Funny people: are you naturally funny or did you learn to be?

[MonsterMunchLabubu]

I’m not funny. In fact, even if I repeat a joke, it falls flat every time…

But I LOVE funny people! Is it possible to become one?

If you’re funny, how did you get there?

I had to do one of those strengths profiles in work and sense of humour came out as my key strength. I was a bit nonplussed but I think being witty has helped me get a bit of slack in the office. It helps working with others. It can take the heat out of situations. Pretty good really.

Yes, agree about humour taking the heat out of situations. I never find myself in unpleasant confrontations as there’s always a way to get a point across without being overly serious, though I suppose to some it could come across as flippant.

My dad was very funny and a great raconteur. He’d always be at the centre of a group. I have inherited it a bit but I’m more on the sarcastic side. I’m retired now but when I was working I had the reputation of being able to send informative emails in a humorous way. Staff would say that they would always read my emails because they would make them smile.

I can be quite funny. Sometimes I have to stop myself from making retorts as i can come over as sarcastic and not everyone finds it funny

I am absolutely rubbish at telling funny stories or jokes, my friend is very entertaining in this way but not so sharper with responses

I think being quick-witted is what it’s about; as many PPs have said. I rarely laugh at actual jokes with punchlines, but I laugh a lot at people who very quickly come up with amusing quips or wordplay in every day conversation. I can be one of these people when my brain fog isn’t too bad. I’m also a good mimic and good at accents which some people find humourous. I like surreal/absurd comedy too and can occasionally be prone to that in conversation with the right people. I make my husband, children and friends laugh fairly frequently.

I really love people who tell anecdotes well; with well-chosen words and the right pace. These people understand storytelling and have a knack for it, so they can tell a story reasonably succinctly (but not too succinctly because they allow time for tension or intrigue to build). Added observational but inconsequential details about the people involved or the setting can add extra humour. I think I’m quite good at telling funny anecdotes because mimicry can be useful here, and I have a reasonable vocabulary. But I wouldn’t say I’m excellent at it, and I know a few people who really are- I could happily listen to as many funny stories as they want to tell.

My dad's a good story teller and conversationalist. We've always cracked jokes and he sends me puns. My older brothers quite witty. I remember a short story he wrote at school about a bird, it just had this really dry slightly macabre ending that I'd never have thought of. For example, he'd be out with my Dad and someone would say that's a nice son you have and he'd say he's not my dad. You have to be there 😄. Or when he came to visit me when I was suddenly hospitalised and first thing he said was 'well we sold your house, standard procedure'. And my dad bought me a copy of Runners World and 'What the doctors don't tell you' when I was in my hospital bed. So between the two of them I had to be a bit funny to survive. We used to play a load of board and card games at home all the time. I'm a quieter good humour type. My go to for switching off is to watch comedy on You Tube. I'd love to try writing some comedy.

Please can you impart some of this wisdom on the informative but funny email?

I'm funny. My dad is funny and two of my kids are funny. I don't think you can learn it.

My siblings are really funny, they always have been, think it’s innate, the way you see the world.

I’m objectively funny - in that people tell me I make them laugh and I definitely get my humour from my parents - my Dad especially. I would describe myself as quick witted and a good mimic (rather than a joke maker) and I find most things in life absurd and funny which means I can entertain people with a funny anecdote about most things. I grew up on TV shows like Blackadder and watching Victoria Wood which is where much of my humour comes from.

A lot of being funny is about timing and pacing - which I think you can “learn” a bit by watching great comedy performers.

I’m told I'm funny but more of a quick wit/dry sense of humour than comedy clown funny. Not sure it’s something your learn but I do think learning to know your audience is key. My humour is not for everyone!

I’m naturally funny. Never really thought much about it but I like to put others at ease and I’m very quick thinking. I think you need to be quick to be funny 😁

Interesting how funny people tend to say they have grown up with a funny family. That sounds like a nice cheery situation to have had.

I think funny people are very intelligent and have the ability to make rapid connections on the fly, between all sorts of things in any topic of conversation, and then link them together in a fraction of a second, in a way that is funny.
I think if you are already an adult, and you aren't like this already, you can't learn it.

Everyone is funny in a different way. My partner makes lots of puns and clever quips and you can see him consciously thinking of something to say at times, i am more of the dry, observational or dark humour which comes more naturally as it's just what i am thinking and decide to say it out loud.

Yes, it's about quick wit and sarcasm (and keeping it short, no one wants long and tedious stories) but you need to know your audience with sarcasm. I am amusing I'm told- I think I get it from growing up in a large Irish family. My siblings are also hilarious.... I can't be around dull people.

How do people know they are genuinely funny? I mean, I (and most people) laugh politely at FIL’s jokes and banter and I would say about 20% of it is actually funny. He thinks he’s hysterical. Well he would, wouldn’t he?

I’m hilarious, quick witted. Only my DH would disagree.

He got out of the shower and said “that’s me all lovely I replied “bloody hell, what is it holy water.”

I’m in the middle. Sometimes funny sometimes not… tbf the only people who don’t find all my jokes funny are my family, the guys at work, friends etc think I’m funny 99% of the time. I didn’t really learn anything, I just say stuff that comes to mind and that’s it… maybe I’m just naturally funny 🤣

People say I am. I don’t consider myself so, but I had a messed up childhood, I think it’s linked to that 😆

Sounds like your DH is the only one being honest with you then.

I have a friend who insists I'm hilarious, says I tell the best stories, can make anything funny. Unfortunately I think she has a terrible sense of humour, so it's quite hard to take as a compliment.

Im told I'm funny but really I think it's just that I have no external filter and say exactly what I'm thinking.
So it's probably more funny in a village idiot kind of way!

I can make people laugh. I think some of it comes naturally and the joke just pops out without thinking, but there are some simple tricks to making jokes. I think the most effective is a callback - it’s easy to do and everyone gets it. Good observation helps, sometimes you can spot something odd or absurd that others have overlooked. Pointing it out is an easy joke, and adding a topper will get a second laugh. Self-deprecating humour works well and in the right company double entendres (also easy). Jokes often have a rhythm which helps them land, as does a well turned phrase. Mimicry can work, but never punch down at a target. I think classic joke-telling has largely fallen out of fashion these days, I cringe if someone tells one though I always politely laugh. If you watch comedy, particularly stand up, you will see the patterns that jokes make and the more you watch it, the more you attune your brain to it. Making people laugh is basically surprising them, so something as simple as a daft answer to a question can get a laugh. Hope that helps!

My brother is one of the funniest people I know and he has been funny since he was very young so I think most people are born with it