forty billion times in our magazine. As the comedian Bill Cosby once remarked, in mathematics 1 + 1 = 2, in humor 1 + 1 = 11 ( "How long have you been waiting for us?" - "From september. 1989"). You already often lie, take another step and start lying in the square: “I was so frightened by this rustle that even my neighbors turned gray!” By the way, the formula "that even the neighbors of something there" is quite productive. Remember it and apply it whenever possible ( “I got so drunk that day that even my neighbors got up the next morning with a headache”. “He weighs so much that even his neighbors had to go on a diet”).

5 Original stamp

Another algorithm for constructing a joke is a cliché turned upside down: a proverb, a saying, quotes from a song or a movie, etc. This is not the easiest way (you have to strain your imagination), but not the most difficult either (you have a stove, from which to dance). At the beginning of the joke, you take a well-known cliché for a run, then, pushing off from it, you jump and land not at all where you were expected.
"I'm ready to give right hand just to learn how to play the guitar!”
“I am ready to give my right hand, just to become an invalid!”
“I am ready to give up my right hand, just to become left-handed!”
“I am ready to give my right hand. I still have three of them."

With whom we sobeziannichal humor

Back in 1932, psychologist F. Goodenough found out that a sense of humor is an innate skill, and not adopted from adults, like speech or the habit of smoking after sex. Deaf-blind babies in his experiments laughed from being tickled on a par with healthy ones. But since scientists at that time had neither the money of today, nor a false sense of the significance of their work, Goodenough's ideas did not get the proper development.

Serious theories about the origin of humor appeared only at the end of the 20th century. Moreover, they were put forward by ethologists - researchers of animal behavior. For example, J. Panksepp in 1998 described the sense of humor in monkeys, dogs, bears, and even, surprisingly, in rats. Of course, humor in this case must be understood in a broad sense: it is unlikely that a monkey is able to appreciate the comedy of a situation when a person comes to her bank for an interview in different socks. However, all these animals are capable of two types of jokes. Firstly, peek-a-boo is when one animal scares another, pretending to be going to eat it, and then “laughs” at the fear of the victim. Secondly, public humiliation - when one male pushes another from a branch or crushes another, and then - come on, gray, are you offended? Moreover, if the monkeys are equal in status, the victim has the right to a response "joke", and the offender should not be offended. That is, he is obliged to succumb when the next time they will bring him down.

As another ethologist, J. Gamble, found out, such a meager supply of witticisms is due only to the absence of speech. As soon as gorillas or chimpanzees were taught sign language, they immediately began to joke much more subtle (by ape standards). For example, they deceived other monkeys that, they say, food was hidden under a stone, and then watched with a satisfied hoot as they tear their hairless asses, lifting a boulder. In addition, the big-eyed animal psychologists Van Hoof and Preuschoft found two types of reaction to jokes in monkeys and rats.

█ Grin (lips rolled up, teeth exposed and tightly clenched) - something like a smile that the objects of the draw give out. Interestingly, the grin in a broader sense is a signal of submission. Therefore, not only the phrase “Ha-ha, of course!”, But also “You are such a wit, Pal Palych!” must be recognized as analogues of a grin in the world of people!

█ Game face (mouth open, lips extended, breathing becomes frequent) - a prototype of laughter. Animals use it to distinguish play from reality. In childhood, when the cubs are trained, they often start fights, fuss and chases. If an adult runs after you and laughs, this is a game. If you are focused - apparently, there is a predator on the horizon and you need to really drape. Panksepp, by the way, found that animals “without humor”, raised by serious individuals (who cannot show a playful face due to injuries or a muzzle), are less adapted to life, solve problems worse and cope with stress.

When the spades sing

Why don't they laugh at your witticisms, but only snort sullenly, thoroughly beating you with their feet?

You weren't the first

Believe me, if a person's name is Slava and he is over ten years old, he has already heard the joke about "Glory to the CPSU" two thousand times. Not a single Light will smile if you joke something like "sleep in the Light." Anatoly Wasserman's reaction to your pun about "Wasserman's reaction" is also easy to guess. Did you come up with a joke? Wonderful! But before posting it, think for a second about how new it will be to the listener.

You know more than others

Tell your grandmother this incident from your life that we made up: “I recently went to a Chinese restaurant. I ask the waiter: “Do you have Wi-Fi?” He left, then comes and says: “Wai Fai is a day off today, but there is his brother Wai Wen”. If your grandmother laughs, she just loves you very much. Remember: if at least one of key elements the joke will be unknown to the listener, the joke will fall apart like a house of cards built of sand.

you overdid it

Many weak jokes were accepted with a bang and in good sense words are ridiculed only because they sounded unexpected. Humor should be spontaneous. Never prepare an audience that a bird is about to fly “Wow, what a joke I came up with! Download! Listen…”). You should not ask for forgiveness in advance and make excuses either ( “The joke, of course, is rather stupid, but I liked it. It touches on the topic of perverted sex with animals, so I apologize in advance to the ladies and animals present here. So…”).

If the joke fails, the worst thing you can do is to frantically remember the following joke ( "This time it's definitely funny!"). He could be even worse. But the most tragic ending will be if you start accusing the interlocutors of the lack of a sense of humor and spice up the accusation detailed analysis joke salt. Through this behavior, unfunny clowns become dead clowns.

4 Humor theories

From serious scientists who observed people and other animals.

Humor is a tool for creating alternate realities. Our jokes are the same game fuss of animals, only even more simplified. Imitation of imitation of life. We check other people's reactions to conflict situation without being physically involved in it: “Well, where do you think I was until three in the morning? Went to a brothel with our nurse and her stewardess friend!”

