"Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood."
Your humor at least
Published on July 20, 2004 By Sally jacobs In Blogging
A sense of humor is very important to me, for someone to make me laugh is amazing. I don't consider myself to be a funny writer though, I don't really consider myself to be a funny person, but I can make certain people laugh, and then other people just find me totally unamusing. I can understand that, I don't really appreciate 'stupid' humor or comedians for that matter. I prefer observational humor, something you can actually relate to, not something that is forced, and then you're expected to laugh. I HATE doing what I'm expected to do! I have a pretty sarcastic/dry sense of humor, something that is very difficult to get across in writing, and is usually taken as an insult, or making a dig at someone. Maybe that's the problem, my humor is usually at someone elses expense, though I can take it at my expense to. Don't give it out if you can't take it, that is the perfect philosophy for it!

My sense of humor is typically British, I know this, and it amazes me how different it is to the American humor. I think it's one of them cross overs that is just difficult. Just as my sense of humor is not understood, I don't get the American humor. I find it kind of frustrating. To be fair there are some sitcoms I find funny, Will and Grace rules for example, but when it's one on one conversations I find it very difficult for there to be a level of understanding when it comes to humor. I write articles on here, thinking ahhh this is really funny, and it gets an awful response. Or no response at all. Maybe that's just me being wrapped up in my own little world, i don't know, but I'm sure it's just not understood. It works both ways, i read blogs on here, and as the majority of users are American it is really appreciated, and it just flies straight over my pretty little head. I guess it's just a culture thing, or maybe it's just my sense of humor altogether, that's rather worrying!

It could be in fact that I'm the one with no sense of humor, or my sense of humor is sooooooo poor that it is to painful to acknowledge. I did a sense of humor quiz on here not so long ago, and it was an American quiz, and I got almost zero, for the sake of my ego, we are going to blame the culture difference ok? It amazes me on how different we can all be, even though we are all just human, enviroment has such a huge impact. Where we grow up, our education, where we work, who we mix with, our history. We are all taught different things and it is bound to make us different in certain ways. Gives us different outlooks, different perspectives. On the most part this is a good thing, it means we can learn, and grow together, but when it comes to personal attributes like humor, that isn't something you learn. You either have it or you don't. You're either on the same page or your not. You find something funny or you don't.

The English and Americans, are similar in some ways, both known for their arrogance. Not surprising really. In English opinion, Americans don't have a sense of humor, that's one of our favourite digs at you. i think it makes some people feel slightly superior maybe. I don't have a problem with that, what ever floats your boat. I have tried to understand, and I won't give up just yet. I just feel sometimes that I'm speaking a totally different language, and reading it at times too. If we don't try, we'll never learn. If we don't teach, we'll never change. I'm not saying Americans have no sense of humor, I'm saying I don't get you.

Comments (Page 1)
2 Pages1 2 
on Jul 21, 2004
OK so list your 5 favourite tv comedy shows of all time. Mine are (in no particular order):
1. Blackadder (2&3)
2. Red Dwarf
3. Yes minister / Yes primeminister
4. Black Books
5. Kath and Kim (first series)

PS I am neither British or American
on Jul 21, 2004
What? I haven't managed to make you chuckle? I'm so hurt.

My 5 favorite would probably be (in no particular order):
1. Red Dward
2. Mr. Bean
3. The Simpsons
4. Family Guy
5. South Park
on Jul 21, 2004
Nice one Sally!!!

I just dont think Americans have the capacity to laugh at themselves like the Pom's and the Aussies... I dont know why this is, but i think it's a pretty safe generalisation for me to make, considering the various social situations i have found myself in!!!

I have found that like minded Aussies or Poms laugh with me, but Americans laugh at me... I dont really care, as long as i get a laugh, I am happy

BAM!!!

on Jul 21, 2004
Hmmm...south park and the simpsons would also be up there....some classic episodes in both.....
on Jul 21, 2004
There is a massive difference between American and British comedy. One is situational, hence the constant spewing forth of sit-coms, rom-coms, dot-coms and anything else that can be hyphenated. The other still remembers when Britannia ruled over all and needed very little to do it other than its charm and wit. Shows like Black Adder, Black Books, etc have the understated quality of a people that realise that torture is a subtle art. Shows like the Simpsons and Everybody loves Ramond (everybody love me...PLEASE!) exhibit the exhibitionism (ha!) of an American culture that is populated with people who are crying out for attention after finding the television a poor substitute for their crude, over wrought parents.

Marco XX
on Jul 21, 2004
I am so happy to see that people know Black Books on here! I was a serious fan - I'm talking seen every episode so many times that I virtually know them verbatim - and was excited about moving to the UK because I'd get to see the new series. Turns out virtually no one over here has heard of it - a travesty!

I like the point here Sal. As a vast generalisation (there are some witty yanks on here) American humour is shove-it-so-far-down-your-throat-you-are-forced-to-laugh-as-they're-tickling-your-colon kind of humour, where as British is a lot more subtle. Some of the Australian humour makes me cringe because it is so tacky, but there is some clever stuff out there. But hey - if it makes you laugh, then who cares where it's from?

Suz xxx
on Jul 21, 2004
ok...my favorite five, in no order....

