How Jokes Are Funny. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

GakFace · 02-18-2004, 03:22 PM

I'm a smart ass. I can openly admit this. Of course there is a bold line between Smart Ass and Dumb Ass. See a Smart Ass knows his limits and will shut up before he crosses a line. This is why he is SMART, and not DUMB. I used to be a dumbass in middle school, but I kinda of learned how claws hurt and fixed it up. I poke fun, but nothing more than what will get a simple chuckle out of someone. My jokes aren't meant to piss anyone off, but to make them smirk. If you can smirk at something, then your day can't be quite as horrible as you thought it was because I just got you to smile. So what does this all have to do with the topic? Next Paragraph Please.

Now see, when someone gives a joke, they expect something in return. Be it a smirk, a laugh, or even a retort back. In fact when a Joke is stated, you feel almost left out if you do NOT get a response. Well, Its happened too many times in IRC now that people just BAN ME as their retort. How is this funny? Sure, I'm getting a response back, but if you don't like a joke.. tell me. You say you were just joking back. . . Were you? How is it a joke if I cannot respond back? A ban disallows me from speaking. If I'm not allowed to speak, I cannot give a retort. Thus it is NOT a Joke. If you want to make a Joke... make a Joke.. but if you want to piss someone off. Do it directly, not indirectly.
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This was a Journal Entry of mine. I don't get too many people reading mine, and so I posted it here in General Discussion for that reason. What do you all think about this, mainly the second paragraph. I mean I have yet to hear someone give a joke where they don't expect something in return. I also have yet hear someone give a joke and expect a fist in return. Has the line between Joke & Insult gotten too thin? What do you all think?

skier · 02-18-2004, 04:18 PM

I believe jokes depend almost entirely on the delivery. Tonality, body language, facial expression, they all contribute to the punchline. On the internet, none of the can be seen, and a "smartass" comment or joke can easily be construed as a blatent insult to someone. Hence the Ban.
Lesson for me? No sarcasm on the internet, even the most obvious and blunt of wit is often mistaken for a serious comment or even insult.

GakFace · 02-18-2004, 04:32 PM

well yeah.. peple cannot year the tones of one's voices, I speak entirely in tones. To make up for this I add smirks to every joke online. People that wonder why I use smilies so much don't realize that I use them in my words to try to show my body language and tone. The ban wasn't an offensive one... it was their way of making a joke... but again as I addressed it.. how is that a joke?

Nisses · 02-19-2004, 05:13 AM

GakFace: to quote Lisa Simpson: to watch other people's hurt makes us laugh. Observe *throws shoe at Bart* *Marge starts laughing*

This is like a person jabbing and pulling pranks with the boss. And every person in the office is loving it just the same. And then once the boss uses his power to put him in place (which he is perfectly entitled to and isn't meant to be taken as an insult).

It's this sort of slap you can see, somewhat of a hurting, and for others that indeed can be funny in a smirking sort of way too.
But I doubt it is for you

ladyadmin · 02-19-2004, 05:36 AM

Very true that people can't hear or see your facial expressions and aren't sure whether or not you are truly joking. Smilies are readable and should be taken under consideration. Also, the person on the other end of the joke shouldn't automatically assume or become paranoid that the person is being rude to them or obnoxious without confronting them rationally first.

Besides this is only the internet so why should anyone waste time getting bent out of shape over a minor joke or ten? Unless of course the person doing the joking is purposely trying to provoke someone to anger.

Cynthetiq · 02-19-2004, 07:14 AM

I could just lock the thread as a "joke" but I don't think that it would be percieved as such.

a joke directed at a person can easily be construed as sexual harassment or an insult.

IMHO it's too easy to mix up, so I don't bother except with my close friends.

GakFace · 02-19-2004, 08:39 AM

True, it can all be taken different ways, so we have to be careful on how we word things. As for what Nissus said, what you say makes sense.. but it also goes along with what I said. The boss was still able to laugh at the joke... He was able to see the prank and do what he pleased.. where as a banning in an IRC room isn't quite the same as the one who got banned cannot respond back to it. Which is why was asking about the line of jokes, and what makes a joke a joke.

Just to clear up an side confusion.. this has nothing to do with #TFP.

