# What types of humor do you not "get"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872 "2009-05-09T20:26:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/101 "2009-05-12T16:47:16Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > :eek: I loved his show and saw him live and I would say the exact opposite! His standup was a lot of rambling, hucking it up with the front row, “doo doo” jokes, and laughing at himself. I admit I’ve never seen him live, only his standup specials, which I thought had some good stuff in them. But I stand by what I said about his show, I always thought it was awful, and I never understood why people made such a big deal about it. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/102 "2009-05-12T17:02:50Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > But I stand by what I said about his show, I always thought it was awful, and I never understood why people made such a big deal about it. The show was good for people who enjoy controversial (often racist against whites as well as blacks) observational humor. It had some good bits. I especially liked the Real World thing, the Grand Theft Auto imitation, and the Wayne Brady sketch: [http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/bb6875cff8/chappelle-show-daves-night-out-with-wayne-brady-from-uploaderguy](http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/bb6875cff8/chappelle-show-daves-night-out-with-wayne-brady-from-uploaderguy) And oh yeah, “I’m Rick James bitch!!” ---
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/103 "2009-05-12T18:55:05Z")
“Cringe humor” is a good name for it. From Borat to the Ballad of Ricky Bobby to Seinfeld to Superbad to Ben Stiller to those Daily Show interviews, painful humor has made huge inroads to comedy. It must be a huge cash cow, or this fad would be long gone. What is it about these situations that make them funny? Do people laugh at this because they also make poor choices and act ignorant? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/104 "2009-05-12T19:40:37Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > But I stand by what I said about his show, I always thought it was awful, and I never understood why people made such a big deal about it. I think it was pretty much the pinnacle of comedy this decade. The Charlie Murphy/Rick James stories, the black white supremacist, the reparations bit with “Tron” becoming the richest man in the world, Tyrone Biggums, Dave in whiteface . . . like 3 out of 4 bits were classic and drop-dead hilarious compared to maybe 1 out of 25 for every other sketch comedy show in the last 15 years. His standup only really worked because he has such a likable personality and stage presence, but the jokes themselves were awful. When they made “doo doo” jokes on the show they were generally ‘wink-wink nudge-nudge remember when we were kids and this was funny’ nostalgic; when he made them on stage he was actually just making doo doo jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/105 "2009-05-12T20:32:18Z")
I really can’t understand how any comedian deriving their whole act around whatever race, ethnicity or sexual orientation they happen to be calls it fresh. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/106 "2009-05-12T20:53:29Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Chimp humor…arg. I totally agree, except for _Any Which Way but Loose_. “Right turn, Clyde” _pow!!!_ That _never_ gets old 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/107 "2009-05-12T21:16:36Z")
Sarah Silverman (she’s capable of being funny, she just chooses to make people cringe instead). Reno 911 Mark Russell Adam Sandler Eddie Murphy Shecky Greene The Three Stooges Buster Keaton (to me, he’s just dull) Charlie Chaplin And the all-time winner: Joan Rivers For reference, things I do get include Seinfeld Monty Python Rodney Dangerfield Andy Kaufman (except for the Tony Clifton shtick) Old Roadrunner cartoons W.C. Fields Harold Lloyd Richard Pryor So, overall, I don’t think there’s really a type that I don’t like, except for cringe-inducing stuff like Joan Rivers or Sarah Silverman. It’s more a matter of how it’s delivered, and I can’t really explain that. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/108 "2009-05-12T21:20:53Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I totally agree, except for _Any Which Way but Loose_. “Right turn, Clyde” _pow!!!_ > > That _never_ gets old 😃 Clyde was an orangutan, so you’re safe. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Neverender](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/848f3c/32.png) [@Neverender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neverender)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/109 "2009-05-13T01:19:40Z")
I’m not big on Put Down comedy, where the comedian just takes the piss out of people in the front row. Also not a big fan of Smart woman, idiot man, black being racist towards white etc. It’s not that I mind the subjects, it’s just that it’s only actually funny on a rare basis. Don’t go well for American comedy either. I don’t know why, I just don’t find it funny. Especially things like ‘who’s line is it anyway?’. It’s just, I don’t know, _corny_. That’s the only way I can describe it. I prefer stand ups like Ross Noble and Eddy Izzard. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/110 "2009-05-13T20:38:31Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Borat and his ilk. Years ago I downloaded a pirate copy of Borat to see if it was something I would be interested in, but I quit after about 15 minutes. I wanted to punch him, and he wasn’t rubbing himself on ME, but on others. I’m not surprised at all that he got punched doing that shtick in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/111 "2009-05-14T16:01:50Z")