1) Father Ted
2) Only fools and horses
3) Black books
4) Auf Wiedersehen Pet
5) Absolutely Fabulous

I don't know what that list says about me, hehe!

What? I haven't managed to make you chuckle? I'm so hurt.


Hehe, are you being funny now? Haha....you have made me laugh CS guy, I'm just saying at times I don't get stuff

Marco how is it you manage to say things better than I ever could?

The other still remembers when Britannia ruled over all and needed very little to do it other than its charm and wit.


Hehe, well charm and wit I have LOTS of....hehe!

I just dont think Americans have the capacity to laugh at themselves like the Pom's and the Aussies...


Mugz I think you are a bad influence on me! Our sense of humor tends to be alot more piss taking, I think that's what it is, so it is easier to get offended, even when that isn't the intention.

I have found that like minded Aussies or Poms laugh with me, but Americans laugh at me..


Laugh at you?? How could they! Hehe...

I am so happy to see that people know Black Books on here!


Black books ruled! It never got the attention it deserved, it was a little to dark for some folks I feel!

if it makes you laugh, then who cares where it's from?


Exactly! Thanks for all the comments guys!

on Jul 21, 2004
I don't know, i like British humor a lot..Dave is a big British comedy fan so we get to watch things like Black Adder and The Office and The young ones (which i love). I think Americans are pretty sarcastic in general..it's the wit most of us probably don't get. I don't really like sitcoms (except friends, but that sucked towards the end) so I prefer the British stuff to be honest..but then, i am weird...I never got Saturday Night Live either. I don't think I belong here...

I don't agree that Americans can't laugh at themselves though. Look at The Simpsons" It's pretty much a parody of the average American.

I agree that it is definately the kinda culture you're raised in that affects what you find funny..most people laugh at things they can relate to, which is probably why no one I know likes Frasier.

Good article honey!!

Dyl xx
on Jul 21, 2004
I'm with Dylan on this one, Muggaz. American's can laugh at themselves just as much as any other culture. Yes we have different styles of humor but it doesn' t make one better than the other. There are times when I find British humor to be very entertaining, and other times that I find it nothing short of vulgar--I suppose the same can be said for American humor. But of course, I'm an American, so I am bound to defend my nation

Favorite comedies--that a tough one:
1. Couplings (BBC version)
2. So Graham Norton
3. Friends
4. Simpsons
5. Eastenders (what, that's not a comedy?)

on Jul 21, 2004
I'm an American and I have to agree with your view on sitcoms. I absolutely LOVE British comedies. I think American sitcoms are boring and trite. Although, I do like Will and Grace, Friends, and the Simpsons. I have a lot of British classics and favorites.
on Jul 21, 2004
Oops!
on Jul 21, 2004
I forgot all about the young ones! I loved that, so cheeky! I also liked Bottom! Hehe, which was a spin off, sooo hilarious!

There are times when I find British humor to be very entertaining, and other times that I find it nothing short of vulgar


I agree it can be a little to vulgar at times, I hate that!

5. Eastenders (what, that's not a comedy?)


....If it is, it's a pretty miserable comedy, hehe!

I do like Will and Grace


Will and Grace is fab! Friends was good to, though crap near the end!

on Jul 21, 2004
America is a diverse society and, as has been pointed out in some of the comments above, there have been some excellent comedies come out of the US. And Americans do have an appreciation of British comedy, The Office (classic British comedy at it's best) won best comedy at the Golden Globe awards.
There is one aspect to this that really annoys me though. Often, instead of just appreciating the original, the US then decides to make it's own 'version' of the show (a US version of The Office is apparently being made.) I remember finding a gem of a French film "Trois Hommes et un Couffin" ("Three Men and a Cradle") at my local video store. This was remade in the US as "Three men and a baby". Sadly the subtly understated visual gags that worked so well in the French version became obvious slapstick in the US version. This has happened more times than I like to think. And yet there have been some classic comic films to come out of the US, one of my all time favourites was "This is Spinal Tap", for anyone who hasnt seen this all time classic get down to the video store now.
So I guess the point of this rant is that all countries should stick to their own and not try to do remakes....they rarely work. Just appreciate classics from other countries.
on Jul 21, 2004
(a US version of The Office is apparently being made.)


I really can't see that working, that is so typically British, that any other format would ruin it. Why fix what isn't broken? I loved three men and a baby, I guess I'm just sad, but to be fair I was only a kid when it was about!

So I guess the point of this rant is that all countries should stick to their own and not try to do remakes....they rarely work. Just appreciate classics from other countries


Agreed, and thanks for the comment
on Jul 21, 2004
My favourites in no particular order

1)The Young Ones
Red Dwarf
Absolutely Fabulous
Mother & Son
The Simpsons

2) Keppeing up Appearances
Friends
Posh Nosh
Kath & Kim
Sex & the City
Will & Grace

3) Acropolis Now
Fawlty Towers
Over the Hill
MASH
Birds of a feather
So I guess the point of this rant is that all countries should stick to their own and not try to do remakes....they rarely work. Just appreciate classics from other countries
I said in greywars blog about PT - that the USA made 2 versions of Red Dwarf - the only original they kept was Kryton - they made one season but it never got off the ground - and I've seen an American verson of Cold feet. But the Brits do it too - they remade Who's the Boss as The Upper Hand - which I actually saw at some point and it's pretty good.
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