 Comedy: July 30, 2008 Issue [#2535] |
  Comedy
This week: Edited by: Robert Waltz  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
"I had thought — I had been told — that a 'funny' thing is a thing of a goodness. It isn't. Not ever is it funny to the person it happens to. Like that sheriff without his pants. The goodness is in the laughing itself. I grok it is a bravery... and a sharing... against pain and sorrow and defeat."
- Valentine Michael Smith
(Robert Heinlein,
Stranger in a Strange Land) |
| ASIN: B000FC0SIM |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
|
|
The Romance of Comedy
I have to state, first off, that I never read "romantic comedy" if I can avoid it - so my only exposure to that peculiarly popular subgenre is the occasional John Cusack movie.
So what prompts me to write about the topic of romance in a Comedy newsletter? Well, in my almost-daily search for anything that is weird and strange on the internet , I came across this article from a British tabloid I fondly call the Daily Fail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1038970/The-MOST-effective-way-woman-bed...
His wry, self- deprecating humour is as important as his floppy hair and English charm at ensuring he always wins the heart of his leading lady.
Now scientists have discovered the technique used by Hugh Grant's film characters can bring the same romantic success offscreen.
Taking the mickey out of yourself works far better than clever jokes, which might be seen as boastful and put women off.
In a blatant case of life imitating art - or, more accurately, life imitating chick flicks - "scientists" have once again taken all the fun out of humor
| (or "humour" in the Daily Fail's native language) |
But all for a good cause, it seems - because what better goal could there be for a guy to learn how to be funny than to improve his chances with women?
Naturally, you have to wonder if it also works the other way - if a woman being deliberately self-deprecating is attractive to men. So I asked myself if I find any female comedians attractive for their sense of humor.
| as opposed to, say, Sarah Silverman, who's just hot |
(This isn't to say there aren't fantastically attractive women who make me laugh. It's just that they could just stand there and I'd still find them attractive. Hey, I'm a guy, whaddaya want?)
So, okay, taking the leap, it seems that humor - at least of the self-deprecating kind - is a more attractive trait for men than for women. For women, the important thing is probably to laugh at the guy's jokes, even when they're not funny.
| Especially when they're not funny. |
And on the strength of my last sentence, right about now all you ladies should be finding me irresistible.
Sorry; I'm taken.  |
But, as the article states:
'It is a risky form of humour because it can draw attention to one's real faults, thereby diminishing the self-deprecator's status in the eyes of others.
'But based on the idea that verbal humour evolved to function as a fitness indicator, self-deprecating humour can be an especially reliable indicator, not only of general intelligence and verbal creativity, but also moral virtues such as humility.'
Wait, humility is a "moral virtue?" And I'm supposed to have "real" faults? Wow, I'm hosed.
Anyway, thanks for reading - even though I'm not very good at this stuff. |
Here are some picks that should make the authors more attractive to the rest of us:
And a special bonus survey, for those who prefer bathroom humor:
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B083RZJVJ8 |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
| ASIN: B01CJ2TNQI |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction
of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Oh, stop.
May you rest in peace, George, and thanks for the laughs!