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Original poster

Why do they keep laughing??

99 replies

ShinyNewNameTimeAgain · 27/12/2019 20:19

Sorry just a rant but my IL’s are driving me mad. They’ve been here for a week already and they just laugh at everything. Ask them if they’d like a cup of tea - ‘yeah ha ha ha’, comment that it’s raining ‘oooh it is, isn’t it? You wouldn’t expect that, ha, ha, ha,’ - at a cafe and waitress takes their order ‘oooh fish and chips ha, ha, ha’, then when it arrives they laugh at it again. They laughed at every present I got them. I don’t think they found it funny they just laugh at everything. Except jokes. You tell them a joke and they look completely bewildered.

I’ve never experienced anything like it. Why are they mindlessly laughing at everything? I’ve never spent quite so much time one on one with them (dh is I’ll so I’ve been looking after them mostly) but I don’t understand why they laugh at everything. I don’t think I’m difficult to get on with, I’ve never caused people to keep laughing at everything I say before. I don’t think they’re doing it because anything is funny, they just seem to think it’s a normal reaction to any comment about anything.

I’m getting fairly close to murdering them all. I know I’m being unreasonable but they’re completely insane.

OP posts:
Knoxinbox · 27/12/2019 20:20

Nervous laughter?

Londonborncatty · 27/12/2019 20:20

Ha ha ha

Iwasneveragoddess · 27/12/2019 20:20

😂😂😂

Cornish2 · 27/12/2019 20:21

Yes nervous laughter, has probably now become habitual.

ojo821 · 27/12/2019 20:22

No idea, but the thought of that made me laugh😂

Londonborncatty · 27/12/2019 20:22

Sorry, it may be a nervous thing? I know someone who does similar, any news you tell them good or bad and they laugh. I used to get really annoyed but I know now they are just a little inadequate and struggle to know how to respond.

countdowntochristmas · 27/12/2019 20:22

Nervous laughter ! I have a couple of relatives who do this can be annoying at times but used to it now .

Original poster
ShinyNewNameTimeAgain · 27/12/2019 20:22

I don’t think it’s nervous. Although they may have picked up on my rage and it’s become nervous. I think they’ve always done it but I’ve only just noticed it.

OP posts:
Buttons4me · 27/12/2019 20:23

Do they have Anxiety? Could be to do with that.

Original poster
ShinyNewNameTimeAgain · 27/12/2019 20:24

It could be nervous I guess. They do it to each other too. I don’t know how they stand it.

OP posts:
Original poster
ShinyNewNameTimeAgain · 27/12/2019 20:25

Only four more days of laughing. Maybe I’ll get stoned and just join in.

OP posts:
EmmiJay · 27/12/2019 20:27

I'm a giggler when I'm nervous/anxious. Leave them be. Unless you join in and giggle like them a la Brooke Sheilds in Friends.

Grasspigeons · 27/12/2019 20:30

They are jolly people?

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 27/12/2019 20:33

"Why are they mindlessly laughing at everything?"

Do they seem hungry all the time? Have they expressed a desire to listen to Ozric Tentacles? Have you checked their pockets for Rizlas?

Smashtastick · 27/12/2019 20:34

My grandad does this. It's a reflex from spending all his years as a pub landlord and having to remain jovial and friendly. Grin he wouldn't be my grandad of he didn't do it.

Though he does still laugh at jokes.

BatRobin · 27/12/2019 20:35

My step dad does this, he always has. Even when I told him bad news, "ha ha ha".

It's like a weird tick.

GiftedFish · 27/12/2019 20:36

My aunty does exactly the same. I don't get it. I think it's just a habit and although my mum gets annoyed she ignores it. It does come across as rude sometimes though.

Dislocatedeyeballs · 27/12/2019 20:37

Who cares laugh along with them laughter is catching and makes you happy spread that Christmas joy

LouisaJenny · 27/12/2019 20:38

A woman I work with does this. Infuriating. She’s worked there 5 years so you wouldn’t think it’s nervous laughter.

She’ll call someone and say “Hello, it’s X from X, hahaha” its so cringey.

I asked her about it a while ago and she said it’s just nervous laughter that she cannot stop.

Minky35 · 27/12/2019 20:39

My grandad does this. It's a reflex from spending all his years as a pub landlord and having to remain jovial and friendly.

This ^^ It’s most likely from having to spend time trying to put people at ease and appear friendly.

AufderAutobahn · 27/12/2019 20:40

I have a nervous chuckle. It must annoy the hell out of others Sad

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 27/12/2019 20:42

I can picture it... Gin

My FIL is a bit like this, except that he only laughs when things go wrong for other people. So if DS were to have a tantrum, or if one of us sustained a minor injury or spilled a drink. Once I was trying to assemble a slightly crap marble run he had bought for DS and it kept collapsing - in the end I had to take it into another room because I couldn't bear the constant giggling.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 27/12/2019 20:43

I know people like this. And I honestly believe they're just a bit dim. Would explain why they don't laugh at jokes either, they just don't get it. Simple-minded Confused

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 27/12/2019 20:47

Dislocated Pretty sure most people would find a week of non-stop mindless laughing annoying.

MT2017 · 27/12/2019 20:49

They're on ecstasy.

Are they hugging you a lot too? Grin