Humor is necessary to improve control over emotions. A joke is an overturning of the body's reaction to stress: “They brought you pizza here. But we ate it! Ha ha!" A developed psyche requires a quick transition, for example, from anger to happiness, because getting stuck in any one emotion makes you vulnerable. For lower animals (and some guardians, we might add), transitions to a new state are difficult.

For the good of evolution, two adults must be genetically dissimilar: only in this way can they produce a good assortment of offspring. However, the difference in genes (and therefore, in the color of the eyes, skin, nipples and sidelocks) can be frightening: the second organism is perceived as a stranger. This means that there must be a mechanism for fixing sympathy, different from external attractiveness. An “emotional loop” becomes such a mechanism: the first is joking, the second is happy, the first is happy that the second is happy, etc. Jokes on an inoffensive woman are good cement for relationships ( "Darling, and the snakes sleep with open eyes? - “I don’t know, I get up later than you”).

These two believe that humor is not a mechanism for attachment, but for choosing a partner. Both recognize that the choice in sex is always with the woman, so the man is obliged to joke. At the same time, Mulkay believes that humor is a product of demonstrative aggression, it is designed to humiliate male competitors in front of females: “San, it wasn’t you who printed about the self-treatment of gonorrhea - is there left on the printer?” Well, the good-natured Miller writes that the joke should not be exactly offensive, humor is just a sign of a good intellectual form, which means quality genes. It seems that his theory, for once taking into account the nature of people, not gorillas, is the most correct.

Wit for the lazy

How to pass for a merry fellow without inventing a joke.

Quote

As Mikhail Zhvanetsky once remarked, “One quotation used to the point is worth ten anecdotes told out of place.” Memorize a dozen quotes, for example from "The Twelve Chairs", and wait for the right moment. Colleague showed up at work in a new thing? Go up to him and say out loud: “It was impossible to start a career as a polygamist without a marvelous, dappled gray suit”. Someone gets a scolding from the authorities? Notice out loud: “From the outside, it might seem that a respectful son is talking to his father, only the father is shaking his head too animatedly”.

Ideally, the quotation used should not be scruffy from frequent use(“To whom the mare is the bride”), otherwise she will lose some of her strength. At the same time, it is desirable that the source be at least roughly guessed. good quote brings with it the spirit of the work, and all the former positive emotions associated with the quoted work come to life in the soul of the listeners. By the way, that is why the quote from Zhvanetsky, with which we started, did not make a special impression on you. Well, and also because we ourselves came up with it.

tell jokes

Somehow got into desert island Frenchman, German and Mikhail Zhvanetsky. And they began to compete to see who could tell the joke better. The turn has come to Zhvanetsky, and he says: “One anecdote told to the place is worth ten quotes used out of place.” Yes, whatever one may say, but there is no more reliable way to get a reputation as a joker and humorist than baiting jokes. It's nothing that you don't invent them. It is impossible without sympathy to relate to someone who makes you laugh. Anger can be aroused only if it turns out that you forgot the ending of the joke.

Speak with accents

Any boring phrase spoken with an Estonian accent will bring smiles to those around you, unless, of course, neither the speaker nor those around are Estonians ( “Per-redite me, pa-azhalusta, so-ol, yes, quicker”). No worse and other "funny" accents: Georgian ( "Too, sol, paraday, huh?"), Hebrew ( “I have to ask you for salt. Yes, well, what are you fussing about? Well, it’s downright funny, not salt!”), Eskimo ( "My salt to ask, thank you to say!" Perhaps, however, this example was Chinese).

What do women want

And last scientific fact, which we could not help but spoil the parade of jokes and witticisms, which in fact (although this is not obvious) is our article. More precisely, not quite a fact, but the result of a series of experiments set up by anthropologists E. Bresler and J. Greengross. Independently of each other, these two experimented on women (all sexy) and men different ages, statuses, and external data.

Since the main requirement of the experiment - that all women were also naked - the scientists failed to insist, it went like this. Men who filled out regular questionnaires, like on dating sites, were assigned status depending on income, education and appearance. The women were not shown this status assessment, but they could read the questionnaires freely. In addition, each man had an autobiography written by professional comedians on his hands. The types of humor varied: toilet, chauvinistic, self-flagellation, offensive to other men, etc. - eight types in total. Passing through the system of women, the man read out his "autobiography" and received the final mark sex appeal. Then the same thing was repeated in reverse. Aside from the banal conclusions like “a sense of humor is very important for dating,” Bresler and Greengross found the following.

Men don't like it when a woman jokes herself

Perhaps perceiving them as competitors ( “Maybe she will have sex with herself, and ... have cutlets?”), participants in the experiment underestimated the points of the funniest storytellers. And if anyone was called very attractive, it was the laughers who laughed most actively during the first stage. So women can't joke at all. But luckily they don't, haha!

It almost doesn't matter how the man jokes

The highest scores, regardless of status, were received by the lucky ones who came across a “just funny” autobiography. Neutral humor, without a pronounced object of jokes, without vulgarity and fixation on any topic, increased the sex appeal of a man in the eyes of a woman. All other types of humor worked noticeably worse. But, surprisingly, there was no difference between them: toilet humor was liked by almost the same number of women as the high-browed one. Although there was one exception that deserves a separate paragraph.

Self-flagellation only works if you're cool

The old advice "If you can't laugh at anything else, laugh at yourself" can be deadly for low-status men. If a woman in the experiments of Greengross knew that she was facing a loser, self-flagellation humor ( “If I have money, I like to go to a fancy restaurant and order a large portion of McNuggets”) only reduced the attractiveness of a man in her eyes. However, if she knew in advance - from the questionnaire - about the weighty and sonorous virtues of her counterpart, the loser jokes worked at the level of neutral ones. That is, in the best possible way.