I wouldn’t categorically say any type of humor isn’t funny. Good comedy is just that, and it can be anything. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/112 "2009-05-14T16:21:00Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > On the other hand, I like well done slapstick. I agree with this. Well, actually let me re-define something. I do not like “slapstick” in the “slappy” sense of the Three Stooges, or Ow, my balls!, or Punch & Judy stick-hitting, old-style clowns (historically also with stick-hitting), but I do enjoy well-done physical humor, such as David Hyde Pierce’s brilliant 6 minute [A Valentine for Niles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XN-J_0nYhI), and there are also some exquisitely balletic Charlie Chaplin moments. I don’t find poop humor or fart jokes funny. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/113 "2009-05-14T16:25:26Z")
There are certain genres of films that aren’t necessarily intended to be funny but a lot of people classify as humorous. For example, why the hell was _Reservoir Dogs_ funny? When I saw it in college, during the scene where the guy was dancing around the man tied to the chair and beating the shit out of him, then covering him with gasoline, everyone seemed to find it absolutely hysterical. I thought it was disgusting. Or horror films that people find funny - how is _Saw_ or _Hostel_ or _Texas Chainsaw Massacre_ at all funny? My brother-in-law loves watching those movies because he thinks they’re some of the most hilarious footage he’s ever seen. Such deliberate and exessive violence makes me sick. I also think extreme slapstick like _Jackass_ is stupid. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/114 "2009-05-14T17:10:44Z")
I do not get gross-out humor. Poop, farts, belches–nothing funny about them. I find that things like _Jackass_, _The Tom Green Show_, and _South Park_ are less entertaining than watching a blank screen. Likewise I don’t get any humor that centers around being “offensive” or “politically incorrect”. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert had their moments early on, but now that the humor centers mainly around making bizarre facial expressions I just don’t get it any more. And I never got David Letterman or Jay Leno. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/115 "2011-02-05T21:48:57Z")
Bumping this because I’d like to hear more examples. Again, interested in genres of humor - this is not a thread about individual performers. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/116 "2011-02-05T21:58:10Z")
Actually, I can’t say that there is any genre of comedy that I just don’t get. Any genre of comedy can be funny as long as it is **done well.** It’s the done well part that makes the difference between funny and painful. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/117 "2011-02-05T22:04:18Z")
I just don’t get “The Aristocrats” jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/118 "2011-02-05T22:28:14Z")
I’m not sure if this fits the question, but I find laugh tracks nearly unbearable. I know they’re intended to make me laugh by contagion, but instead they jar me out of the joke with a quick jolt of irritation. Shows that many people love–e.g., Big Bang Theory–I can’t watch, because the laugh track makes every punchline fall flat. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/119 "2011-02-05T22:40:37Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Bumping this because I’d like to hear more examples. Again, interested in genres of humor - this is not a thread about individual performers. Whatever the style is that 85% of the shows on Adult Swim have adopted, which consists almost entirely of things that don’t make any logical sense that appear intermittently between long pointless pauses. It was kind of funny the first time. Just about any American sitcom set in a single household and centered around a marriage. It’s just seems like I heard all those jokes in the 70s. The movie “parodies” that have appeared everywhere in the last 10 years or so (and they all seem to have “Movie” in the title, in case anyone thinks it’s just going to be a poster and a TV ad) that are just a lot of current pop culture references strung together without jokes. I could probably quote 30 lines from _Airplane!_ and I haven’t seen it in 20 years. You can watch those movies on fast-forward X20 and not really miss anything. ---
**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872/120 "2011-02-06T00:36:37Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Cross dressing. I see a man in a dress, my reaction isn’t “That’s funny !”, it’s “That looks really bad on him”. I’ve not offended or anything, just bored. > > Watermelon and fried chicken jokes about black people ( fortunately quite rare these days, at least among people I deal with ); as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, that never made any sense to me even as insults. Black people eat fried chicken ? How . . . terrible of them. :rolleyes: Put these two together and…isn’t there an entire sub-genre of black men dressing as women “comedy”? I don’t get that. I don’t go for humiliation/“awkward” comedy. Too frat boy-ish. Pretty much anything where the comedian or actor are obviously amused by themselves, side-mugging to the camera etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-humor-do-you-not-get/495872.md?page=7)