Gender and Humor

Hmm. Interesting.Perhaps, if true, it's another way of saying, generally, men simply don't have the ability or don't need to repress laughing at other's misfortunes. Women, with their nurturing instincts, do.It might explain the duality.

Yep, funny film. Gene Wilder with the sheep in fishnet stockings is screamingly funny. I love Allen's earlier, sillier movies.I expected everyone's list to include at least one mel brooks, one woody allen, or one monty python fim. Surprisingly, not every one did. To me, it is a shame that the media give Coulter's hatred so much attention. I am irritated that there are so many tablet/rags at the supermarket checkout line that feeds American stupidity/hatred.

Comic Jon Lovitz once said (paraphrasing): "Woman SAY they want a funny guy. Now, let me tell you, I am a funny guy. So why aren't women chasing me?"Thanks for your reply. I know you wrote you are only speaking for yourself and close female friends, but if humor is SO powerful a bonding-agent, then ultimately, why doesn't it seem more reciprocal? This thread hardly represents all men all over the world, but it does seem to indicate that woman (as perceived by men) are not as funny as men. That would SEEM to indicate that humor is LESS important to a male-female relationship.PS; OMG, Spinal Tap is FUNNY!!! On my top ten list.

Hee.Perhaps this can be the concluding statement to my thread, thanks.

Orrr, . . . perhaps THIS can be the concluding statement to my thread.Thanks for sharing aiki.

Hey Misha,I saw Paula Poundstone in Buffalo yearS ago. She was, . . . umm, . . . humorous.
I like Ellen, but she doesn't make me laugh out loud, from the gut."12 Chairs". Wow an oldie. Saw it first time many months ago. Interesting and sometimes humorous, . . . but top five on your list? Hmm, ooookay. I sometimes ask my male friends if their wife or girlfriend makes them laugh out loud. (Perhaps I should have polled THAT question in this thread.) After a few well thought seconds, my friends will usually answer a safe, "uhh, . . . sometimes". I hate to go all Oprah here, but the question needs to be asked, are women just as funny as men, however, men just are afraid to laugh, to show vulnerability to a . . . female?Umm, I don't think so.For the record, I would greatly prefer a girfriend who is smarter than I, funnier than I, makes more money than I, and is much, much, much, more beautiful than I.

Hi Rrhain, I have agreed with many posters with their examples of woman who are indeed funny, including yours above. But, I think the "highly scientific consensus" of this forum, is that, while woman CAN be funny, GENERALLY they are just not AS funny as men (as perceived by men).Seriously, while this thread has mostly been opinionated BS, I continue to wonder if real studies have already been done to quantify this notion. I agree, they're funny. What's Up, Doc?, maybe in my top ten.I hope I have not appeared as a misogynist with this thread. I love women. Why, even my mother is one.

Nitpicks ahoy . . . But don't SOME comics hone their act over time so expertly that their act doesn't vary from one venue to another? Isn't this also just rote, or merely acting a role? If this is true, then it seems we cannot use just "stand-up" comic as the ONLY litmus test of being funny, correct? Hmm. It seems to me you might be down-playing the importance of timing and delivery in comedy too much. But as a non-comic, I'll acquiesce to your judgement.FWIW, didn't Burnett do "funny" improv with her television audience before the TV show started?Bottom line, for this subject, we are nearly in full agreement. But I look forward to the eventual day when we do find ourselves at opposite spectrums and joust. And when that day comes, . . . you're a dead man Oni, . . . a dead man!

Hey Oni,So, it seems funny stand-up material (which could have been co-written or ghost written), performed/honed flawlessly over time can be successfully delivered by not-so-funny-but-excellent-performers/actors.As per Mod's summary above of Hitchen's video, Mod writes "Men are faster than women". (I still haven't watched the video, I need to use my brother's home computer later)If this is true, maybe stand up comedy should be somewhat less weighted to measure GENDER humor, because, for reasons above, it does NOT NECESSARILY show quick wit . . .If this is also true, than perhaps we should more weight interviews or talk show environments where the absence of scripted environments COULD lend a crutch to those who are less funny.Can we test this hypothesis? In your opinion, how funny would your examples of funny women (Sarah Silverman, Andi Smith, Tina Fey) be in interviews or as talk show hosts?Compared to Rivers, Ellen Degeneress, Rosie O-Donnel? (Regardless of how unfunny you think they are, they are more quicker-witted than the average person, correct?).Alas, should quick-wit be the overall measure of funny?E.g. Lucy Ball, great comedic actor, but crappy interviewee. Thusly, not a funny person.Do you agree with any of this?Edited by dronester, : used correct science terminologyEdited by dronester, : clarityEdited by dronester, : more clarity

I'm in.

