# How do you respond to "you have no sense of humor"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484 "2005-07-07T17:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/41 "2005-07-08T03:20:27Z")
Oh and **QuickSilver** is also right that I let him make sex jokes and instead of running to HR I would just tell him I hoped his dick fell off. I definitely blew it on that one because now he doesn’t get why sex jokes aren’t ok. I did send him an email a few weeks back saying to cut it with the sex comments because they aren’t welcome, just so it would be on the record. Ever since I met this guy, I have learned not to joke about that stuff with co-workers ever. I set a different tone on that one now, believe me. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/42 "2005-07-08T04:08:49Z")
I like \*\*Happy’s \*\* solution, but as for me, I usually just do the “stare at them and walk away.” _I_ know I have a sense of humour (and a damned good one, at that); I don’t need to prove it to anyone. As others have said, what he’s doing is manipulative aggression; figure out where your boundaries are, tell him when he’s crossed them, and don’t back down. So you used to joke with him about sex stuff? Not anymore. You changed your mind, and you don’t think it’s appropriate for the office anymore. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/43 "2005-07-08T06:24:43Z")
I agee with **Happy Lendervedder**. Start documenting this. First, takes it out of a he-said-she-said-i-said-they-said mess. Second, if things get worse, it allows you to talk facts to HR. On XX day, he said XXX. On XX day, he said XXX. Third. It gives you something constructive to do. ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/44 "2005-07-08T09:52:41Z")
I have no professional-situation advice as my work isn’t very “professional”, but when people say that to me, my response is as follows: “'Kay.” And then I walk away and nonchalantly continue with my work. I can’t even begin to describe the wonders this has worked in my life, but not being an entertaining target has saved me from hearing a lot of “jokes”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/45 "2005-07-08T10:48:22Z")
It’s actually never come up ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/46 "2005-07-08T11:52:46Z")
“You have no sense of humor.” “Oh yeah? Well, you’re… you’re ugly!” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/47 "2005-07-08T12:24:15Z")
“You have no sense of humor” “That’s no true. An hour from now, when I’m telling everybody in the break room about what you just said, we’ll all be laughing at you.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/48 "2005-07-08T12:26:07Z")
I always respond: I do when something’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/49 "2005-07-08T20:53:52Z")
I think Rick Morranis said it best: > [@My Blue Heaven](#): > > [Barney tells a joke. Everyone laughs, except Hannah.] > Hannah Stubbs: I see that it’s funny. I have a sense of humor. > Barney: Of course you have a sense of humor. Everyone thinks they do, even people who don’t. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/50 "2005-07-08T21:08:02Z")
You could try telling a Dead Baby joke. ---
**Author:** ![klintypooh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@klintypooh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/klintypooh)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/51 "2005-07-08T21:16:51Z")
I’m on **JTunder** s wavelength. I think it should go… Them: “You have no sense of humour.” You: “You’re ugly, but I haven’t menioned it.” ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/52 "2005-07-08T21:38:52Z")
Unfortunately, a perfect comeback to almost all of these comebacks would be: “Case in point.” ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/53 "2005-07-08T23:28:19Z")
> [@flight](#): > > Unfortunately, a perfect comeback to almost all of these comebacks would be: > > “Case in point.” Oh yeah? Knock knock. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/54 "2005-07-08T23:55:04Z")
“You have no sense of humor.” “But I do have some clues – want one?” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/55 "2005-07-09T00:05:17Z")
Actually I don’t have a sense of humor. The doctors said that part of my brain was destroyed by the chemotherapy I had to undergo when I was 6 years old and had Leukemia. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/56 "2005-07-09T01:27:14Z")
“No. I don’t have a sense of humor.” Then I just stare at them until they get creeped out and leave. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@The\_Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hook)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484/57 "2005-07-09T02:59:15Z")
I like the writing down method, but instead of freaking him out with a “death list” kind of impression, I would re-use his “humor” against him. If it’s really rude, or simply annoying, read it all straight to him. Then, as he is apalled by what you just said, you tell him you’re just kidding. That in fact, all those were his jokes. It doesn’t look so cool when I write it down, but I think it could work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-to-you-have-no-sense-of-humor/311484.md?page=2)