You know those all adult types, they are like a banker. My brother is one.
They take jokes seriously. So how does one make them laugh?
Get them really tired. It takes a lot of energy to keep a straight face.
cite: Dana Scully of X-Files fame. Miserable po-faced lady. Only ever smiles when she’s close to nervous exhaustion.
Smilex gas. 
The further many people remove themselves from childhood, the more insulated their sense of humor becomes. As children, everything is new and unexplored, thus is potentially funny. Adults see some things as sacred and above being made fun of. Consequently, you sometimes have to shock them into laughter by presenting them with a non-sequitur sufficient to momentarily blank out their defense mechanisms.
If that doesn’t work, you can just try walking up to them and saying BOOOOOOGGER!!!
I know the kind you’re speaking of. Actually, I think many people of this type were always like that. I’ve seen children who were so serious it was frightening. And, of course, there are adults who love laughing and enjoy all aspects of life.
I hope to remain one of the latter type for the rest of my days. I can’t help getting older, but I hope I never grow up.
Moderate strength is shown in violence, supreme strength is shown in levity. - G.K.Chesterton, 1908
What more is there to say?
Not possible. They turn into lonely old people. If you aska a 10 year old about the “meaning of life”, they probably could not explain it, but probably have a better idea about it than your brother.
We all lose some as we age, and, maybe, even the humor does not work as well as before.
bong hits.
I knew that I never grew up for some reason!
Just keep trying, handy. I work with a lovely woman who is like this. She is a wonderful, kind person, but simply doesn’t laugh much. The only time I remember her really, really laughing was when I told her about a dream I had in which I let the Pert shampoo guy wash my hair. It made me feel great to finally hear her laugh out loud… who knew that this would be what would prompt it?
Just keep your own sense of humor with this type… eventually something will strike their fancy.
Maybe he doesnt understand sign language.
My popsicles have jokes on the stick. You can see one half at first, then when you finish the popsicle you can see the punchline. Try these out on him:
What kind of animal should you never play cards with?
A Cheetah!
Where do bees go on their day off?
The Wax Museum!
What did the grape do when it got stepped on?
It let out a little “wine”
If that doesn’t make him laugh, he could come watch me sing the Pina Colada song at bar Karaoke. Last time I did it, people were in hysterical fits.
Zette
Zette, I laughed pretty hard at those.
For some reason I find really weak jokes like that funny. The childish kind where it’s always a bad pun of some kind, and the answer MUST end in an exclamation point.
My current fave:
What do you call a pickle that plays pool?
A CUE-CUMBER!
'Nuff Said.
MarxBoy
sunbear said:
I have to disagree with you there, sunny. My parents are in their mid-70s. They love to laugh and to make people laugh. They delight in all the great things life has to offer.
And you know what? They don’t really look or act like “old” people. My father still does all the yard work around the house and is busier now than he was when he worked full-gime. If you saw my mother (who still has a full-time job!!), you’d think she was in her late fifties. Her hair isn’t even completely gray. Sure there’s genetics involved here, but I believe there’s also a tonic in laughter.
By contrast, I’ve met a lot of people in their 20s and 30s who complain all the time and think life is basically screwing them over. And they are worse than “old” people to be around. They’re sour individuals who are old before their time.
I’ll keep laughing at life, thank you. Then I’ll be around to enjoy it longer.