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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that there's nothing funnier than people falling over?

299 replies

PiddlePoo · 26/02/2015 17:11

Inspired by Madonna's fall at last nights Brits. I can't remember the last time I've laughed so much at a live TV event, it was hilarious. Even the reporter on Sky News was trying not laugh whilst talking about it later on in the evening, and myself and my colleagues have been laughing about it all day today.

A few years ago during the bad snowfall we had there was a clip shown on ITV news of a group of people slipping over on the same patch of ice on a pavement. That made me howl as well.

What is it about people falling over that makes it so amusing?

OP posts:
PrivatePike · 27/02/2015 11:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

QueenofallIsee · 27/02/2015 11:50

Yup, Derek the worm... he was sort of shuffling and undulating trying to get a good enough grip to either stand or make himself move. I still cry laughing whenever I think about it and it was nearly 20 years ago. So hilarity was less about the fall and more about the circumstances..I wonder if that means I am doomed to a slightly less hellish place that you fuckers? ( I seriously doubt it)

IrianofWay · 27/02/2015 11:57

Oh god, you are really really bad...but yes it is very funny. Sorry, it just is. Watching YBF with the kids has me alternatively howling with laughter and saying 'Oh poor man. That could have been nasty!'

It just is funny. I know the consequences might well be far from funny and I would never laugh out loud in real life until I know how serious it was, but usually the only thing badly hurt is pride.

IrianofWay · 27/02/2015 12:00

I once did the classic slapstick routine of walking into a lamppost while talking to and looking at DD and rebounded on my arse.

Then there was the time when my dog ran up behind me with a long stick in his mouth and swept my legs from under me.

I lost my footing at the top of the stairs and slid all the way down on my backside. Hurt my coccyx permanently but I can't deny it was comic gold.

I defy anyone not to laugh at those. I was.

PrivatePike · 27/02/2015 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YiIKEA · 27/02/2015 12:05

That made me laugh out loud - I don't know anyone who wouldn't find that funny!

Floisme · 27/02/2015 12:13

I laugh Blush It's an instinctive reaction, like a shudder then my brain catches up with my body and I realise they might be hurt and feel an absolute plonker.

I took a bad tumble myself a couple of weeks ago on the ice; no serious harm done but it got me thinking about how it might end if I fall like that in 20 or even 10 years time. My mum was very fearful of falling for the last few years of her life, so much so that she barely left the house on her own.

So basically, I laugh but I don't think it's funny.

Sallystyle · 27/02/2015 13:45
Grin

This thread is funny!

I have no empathy, no compassion and probably torture animals or think it is funny when others do Hmm

My nanny fell and broke her hip- not funny
Someone falling over and not hurting themselves badly- funny

Madonna being pulled of stage- funny, even though I felt bad for laughing.

Morally superior people- funny

It's black humour, that's all. The evening my children's father died we laughed a lot at certain things. It was just hysterical laughter. We laugh at lot here to get through shitty things. If people had seen us that evening they would have probably thought were were insensitive arseholes, but it was just our way of coping at the time. None of it was funny but we still kept laughing hysterically.

If I see someone fall over I might laugh because I am kind of shocked and laughter is my way of dealing with it.

Of course some falls are just plain funny.

MegBusset · 27/02/2015 16:09

Twenty years ago, my boyfriend at the time did a proper a Del Boy falling through the bar moment, except it was at a bus stop in Camden that had a panel of glass missing. He went to lean on the glass and just kept going through to the road. He got up and took a bow and got a round of applause from the whole bus stop queue. I cried laughing for about a week. It remains the funniest thing I've ever seen and still makes me laugh now.

I have also been hit by a car and find the story very funny to tell.

PoppyAmex · 27/02/2015 16:35

YABU, the funniest thing in the world is people getting "jumpy", " hand flapping " frights. Grin

Faez · 27/02/2015 16:38

I've never understood why people enjoy watching people get hurt on YBF, such an unfunny programme.

thelittlebooktroll · 27/02/2015 16:43

can't believe people even find being hit by cars a funny storyConfused

ilovemargaretatwood8931 · 27/02/2015 17:43

Here's a scientific (hmm) case study for your perusal-

My (both lovely) PIL's, are total opposites on this issue.

