For the 'humour challenged' and hyper-PC types out there, Professor Maher is here to help.

[Surya Gayatri]

The Humor Code: Deconstructing the Science of Funny-Level 101

Professor Bill Maher guides us step by step through the process of creating or 'setting up' the funny, and then breaks it down or deconstructs it. For beginner and intermediate level students of laughter.

http://www.wired.com/2011/07/international-humor-conference/



In Wired magazine’s May 2011 issue, Joel Warner detailed Colorado professor Peter McGraw’s attempt to scientifically explain what exactly makes things funny. Since the story made clear that McGraw had a lot to learn about comedy in the real world — an in-person attempt to get Louis C.K. to sign on to his theory devolved into an incoherent question about the comedian’s penis size — McGraw and Warner are teaming up to explore the science of comedy around the world.

Their occasional Wired.com column, The Humor Code, will chronicle their adventures, their scientific experiments and the unintentional comedy they encounter along the way.

[Starry Messenger]

1. Meh.

He just came off as petulant, imo.

[Logical]

3. LOL, you still don't get it. He would love reading your post. nt

[treestar]

2. Very interesting

If he'd known the guy was a Muslim, he might not have done that.

It's funny how our preconceived notions come in. I was thinking how cute Zayn is, and it never occurred to me he would be a muslim, I.e, it just was out of consideration what religion he is, and he looks so totally American, and the America I grew up in was pretty much without Muslims.

Just shows how you can be caught in your own prejudices. Bill, like me, was, because it just never occurred to him that a kid that looked like that might be a Muslim. His looks are like Donny Osmond's or any other cute teen heartthrob of the past 50 years. And thus the Tsarnaev look a like thing looked like only that on the surface, and he didn't even consider the issue of well maybe I should look into more about Zayn as he might be a Muslim and thus my joke will get taken as though I am blaming Zayn for acts of a particular terrorist who happens to be a Muslim.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. ^^^This!^^^

'...it just never occurred to him that a kid that looked like that might be a Muslim. His looks are like Donny Osmond's or any other cute teen heartthrob of the past 50 years.'

And, Zayn is absolutely gorgeous. (I could be his grandmother, but I know beauty when I see it!)

[seabeyond]

5. maher can fuck off. throws a jab at women, calls it a joke and demands we laugh.

reinforcing the mens giggle'd stereotypical insult women that effect us for a life time, in all manners of life, including laws enforced and passed.

so.

no.

[Surya Gayatri]

10. Did you actually take the time to view the video?

Kinda funny, IMHO.

But then,

'les goûts et les couleurs, ça ne se discute pas'.

tastes and favorite colors, can't argue with them.

[Logical]

11. He demanded you laugh? Where? Have a link? nt

[seabeyond]

25. just by telling me i am humor challenged if i do not laugh with him, is pretty insulting, ya think?

[Logical]

27. There are many areas you need to lighten up on. You might be humor challenged. nt

[Paladin]

6. Snotty, condescending, and zero humor content.

If I want to be preached to about being a dumb liberal, I'll get into Mike Huckabee's site. And by the way: Bill Maher needs to go fuck himself.

[Logical]

9. LOL, you noticed the people who "got it" in the audience were laughing? Nap time for you? nt

[Paladin]

14. Snotty, condescending, and zero humor content.

Congrats, you've attained Maher's level of entertainment value.

[Logical]

15. You sound like a blast to hang with! Favorite comedy movie for you? nt

[Paladin]

17. "Blazing Saddles"

[Logical]

19. RACIST movie! N word? Wow, you are sick! nt

[Paladin]

22. As long as you're happy. (nt)

[Surya Gayatri]

16. Here ya go:

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/

[Paladin]

20. Aren't you considerate! (nt)

[Surya Gayatri]

23. Just happened to have the link at hand.

[dsc]

7. funny thing though

He simultaniously gives himself credit for doing due diligence (correcting the misspelled name) but then blames ignorance for the fact he compared what likely is the only Muslim boy band member in the Western world to a Muslim terrorist. So which is it, did he do his due diligence or did he not?

[Surya Gayatri]

13. He's doing this in the context of a comedy sketch,

not a university lecture or doctoral thesis.

[dsc]

28. then he shouldn't have touted his fact checking

the fact is a comedian who is at best so anti religion that he has become confused with being anti muslim finds the one and only muslim in a boy band to compare to the marathon bomber and then pleads ignorance after patting himself on the back for fact checking.

[Surya Gayatri]

29. Here're his contact details at HBO. Let him know what you think.

http://connect.hbo.com/real-time-bill-maher/

[Inkfreak]

8. Funny stuff!

I like Maher, he makes me laugh. That said, if someone said "he's an ass" I would totally understand. There's really no need for outrage. Just ignore the his show & move on.

[Surya Gayatri]

12. 'There's really no need for outrage.' You jest!

There's always need for outrage, somewhere, sometime, by someone.

Which kind of proves the 'deconstructing humour' thesis mentioned below the video.

[seabeyond]

21. this is what gets me with the man. he demands his freedom of speech while insisting anyone

else using freedom of speech should just be quiet, say nothing, or will be labeled some extreme like.... outrage.

[seabeyond]

24. the title alone. humor challenged. no, not really. just do not find insults to be funny.

and he means to insult. everyone knows that, he admits that, his fans are aware. it is all about insulting people. i do not find some of it funny. i am then accused of being humor challenged.

you do not see a problem with that?

[Surya Gayatri]

30. At least it was toned down to 'humour challenged' instead of

'Explaining jokes to idiots', the actual title of his segment, as you can see in the video.

[Surya Gayatri]

26. To each his own outrage, to each his own axe a grindin'...

[seabeyond]

18. you say.... it is fine to call him an ass, then suggest outrage and just do not watch the show.

k. he is an ass. not outraged and i do not watch the show.

[Inkfreak]

31. Right on, I understand why people would call him that. He can be a bit of an ass.

I don't think he's harmful or anything. Just a comic. I suppose outrage was the wrong word. I do think it's a lot of coverage for a rather innocuous joke.

[Orsino]

34. He says a ton of really hateful shit.

He may also be pretty funny, and may still share some of my values.

Let's not pretend that he's all one thing and not any other thing, or that people turned way off by his bigotry are somehow inapable of getting humor.

Our participation is not required. He has a lot of fans even after losing some.

[Inkfreak]

35. Yup. That's pretty much what I said. (nt)

[seabeyond]

36. exactly, and that is all i am saying in this thread, yet, people felt the need to insult, because i

call him on some of his supposed "jokes". i like the man. have agreed with oh... about 50% of the shit he says, and about 50% is a fail for me.

surely... i am allowed.

agree with you.

[Bluenorthwest]

33. Which comics working today do you like?

nt

[seabeyond]

37. lots. lots and lots. i do not follow names ect. i will have to get back to you.

my son and i watch a lot of comedians together and spend a lot of time with comedy channels on car with long trips. i love comedy. and some does not float my boat. as i said elsewhere. i like maher. i like about 50% of what he says. i disagree with a percentage, and i think he is a misogynist ass.

[seabeyond]

38. i like most all of carlin. though when i bought his book for the oldest, and since so many of us

treat carlin as god, i did tell son his pov is white middle aged male. he is still funny, he is good and clever and witty, and not always right on.

colbert is a hoot and some of colbert and stewart are sexist, but as a whole i love both.

the dude that is comedian and does stand up that is on park and recreation, ..... indian?, is funny as hell.

the other on the show, the meat eating dude? i was really disappointed cause there was so much... dick dick dick, pussy pussy, dick dick pussy dick dick dick.

otherwise, he is funny.

anyway, i listen to lots.