02-18-2004, 03:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
GakFace Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go!! Location: IN, USA	How Jokes Are Funny. I'm a smart ass. I can openly admit this. Of course there is a bold line between Smart Ass and Dumb Ass. See a Smart Ass knows his limits and will shut up before he crosses a line. This is why he is SMART, and not DUMB. I used to be a dumbass in middle school, but I kinda of learned how claws hurt and fixed it up. I poke fun, but nothing more than what will get a simple chuckle out of someone. My jokes aren't meant to piss anyone off, but to make them smirk. If you can smirk at something, then your day can't be quite as horrible as you thought it was because I just got you to smile. So what does this all have to do with the topic? Next Paragraph Please. Now see, when someone gives a joke, they expect something in return. Be it a smirk, a laugh, or even a retort back. In fact when a Joke is stated, you feel almost left out if you do NOT get a response. Well, Its happened too many times in IRC now that people just BAN ME as their retort. How is this funny? Sure, I'm getting a response back, but if you don't like a joke.. tell me. You say you were just joking back. . . Were you? How is it a joke if I cannot respond back? A ban disallows me from speaking. If I'm not allowed to speak, I cannot give a retort. Thus it is NOT a Joke. If you want to make a Joke... make a Joke.. but if you want to piss someone off. Do it directly, not indirectly. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This was a Journal Entry of mine. I don't get too many people reading mine, and so I posted it here in General Discussion for that reason. What do you all think about this, mainly the second paragraph. I mean I have yet to hear someone give a joke where they don't expect something in return. I also have yet hear someone give a joke and expect a fist in return. Has the line between Joke & Insult gotten too thin? What do you all think? __________________ RoboBlaster: Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

02-18-2004, 04:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
skier Rawr! Location: Edmontania	I believe jokes depend almost entirely on the delivery. Tonality, body language, facial expression, they all contribute to the punchline. On the internet, none of the can be seen, and a "smartass" comment or joke can easily be construed as a blatent insult to someone. Hence the Ban. Lesson for me? No sarcasm on the internet, even the most obvious and blunt of wit is often mistaken for a serious comment or even insult. __________________ "Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim

02-18-2004, 04:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
GakFace Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go!! Location: IN, USA	well yeah.. peple cannot year the tones of one's voices, I speak entirely in tones. To make up for this I add smirks to every joke online. People that wonder why I use smilies so much don't realize that I use them in my words to try to show my body language and tone. The ban wasn't an offensive one... it was their way of making a joke... but again as I addressed it.. how is that a joke? __________________ RoboBlaster: Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

02-19-2004, 05:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
Nisses Shade Location: Belgium	GakFace: to quote Lisa Simpson: to watch other people's hurt makes us laugh. Observe throws shoe at Bart Marge starts laughing This is like a person jabbing and pulling pranks with the boss. And every person in the office is loving it just the same. And then once the boss uses his power to put him in place (which he is perfectly entitled to and isn't meant to be taken as an insult). It's this sort of slap you can see, somewhat of a hurting, and for others that indeed can be funny in a smirking sort of way too. But I doubt it is for you __________________ Moderation should be moderately moderated.

02-19-2004, 05:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
ladyadmin Insane	Very true that people can't hear or see your facial expressions and aren't sure whether or not you are truly joking. Smilies are readable and should be taken under consideration. Also, the person on the other end of the joke shouldn't automatically assume or become paranoid that the person is being rude to them or obnoxious without confronting them rationally first. Besides this is only the internet so why should anyone waste time getting bent out of shape over a minor joke or ten? Unless of course the person doing the joking is purposely trying to provoke someone to anger. __________________ The Programmers' Cheer Shift to the left, shift to the right! Pop up, push down, byte, byte, byte!

02-19-2004, 07:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	I could just lock the thread as a "joke" but I don't think that it would be percieved as such. a joke directed at a person can easily be construed as sexual harassment or an insult. IMHO it's too easy to mix up, so I don't bother except with my close friends. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

02-19-2004, 08:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
GakFace Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go!! Location: IN, USA	True, it can all be taken different ways, so we have to be careful on how we word things. As for what Nissus said, what you say makes sense.. but it also goes along with what I said. The boss was still able to laugh at the joke... He was able to see the prank and do what he pleased.. where as a banning in an IRC room isn't quite the same as the one who got banned cannot respond back to it. Which is why was asking about the line of jokes, and what makes a joke a joke. Just to clear up an side confusion.. this has nothing to do with #TFP. __________________ RoboBlaster: Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.