Writing Response 2

Relaxing the Rules of Reason by Robin Hemley in the Laughing Matters book points out many different things regarding humour; a sense of humour is determined by things such as age, socioeconomic background and culture; writing humour is a matter of perspective; and, also, don’t be afraid to write something stupid.

One of the main points I’d like to focus on is not to be afraid to write something stupid. There are always things that some people think are funny and some don’t. No two people have the exact same sense of humour, and trying to appease everyone with your specific brand of humour will never work.

Some people prefer cynical jokes while others might prefer a lighter brand of comedy. There are so many different variables to factor in when considering a sense of humour – everyone has their own likes, dislikes, opinions about certain topics that make them more susceptible to laughter or opinions that will have a joke go flat, or even be construed as rude.

If you’re writing something and the reception your joke gets is less than desired, you can always go back and edit; writing something uninhibited is the main goal, even if you think your writing might be thought of as dumb. Some may think it’s the best joke they’ve ever heard while others may think it’s dumber than a pet rock. It’s all a matter of perspective.

The video below is of the comedian Ralphie May - some may think he’s incredibly offensive with his tearing down of the blank-American label, while others may think his joke has merit and they laugh.

Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9mytOPDeeE