MIL- finds people falling over etc the best joke ever, loves YBF, laughs generally at (hopefully non serious) accidents- she's one of the kindest and most sensitive people I know.

FIL- can't be in the same room as YBF on telly, simply can't understand why his wife would crack a smile if someone does a funny trip over (well, he wouldn't think that a fall could ever be funny- he's also one of the kindest and most sensitive people I know!

I sometimes hear of (mild) accidents that happen at their yoga class (!), and the difference in their reactions to these is quite amusing! Their favourite tv programme is Father Ted; MIL likes it when Fr Jack hits people or Mrs Doyle falls over, FIL likes the bits when Fr Dougal is totally stupid.

They have, unquestionably, the best marriage I've ever seen!

Have really enjoyed this thread Grin

LittleMilkNoSugar · 28/02/2015 12:47

I think laughter at unfortunate incidents is a defence mechanism ("thank God that didn't just happen to me!" sort of thing). Almost every time there is a newsworthy tragedy, someone somewhere will make a joke out of it. It's human nature but it's also totally subjective over whether it's funny or not.

Someone mentioned UT that they don't like programmes where people are humiliated. IMO when someone is humiliated (falling over, being shown to be crap at singing on a national TV show) then that humiliation is their humiliation and that only they can decide whether or not it's funny, which they demonstrate by laughing at themselves. If you react to another person's misfortune by laughing and humiliating them further before checking to see how they want to handle it, you are taking away their ownership of the situation.

Or something like that anyway....Confused

TeacupTravels · 28/02/2015 12:55

See Queen I wouldn't at all have found that funny. In the slightest. And if it wasnt for this type of thread telling me its not an uncommon reaction I'd probably judge and think badly of the person finding it funny.

I prefer people who are a bit more sensitive towards how others are feeling!

limitedperiodonly · 28/02/2015 13:04

I'd love to see a youtube clip of Madonna and Bono trying to walk down a very icy street together.

fattymcfatfat · 28/02/2015 15:45

tee hee watch

bigbluestars · 28/02/2015 16:41

fattymcfatfat-

Horrible clip- mysoginistic, violent- I hope I don't live near you.

pineappleshortbread · 28/02/2015 16:46

That's a shame the original scene from the film was funny and fantastic after all only spartan women give birth to real men

pineappleshortbread · 28/02/2015 17:02

Also I have to admit I did cracking up at that clip

limitedperiodonly · 28/02/2015 17:12

bigbluestars That clip is neither here nor there but have you seen 300?

It's a parody of a scene. A scene where the Spartan king asserts his authority and defiance. In the film he kicks a male ambassador into the pit.

He's also takes very close guidance from his queen who I'm sure would do the honours herself.

Violent, yes, but I don't find it misogynistic.

pineappleshortbread · 28/02/2015 17:16

Yes not misogynistic actually he does it because the ambassador insulted his wife and wanted to enslave his people. Shame that in actual history that it was leonidas' father that does that before the first Persian war not the Xerxes war but then the film is terribly historically inaccurate

fattymcfatfat · 28/02/2015 17:18

the clip is just a parody! of course its violent, the original film is violent. it made me giggle and I thought I would give some others a laugh aswell. I appreciate not everyone will find it amusing but there is no need for the whole hope I dont live near you, come on now, just a tad over reacting there. Grin

FromSeaToShining · 28/02/2015 17:31

I don't find it remotely funny. If it's a slapstick comedy in which actors are performing, I can just shrug and assume that it's just not compatible with my sense of humour. But when people laugh at others who fall IRL, I find it quite disturbing.

My father used to tell a story about living abroad (in a country which shall be nameless). He didn't care much for the culture in general but one day he had an experience that he said was the final straw. He was riding a bus through town and he saw a woman running for the bus. She tripped and fell in the middle of the road, apparently quite a bad fall. Everyone on the bus burst out laughing. My father found himself laughing right along with them. And he knew at that moment that he had to get out of that country ASAP.

limitedperiodonly · 28/02/2015 17:43

It might not be hot on historical accuracy but Leonidas does do nice chocolates.

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