Oni, Thanks for the detailed and enlightening reply. While you corrected my misperceptions, I am still thinking of the Nietzsche quote:"Those who know, but don't do, don't really know."Thus, no matter how detailed your replies, in the end, I still can't quite imagine how comics do it. I am somewhat envious, as I think the feeling of wowing a BIG crowd must be like some super-seasoned-curly-fries-orgasm. You are lucky.Thanks for the top 100 list. I think it stands as evidence that woman are perceived as less funny than men. I should have included that in my original post.I see Albert Brooks as # 32. I think he is very funny, witty guy. Perhaps his movie, "Lost in America'" would be in my top 10 comedy list. Henny Youngman, only #47? Go figure.drnstr

I had hoped Mod was gonna create the list, he seemed to be into the topic, but I'd be happy to try. I think the way the questions are structured need to be accurately phrased. Why don't I run them by you, Mod, or anyone else who cares to fine tune their usefulness before we give it a bit of the go. Should it be in a new thread? Orrrr, perhaps I just want to coordinate what we are wearing for our big coming-out-of-the-closet party. Stripes or paisley dear?

Hi Mod,I think it would be cool and most appropriate to create a survey and then analyse it in the EvC forum as sort of a class/community project.However, my single concern about this type of survey is not enough people, especially woman, would participate to reach an accurate conclusion. (that women might not care to take such a survey would be indicative of something [maybe perceived male biased questions?], but mostly would just indicate that the forum has so few female participants)Except for question #4, I think it would be best to include only closed-ended answers for ease of analysis.And I think a new thread would alert participants who may not be re-checking this thread.Per your and Straggler's suggestions, the survey might have the following questions:1. What sex are you: M F2. What type of humor do you most enjoy: LOWBROW HIGHBROW ALL NONE3. How important do you rate your partner's humor: LOW MEDIUM HIGH4. Why (one brief sentence please)?Can you or anyone else fine-tune/expand/compact these questions before we start? Any flaws I am missing?Thanks.drnstrEdited by dronester, : clarity

It appears this thread's participants highlighted accurate guesses that had previously been researched. Collectively I'd say, our opinions were mostly on course (see below). Thanks for all who submitted their two cents.Using Scholar.Google I found 128,000 studies on "humour and gender". I read/skimmed a few dozen and found this one most related to my thread. However, there probably are too many other studies that may be more accurate to my thread or are much more fresher for me to seriously claim the one below is the final word on the subject. I've highlighted a few interesting passages below:Gender and Humour: Beyond a Joke
J HaySome stereotypes/untested thoughts: Some Findings: Conclusion http://74.125.155.132/scholar?q=cache:rZ40U0x90BwJ:schola...

Hi Rrhain,For me, when posts are too lengthy, repetitive or insulting, the points are sometimes unclear. The following are four items that seem to be unresolved. Can you help? . . .1. I am disadvantaged from offering my full opinion, I cannot view videos at work. It seems strange we are having so many posts, that are so lengthy, without citing/discussing the actual joke in question. For those on the forum that doesn't know the "Donkey Punch" joke, can you or Oni supply it in writing (please forum participants, no more youtube supporting evidence without brief summaries). Thanks. 2. Correct, no one has asserted that any laws were broken. And since no one was arrested for telling this joke, can we conclude the joke is less caustic, less inciteful, than an ACTUAL hate crime? If true, is it POSSIBLE the lady is over-reacting? Which leads to the broader item #3 . . . 3. It seems you are arguing from a slippery-slope POV. Thusly: IF the public can become inured to crass/racist/sexist "jokes", it MIGHT eventually lead our society down a moral-sewer. If this is the only thing you are cautioning, than I think many people can understand your concern. But in a world filled with such real dire problems (starvation, disease, torture, military spending, illegal and immoral wars), being outraged over a seemingly inappropriate or failed "joke" may be fighting a mighty disproportionate mole-hill. Do you agree? 4. Oni has expressed, if a comic is successful, that CONCLUSIVELY means his jokes ARE funny (Carrot-top sends his thank-filled gratitude to you Oni). Thus, NO further analysis is necessary/needed. Any specific/occasional bad "joke" will have the CONSEQUENCE of silence/booing. The failed "joke" will be deleted, or else the comic will no longer be funny and/or successful. (It seems very much like the self-corrective process in science.) Do you disagree with this specific point?Thanks,
d