Comedy: July 30, 2008 Issue [#2535]
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Comedy


 This week:
  Edited by: Robert Waltz Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter

"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)


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

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 by reverse-engineering it.

         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. Having done an extensive search of Wikipedia to find female comedians that I've heard of, my scientific study says, "Nope."

         (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. In fact, my wife tells me that she married me, at least in part, for my sense of humor. Since I'm short for a guy and have chronic back problems, that eliminates the two other reasons someone would want to marry me: reaching high shelves and moving heavy objects.

         And on the strength of my last sentence, right about now all you ladies should be finding me irresistible.

         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. *Bigsmile*


Editor's Picks

Here are some picks that should make the authors more attractive to the rest of us:

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by A Guest Visitor


Location, Location, Location Open in new Window. [ASR]
No wonder it was such a bargain...
by Jeff Author Icon


 Teaching the Wind - Or Cliches Galore! Open in new Window. [ASR]
Cramp Entry. Cliches rub shoulders with each other in this one!
by THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! Author Icon


 The Hood Ornament Open in new Window. [13+]
Guy on the hood of a car; theatre of the absurd
by GoingGonzo Author Icon


 Turning Isn't as Easy as It Looks Open in new Window. [18+]
a vampire's first turning
by ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites Author Icon


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by A Guest Visitor


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by A Guest Visitor


And a special bonus survey, for those who prefer bathroom humor:

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 
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Ask & Answer

In my newsletter last month, we took a moment to honor the memory of the great George Carlin.

Mavis Moog Author Icon: George Carlin certainly was an iconoclast. I loved him, and don't know anyone who could watch him and not laugh. Thank you for the tribute.

It's great to see so many WDC authors honouring the great man.


         Absolutely! And you're welcome *Smile*

Thomas Author Icon: I think that's the best written tribute to Carlin I've read yet. Good Job!

         *Blush* Oh, stop.

Sophurky Author Icon: Robert, Thanks for your tribute to George Carlin. The world is a sadder and less funny place without him in it, that is for sure. We had the honor of seeing him perform live back in 1988 -- I laughed so hard it literally hurt -- I thought I might burst an organ or something! *Laugh* May you rest in peace, George, and thanks for the laughs!

         That wasn't an organ - that was your funny bone *Bigsmile*

Bernie Thomas Author Icon: Robert - A truely insightful requiem. Well done! Or as George might say ... Well f%$king done!

         Why, I have no idea what those random symbols might stand for.

Thanks always for the feedback, and until next month...

LAUGH ON!

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

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