Posted on 12/21/2007 7:25:57 PM PST by blam
Scientist claims men are funnier than women
By Nick Britten
Last Updated: 1:40am GMT 22/12/2007
Men are more naturally funny than women, according to a male scientist who says men make more jokes and the gags tend to be more aggressive.
As part of his research Professor Sam Shuster, of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, rode a unicycle around Newcastle upon Tyne and judged the reaction of 400 onlookers.
Comedians Victoria Wood and Peter Kay
He said 75 per cent of male respondents made snide comments such as "Lost your wheel?" and jeered, while few women made cutting remarks and tended to make encouraging, praising comments.
Men were also more likely to comment and young men were the most aggressive, Prof Shuster told the British Medical Journal. The older the men were, the mellower were their comments.
Previous research has suggested women and men differ in how they use and appreciate humour, and it backs Prof Shuster's findings that suggest men are more likely to use humour aggressively by making others the butt of the joke.
Prof Shuster said he believed humour develops from aggression caused by male hormones. The simplest explanation, he said, is the effect of male hormones such as testosterone.
"The difference between the men and women was absolutely remarkable and consistent," said Prof Shuster.
"At 11-13 years, the boys began to get really aggressive. Into puberty, the aggression became more marked, then it changed into a form of joke. The men were snide."
He added that the initial aggressive intent seems to become channelled into a more subtle and sophisticated joke, so the aggression is hidden by wit.
Dr Nick Neave, a psychologist at the University of Northumbria who has studied the physical, behavioural and psychological effects of testosterone, said men might respond aggressively because they see the other unicycling man as a threat, attracting female attention away from themselves.
"This would be particularly challenging for young males entering the breeding market. It does not surprise me that their responses were the more threatening," he said.
The research was dismissed by one of the country's leading stand-up comics. John Moloney, who works on the club circuit, said: "In 21 years on the circuit I have never noticed men being funnier.
"I think the testosterone leads men to be more naturally aggressive but not necessarily funnier.
"The difference is that if a group of women were together and the conversation lulls, they don't automatically start telling jokes, which men do, and then it becomes a bit of a competition. But that doesn't mean to say they are funnier."
Two years ago, researchers at Stanford University claimed there was a gender divide in appreciating humour. Studies of brain patterns suggested women place a greater emphasis on the language, employing a more analytical approach and less on the punchline.
So did Lucy....
Honestly, I think women are funniest to other women, and men are funniest to other men (usually). It’s like arguing apples and oranges really.
Honestly, I think women are funniest to other women, and men are funniest to other men (usually). It’s like arguing apples and oranges really
I agree with you on that point.
That is a lovely photo. Did she say something?
I don’t think Ricky cheated (the rat bastard) because she was funnier, but to ‘put her in her place’ so to speak.....she was the top name and face and it was his way of getting back and degrading her.
Anyhow, Hitchens isn’t that funny to me, however, writers like Evanovich can make me cry with laughter.
She was bad enough that years later she apologized to me for it.
Well my wife would be surprised.
Hmmm, you kind of sound like her....
I’m sorry!!!
I was kidding.
Cf. Freud, Wit and It's Relation to the Unconscious. "The libido of looking and touching is found in every person in two forms, active and passive, or masculine and feminine."
Needless to say this theme is elaborated, e.g. "Among rural people or in the ordinary hostelry one can observe that not till the waitress or hostess approaches the guests does the obscene wit come out; in a higher order of society just the opposite happens, here the presence of a woman puts an end to smutty talk."
I highly recommend this work.
I think there is more of a humor divide between liberals and conservatives than between men and women.
Liberals have no sense of humor about anything.
I once saw a book full of “screw in the light bulb” jokes, and one of them was, “how many feminists does it take to screw in a light bulb?” The punchline? “That’s not funny.”
.
Funny peculiar?
It’s okay, I can laugh at it now, and she can too. Let’s just say that PMS is real, kids, and it can kill you. :)
[Funny peculiar?]
Lol, are you worried?? snicker. They ‘may’ think they’re funnier than they are and we women put up with it!!
Naa, women may try to be more polite, I don’t know.
Heading to bed.
HA!
I love it
But she IS cute!
I’m sure her mother told her a thousand times, “Don’t you worry sugar, nobody will ever ask YOU a hard question!”
LOL! I just watched the Best of Benny Hill on DVD last night. I enjoyed it because I can fast forward through his stupid singing numbers. Some of it is still supremely funny. It always makes me laugh when he pats Jackie Wright on the top of his little old man head.
Sarah Silverman is funny a lot of the time because she is so unbelievably un-PC. Most of the big female comics are painfully politically correct, which is never funny. The worst is Elaine Boosler.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.