# Things that funny people know **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 22, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516 "2012-10-22T13:29:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![inedible\_knapsack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/49beb7/32.png) [@inedible\_knapsack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inedible_knapsack)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/1 "2012-10-22T13:29:58Z")
Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=665936)about tall people. There are a lot of funny people on the boards. What do you know about human nature, language, timing or other concepts that make for hilarity? By way of example: - Certain numbers are funnier than others. Prime numbers are generally funny, while multiples of 10 generally aren’t. - Laugh tracks force laughs for “jokes” that aren’t funny. If you can find clips of sitcoms with the laugh track turned off, the pauses and stilted conversations just seem awkward. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/2 "2012-10-22T13:37:44Z")
The unexpected is funny. The out of place is funny. Incongruency is funny. And neckties that are too long. Or too short. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/3 "2012-10-22T13:40:28Z")
[Other people’s](http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/26965.html) pain is funny. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/4 "2012-10-22T13:45:47Z")
Some animals are intrinsically funny. Weasels, penguins, and chickens are funny, Wolves, horses, and antelopes are only rarely funny, and then only in specific context. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/5 "2012-10-22T13:46:50Z")
As a rule, people consider puns the lowest form of humor. If I paid attention to this rule, I might be qualified to answer the OP. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/6 "2012-10-22T13:53:11Z")
> [@A\_Nested\_Thorn](#): > > By way of example: > > - Certain numbers are funnier than others. Prime numbers are generally funny, while multiples of 10 generally aren’t. What! 57,230 isn’t funny! :eek:😕☹ ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/7 "2012-10-22T13:54:54Z")
Ks are funny. So are Ps and Qs and Ss. The comics best friend is a drunk audience. Important thing to keep in mind - some people just can’t take a joke. Timing is ``` everything. ``` ---
**Author:** ![inedible\_knapsack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/49beb7/32.png) [@inedible\_knapsack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inedible_knapsack)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/8 "2012-10-22T13:59:01Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > What! 57,230 isn’t funny! :eek:😕☹ Well, 57,230 is funny because it contains two prime numbers, 57 and 23 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/9 "2012-10-22T13:59:24Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > What! 57,230 isn’t funny! :eek:😕☹ No, but 57,230 and one is funny. 57,230 and 2 is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/10 "2012-10-22T14:00:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Timing is > > ``` > everything. > > ``` Ask me what the secret to great comedy is. What’s the se TIMING! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/11 "2012-10-22T14:04:04Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Some animals are intrinsically funny. Weasels, penguins, and chickens are funny, Wolves, horses, and antelopes are only rarely funny, and then only in specific context. Don’t forget monkeys. Especially on rocks. Turtles, not so much. > [@tdn](#): > > Ask me what the secret to great comedy is. > > What’s the se TIMING! I give up. What’s se timing? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/12 "2012-10-22T14:05:55Z")
Pulling in a reference to something non-funny that happened or was said in a conversation hours, days, or even weeks ago when making a joke is awesome, provided the person on the receiving end is smart enough to pick up on it. ---
**Author:** ![inedible\_knapsack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/49beb7/32.png) [@inedible\_knapsack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inedible_knapsack)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/13 "2012-10-22T14:07:34Z")
All timing is not the same; it’s specific to a situation. A loud fart after a long period of awkward silence = funny A witty retort after a long period of awkward silence = lame (ironically, unless the retort isn’t really that witty, at which point the circle is completed and it’s so sad it’s funny) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/14 "2012-10-22T14:11:09Z")
> [@A\_Nested\_Thorn](#): > > All timing is not the same; it’s specific to a situation. Wait a minute. So what you’re saying is… penguins?!? OMG, now I get it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/15 "2012-10-22T14:26:26Z")
> [@A\_Nested\_Thorn](#): > > Well, 57,230 is funny because it contains two prime numbers, 57 and 23 😃 Were 57 a prime number, that would be funny. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/16 "2012-10-22T14:27:17Z")
Subtlety is funny. Stating the obvious is usually not funny. Most people I know are big fans of stating the obvious. ---
**Author:** ![inedible\_knapsack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/49beb7/32.png) [@inedible\_knapsack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inedible_knapsack)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/17 "2012-10-22T14:33:47Z")
> [@Dr\_Doom](#): > > Were 57 a prime number, that would be funny. :smack: Just call me Grothendieck: From Wikipedia: “Although 57 is not prime, it is **jokingly** [emphasis mine] known as the “Grothendieck prime” after a story in which Grothendieck supposedly gave it as an example of a particular prime number.” Now _that_ is high comedy. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/18 "2012-10-22T14:54:58Z")
Tragedy + Time = Comedy. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/19 "2012-10-22T15:06:37Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Tragedy + Time = Comedy. Too soon. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516/20 "2012-10-22T15:09:14Z")
> [@A\_Nested\_Thorn](#): > > :smack: Just call me Grothendieck: > > From Wikipedia: “Although 57 is not prime, it is **jokingly** [emphasis mine] known as the “Grothendieck prime” after a story in which Grothendieck supposedly gave it as an example of a particular prime number.” > > Now _that_ is high comedy. Thanks for the info! To the OP, in capable hands, gooderisms are usually spoon. 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-funny-people-know/638516.md?page=2)