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

[PiddlePoo]

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?

oh, and I meant to add that the Madonna one wasn't one that I found funny.

Yeah. I'll just admit I fundamentally don't get why another person's misfortune, whether badly hurt or not, is funny. I find lots of things funny, but I find that sort of thing mean-spirited and weird.

How do you you know whether someone's hurt or not while you're pissing yourself, anyway? Especially as often injuries from falls take a little while to fully show.

My toddler pointed and laughed out loud when someone's grandad fell over getting off the miniature railway. I was sooo embarrassed.
I think we've let her watch too much 'You've Been Framed'.

For the people who find it funny...don't you worry the person is hurt? I worry when it's old or young!

Norbert... That's London pigeons for you, they have Attitude and just will not move.

Yesterday morning I had the potential to make a lot of people laugh (neighbours) when I manoeuvred the bins out into the street. It was icy and I was arms and legs skittering all over the place before finally grasping hard onto the bin, hugging it tightly to stay upright. Then carefully crabbing up the drive sideways, arms waving in terror. If I'd have seen me I would definitely have had a tena moment .

I am a bad person and find it funny when people fall over (but not if they hurt themselves, obviously).

Don't watch this clip if easily offended:

I like a black comedy myself too. But there again humour has got me through many a terrible time in life.

I even laughed at my fathers funeral.

smacks self around face for being a twisted horrible person

I don't think people falling over is funny - But Hay, maybe just me!

I can sort of distance myself watching YBF. They have chosen to send the clip in and get their £200 or whatever with the approval of the injured person.

It's not like someone faceplanting over a wobbly paving stone in the high street etc. I am not sure how you can be sure someone isn't hurt.

It's the kind of humour babies and other developing minds enjoy. HURR JACK IN THE BOX POP UP. HURR MOMMY DID PEEKABOO. HURR PERSON FALL DOWN.

Don't think anyone has said they find it funny if the person has genuinely hurt themselves here.

ilove - agree its really interesting. Would love to know why there seem to be two different, seemingly instinctive, reactions. I don't blame anyone for finding it funny, you can't help how you feel. But then they shouldn't blame me for finding it upsetting, or tell me to lighten up.

There was me thinking that our minds continually develop

Some clearly further along than others.

But how do you know, Pretty? How do you know they're not trying to be stoic, or in sock so pain hasn't set in yet?

Do you piss yourself laughing first, or only after you've ascertained the person isn't hurt?

I made myself watch the ice ones. if you are going to arse about on a sheet of ice you deserve everything you get.
If you are trying to walk to the shops in it and fall on your face-notfunny.

There are some kinds of falls that make my bum wink and makes you say "ooooh" I did when I saw madonnas fall last night. That looked hip breaking!
However, there are some comedy falls, when the biggest thing that is hurt is someone's pride.
The one below, has to be my favourite comedy fall of recent times.

Here we go everything taken to the "extreme" as usual.

What would you know about it, LaSaor? You don't find it funny, your prerogative but any need for your dismissal?

I think it's one of those things you can't control, either you're tickled or not.

I watch YBF with DH and DS and the more I don't laugh, the more they do!

I can cry laughing, but not at anything slapstick, falling over or humiliating.

Me too OP! I think it's a mixture of it being totally unplanned, and we all try our best to maintain an image in public! Don't fall, fart, pick our noses, scratch our crotch.. So when it happens it's funny as we know it's the last thing the person wants to happen, they will be embarrassed and we fear doing it ourselves!

I dont laugh when someone falls. I always get a horrible feeling in my chest.

Am I abnormal???

Oh Sparklingbrook I'm glad I'm not alone.

What extreme? You say you don't laugh if someone's hurt - how do you know? Fair question, isn't it? Especially as some people may be a bit about showing they're hurt in light of the folk falling about laughing.

What do you class as 'genuinely hurt', and how do you diagnose it?

In my case (cannot talk for others of course) I laugh at myself rather a lot so have the tendency to laugh at others. MrsTed has hit the nail on the head where I'm concerned.