Most universal joke

[TriPolar]

@tomndebb

I am not at all sure that your collective assumption is correct.

Are mother-in-law jokes really universal? The very basis for them has been challenged: I have seen the hypothesis that MIL jokes are intended to put psychological distance between a man and his mother’s wife, not because she is universally detested, but because a man, particularly a young man with an inexperienced bride, is liable to lust after the riper and more mature mother of his wife. If true, this would not necessarily mean that the jokes were not common, but given the wide variety of ways in which differing cultures respond to similar stimuli, it does call into question the universality of those jokes.

@Corresponder

I think the conflict between mother-in-law and son-in-law in most (possibly not all) cultures is because the mother-in-law is naturally protective of her daughter’s interests and never thinks the son-in-law is good enough for her.

Mother-in-law jokes have probably been around along time. But their greatest popularity came when radio and television comedy were restricted to very tame subjects. As for lusting for the bride’s mother, I tend to doubt that. The traditional image of a MIL is not one of an attractive woman. I think the basis is the natural conflict between a young woman’s torn devotion between husband and mother. One of the things that makes them universal is that woman have just as many conflicts with their MIL that men do.

[Ludovic]

@Alessan

The pratfall.

I used to like pratfalls, then I took an arrow in the knee.

[Bryan_Ekers]

Universal, huh?
“Gravity sucks!”

[tomndebb]

@Corresponder

I think the conflict between mother-in-law and son-in-law in most (possibly not all) cultures is because the mother-in-law is naturally protective of her daughter’s interests and never thinks the son-in-law is good enough for her.

Which is how the jokes are told, but I would suggest that in real life, there is probably more conflict between fathers-in-law and sons-in-law or between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law in regards to “not good enough for my baby.”

@TriPolar

As for lusting for the bride’s mother, I tend to doubt that. The traditional image of a MIL is not one of an attractive woman.

Of course, jokes in which the MIL is appealing is not going to put distance between the MIL and her SIL, which was the speculated origin of the jokes.

@TriPolar

I think the basis is the natural conflict between a young woman’s torn devotion between husband and mother. One of the things that makes them universal is that woman have just as many conflicts with their MIL that men do.

And yet, there are really not very many MIL jokes focussing on the husband’s mother. You can find that sort of conflict, (Everybody Loves Raymond portrayed it), but you need to have a steady plot and theme to bring that out–it does not appear very much in jokes, per se.

My main point in this discussion is not to prove any particular origin of MIL jokes, but simply to question whether such jokes are truly universal. Is there any evidence that Romans, Greeks, Norse, or ancient Chinese told such jokes? How about current Trobriand Islanders, (or even Russians or French, today)?

[ch4rl3s]

@Thudlow_Boink

@TriPolar

Og: Thag fall cliff, dead.

Ig: Og sure Thag dead?

<<Og runs to edge of cliff, picks up a massive rock and drops it over the edge, then looks down>>

Og: Og sure Thag dead.

This is actually funnier than the “original” version.

I agree. That is hilarious.

[ch4rl3s]

@Chronos

[QUOTE=Frank]
“How would you like your parasites picked?”

Grooming of each other may be built in, but that’s not quite the same thing as being a barber. The built-in grooming instinct would apply to close family members, mates, or the like. A barber is someone who grooms you despite not having any such close connection to you, and I expect that has to wait at least until the development of a structured economy.
[/QUOTE]

In many primates, grooming is often low-ranking members of society trying to find favor in the view of a high-ranking member of society. High-ranking members groom others to cement alliances, etc.

“How would you like me to groom you?”
“With the realization that you aren’t increasing your social standing any.”

Universal primate humor.

[ch4rl3s]

@tomndebb

And yet, there are really not very many MIL jokes focussing on the husband’s mother. You can find that sort of conflict, (Everybody Loves Raymond portrayed it), but you need to have a steady plot and theme to bring that out–it does not appear very much in jokes, per se.

Woman: “I’m leaving you. You aren’t good enough for me, and mother agrees. She’s got me a date with a successful man.”
Man: “But, she’s my mother!”

[Aeris]

@Alessan

The pratfall. Slapstick is the international language, and watching someone fall on his face is its most basic element.

I would most certainly have to agree with this one. I was in an elementary school and my friend and I watched as every single little kid and teacher that came through the door tripped on this upturned rug. We thought, “maybe we should fix the rug.” Then as our faces were turning red watching everyone’s face as they tripped we said, “nah”.

The funniest thing in the world to me is watching someone trip.