this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2024
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I keep hearing about how you shouldn't laugh over your own jokes but when I watch a video or listen to a podcast, I find it much more authentic and likable when they laugh over their own jokes in a conversation. You know, vibes.

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[–] dumbass@leminal.space 98 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

People who say you shouldn't laugh at your own jokes are either sad, sad people or have never told a funny joke or story ever.

There's jokes and stories I've been saying for 20 years that still make me laugh as I'm saying it.

Be a man, laugh at your own jokes.

[–] Wrufieotnak@feddit.org 16 points 3 weeks ago

Followed your advice, now my husband complains I'm not the woman he married anymore.

[–] bobs_monkey@lemm.ee 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Laughing sounds like one of them "emotions" that aren't sposed to exist for real manly men, so says the teevee

/- Cleetus

Oh, laugh if you feel like laughing!

Life is too short to worry about what should be done in which vibe.

[–] ReanuKeeves@lemm.ee 29 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

As long as they're not obnoxiously loud and saying something that's actually funny, I think it's completely normal. People usually say funny things that they find funny so it would be natural for them to laugh a little.

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[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 25 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If someone is about to tell me a joke and start laughing mid first sentence it's a sign that is either going to be very good or so bad it will become good.

Let them laugh!

[–] TheRaven@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 weeks ago

This right here is the best answer in my opinion. Regardless of the story, the teller is just so into it that they can’t stop laughing. You’re probably going to end up laughing with them.

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 22 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

It depends on the joke: most are funny regardless, but for some jokes a straight/deadpan delivery is part of the humor.

[–] M137@lemmy.world 17 points 3 weeks ago

You're telling the joke because you find it funny, it's so fucking weird that people seem to not understand that.

[–] Lussy@hexbear.net 13 points 3 weeks ago

Truly weird how laughing over your own joke has become known as a symptom for sociopathy.

[–] TheDoctor@hexbear.net 12 points 3 weeks ago

I think this is more of a truism within standup comedy that’s leaked out into being general advice. It can be offputting for a standup comedian to laugh at all their own jokes but even then there’s exceptions to the rule.

[–] Iapar@feddit.org 11 points 3 weeks ago

I am indifferent to it because i think it is just logical that people laugh about their own jokes. They have a thought that makes them laugh so they want to share it.

Why should I share a joke that doesn't make me laught?

[–] the_post_of_tom_joad@hexbear.net 10 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I like it a lot when professional actors lose it once in awhile, it really adds a lot. I do end up disliking it when they do it too often, like it's part of their shtick. There was a dude on SNL for awhile who always cracked up and i hated him. It's gotta feel authentic to me.

[–] criitz@reddthat.com 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] Cataphract@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago

I'm the opposite, love dead pan humor though so could be why. Once they start cracking up I'm out of watching SNL. The only times I think it's funny is like "who's line is it anyways" where it's not a scripted scene. SNL tries to do that with prosthetics but it's such a shtick that you can tell the people are laughing because they're supposed to.

I feel like "don't laugh at your own jokes" is a piece of ancient wisdom from the entertainment industry.

Like, if you're a performer and you're laughing so hard that you can't get the punchline out, then it prevents people from actually hearing the joke.

When you consider that performers in traditional media have a limited time slot to work in, then taking a break to laugh could be considered a waste or unprofessional.

I don't think that long-format content has the same problem. If you're making an online video or a podcast then you're not limited by time. Authenticity is more important than fitting into a five minute set

[–] shikitohno@lemm.ee 9 points 3 weeks ago

It depends on why they're laughing for me. Lots of terribly unfunny people essentially provide their own real time laugh track to signal "This is the funny part, laugh please," which gets old real quick. They also tend to laugh incredibly hard at their own jokes, far more than is merited by the actual joke. Unfunny people trying to force a joke like that get old fast.

On the other hand, I don't take issue with having a bit of a laugh with everyone else when you land a good one. On rare occasion, there are even jokes that wind up funnier because they're just so hilarious that the person telling them can hardly get them out without busting up themselves.

[–] nutsack@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

I probably said the joke because I thought it was funny and so it's really difficult not to laugh and I don't care what anyone thinks because I'm an idiot

[–] happybadger@hexbear.net 8 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Laughing is bourgeois. I believe in the communal sensible chuckle.

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[–] NeoToasty@kbin.melroy.org 8 points 3 weeks ago

If it takes them several attempts to tell me something and they're laughing all the way through it, I assume it's going to be bad or underwhelming.

I've personally heard some of the best ones were when someone keeps themselves steadied enough to tell what a funny story is or what a joke is but then break into laughter towards the end. Just enough to finish the bit.

[–] donuts@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

I think I depends on the laugh for me. Like I don't mind a haha this is a joke kind of laugh. But a haha omg I am the funniest person alive type of laugh would be met with some ridicule.

Hard to I explain the difference in text, but hopefully you get the gist!

[–] whydudothatdrcrane@lemmy.ml 8 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

OK with laughing over your own joke, but if you burst out and are not even able to finish uttering it, then I think this is a bit childish.

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[–] NineMileTower@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

If you don't laugh at your own joke, then it's probably not funny.

[–] BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 6 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I cannot not laugh over my own jokes

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I used to have a college professor who would always laugh at his own jokes. Always. His class only laughed maybe half the time. I didn't mind much because he was a cool guy in general.

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 3 points 3 weeks ago

Meh, matrix brainwashing. Be yourself.

[–] mayo_cider@hexbear.net 3 points 3 weeks ago

If even I don't laugh at my own jokes, why would anyone else laugh at them? The worse the joke, the more I laugh

[–] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

My daughter is the only one laughing at her "jokes."

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[–] GalaxyBrain@hexbear.net 3 points 3 weeks ago

I laugh at my own jokes because I'm hilarious

[–] it_depends_man@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Humor is difficult.

It's tough when it's actually a bad joke or they are telling it badly, but they find it funny.

If it's a genuinely funny situation / retelling, both of you laughing about the same thing and also about how the person in question is struggling to breathe because they have to laugh so much, that's funny.

But it really really really depends.

[–] Hikermick@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

"You're really cracking yourself up aren't you?"

[–] communism@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 weeks ago

Sometimes I laugh on purpose to indicate that I'm joking.

[–] lil_tank@hexbear.net 3 points 3 weeks ago

Not laughing at your own joke is only a requirement for dry humour. I guess some people only like dry humour so they generalise this but most people like all kinds of jokes

[–] Gieselbrecht@feddit.org 2 points 3 weeks ago

Whoever says to not laugh about their own jokes has never seen el Risitas. RIP.

Most times I can tell if the laughter is fake or not, and I happened to be in situations when I can't contain myself to tell the story straigh without laughing my ass off. It depends.

[–] dditty@lemm.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago

The only time it can get annoying is if it disrupts the telling of the story multiple times, but I'm also impatient in general

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