What does "funny" mean?
- Thread starter rembrandt
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Christopher
Puritan Board Freshman
funny
[quote:7a770b232e][i:7a770b232e]Originally posted by Gregg[/i:7a770b232e]
Those 3 smiley's still trying to revive that old horse.
:
[/quote:7a770b232e]
Notice how they all smile at the same time... rather freakish...
What makes stuff like that "funny?"
Those 3 smiley's still trying to revive that old horse.
: [/quote:7a770b232e]Notice how they all smile at the same time... rather freakish...
What makes stuff like that "funny?"
Ianterrell
Puritan Board Sophomore
Well, for me, beating a dead horse is such a common phrase that I often use it without considering a less figurative interpretation of it. When I actually see a horse, dead, being flogged and abused its not inherantly funny. But the inference I make between the saying I use and the imagery is pretty funny.
Another funny thing about "beating a dead horse" specifically is I think that the imagery involved doesn't necessarily involve the phrase's origin. I would think that the line "beating a dead horse" refers to a horse that has been ridden and died, yet its rider continues to prod its lifeless body trying to squeeze a few more miles out of it.
Another funny thing about "beating a dead horse" specifically is I think that the imagery involved doesn't necessarily involve the phrase's origin. I would think that the line "beating a dead horse" refers to a horse that has been ridden and died, yet its rider continues to prod its lifeless body trying to squeeze a few more miles out of it.
[quote:d14cb406f0]Another funny thing about "beating a dead horse" specifically is I think that the imagery involved doesn't necessarily involve the phrase's origin. I would think that the line "beating a dead horse" refers to a horse that has been ridden and died, yet its rider continues to prod its lifeless body trying to squeeze a few more miles out of it.[/quote:d14cb406f0]
Yeah, I think "irony" often is ironic because of the sheer stupidity or absurdity of the matter. But does something that is unrealistic and therefore absurd make up the root cause of what we perceive as "funny?"
Or do we not perceive things as funny? Is funniness just the end result of an observation? Is anything inherently funny? If not, then what in the situation tickles the mind to produce the abract idea that something is "funny?"
This guy could be funny:
But I think he is more enjoyable than "funny." Is it enjoyment of twisted reality the essence "funny?" I mean, irony is twisted reality. Is irony the root of funniness?
The banana is dancing ( ) but bananas are not supposed to dance. So this is a twisted reality and is playing tricks on our mind.
Try to think of something else that is funny...
Rembrandt
Yeah, I think "irony" often is ironic because of the sheer stupidity or absurdity of the matter. But does something that is unrealistic and therefore absurd make up the root cause of what we perceive as "funny?"
Or do we not perceive things as funny? Is funniness just the end result of an observation? Is anything inherently funny? If not, then what in the situation tickles the mind to produce the abract idea that something is "funny?"
This guy could be funny:
But I think he is more enjoyable than "funny." Is it enjoyment of twisted reality the essence "funny?" I mean, irony is twisted reality. Is irony the root of funniness?The banana is dancing (
) but bananas are not supposed to dance. So this is a twisted reality and is playing tricks on our mind. Try to think of something else that is funny...
Rembrandt
Puritan Sailor
Puritan Board Doctor
I've heard it put this way; Things can only be funny if you have a mutually accepted objective standard of morality and order. What makes something funnny is when the item in question nudges at these boundaries but still it's understood that it would never really happen or at least shouldn't. There's a detachment from reality in some sense. But nudge too hard at the boundaries or get too close to reality, and it gets offensive instead. Just some thoughts.
[quote:085e0bffd5][i:085e0bffd5]Originally posted by Ianterrell[/i:085e0bffd5]
I would think that the line "beating a dead horse" refers to a horse that has been ridden and died, yet its rider continues to prod its lifeless body trying to squeeze a few more miles out of it. [/quote:085e0bffd5]
Reply...
Sounds like me with my 20 year old van
I would think that the line "beating a dead horse" refers to a horse that has been ridden and died, yet its rider continues to prod its lifeless body trying to squeeze a few more miles out of it. [/quote:085e0bffd5]
Reply...
Sounds like me with my 20 year old van
Ianterrell
Puritan Board Sophomore
Same concept Gregg.
I think that Patrick is thinking along the right lines. But what about humor that doesn't contain either irony or a drop of cynicism. Like watching a little puppy walking. That could be enjoyable. Could make us laugh. Does laughter necessarily indicate something is inherently funny. Furthermore is anything inherently funny.
Some friends of mine proposed that farting (sorry guys, yes this conversation is degenerating) is objectively funny. That God made it objectively funny, but really we laugh at the act because it strikes up against societies convention that people simply shouldn't do things like that in public. It's rudeness makes it funny looking at it from this perspective. If it wasn't considered an unnaccepteable act by some kind of standard it wouldn't be considered funny by my friends. In an innocuous way the act itself is a kind of rebellion.
Laughing at children playing is because something is funny. Often the pique of enjoyment results in uncontrollable laughter. And other times laughter is an expression that shows we think something is absurd such as with Sarah when she heard about her future pregnancy.
I think that Patrick is thinking along the right lines. But what about humor that doesn't contain either irony or a drop of cynicism. Like watching a little puppy walking. That could be enjoyable. Could make us laugh. Does laughter necessarily indicate something is inherently funny. Furthermore is anything inherently funny.
Some friends of mine proposed that farting (sorry guys, yes this conversation is degenerating) is objectively funny. That God made it objectively funny, but really we laugh at the act because it strikes up against societies convention that people simply shouldn't do things like that in public. It's rudeness makes it funny looking at it from this perspective. If it wasn't considered an unnaccepteable act by some kind of standard it wouldn't be considered funny by my friends. In an innocuous way the act itself is a kind of rebellion.
Laughing at children playing is because something is funny. Often the pique of enjoyment results in uncontrollable laughter. And other times laughter is an expression that shows we think something is absurd such as with Sarah when she heard about her future pregnancy.
[quote:001d47bd41]I think that Patrick is thinking along the right lines. But what about humor that doesn't contain either irony or a drop of cynicism. Like watching a little puppy walking. That could be enjoyable. Could make us laugh. Does laughter necessarily indicate something is inherently funny. Furthermore is anything inherently funny.[/quote:001d47bd41]
So "funny" is only a sub-category of amusement... When does "enjoyable" become "funny?"...
So "funny" is only a sub-category of amusement... When does "enjoyable" become "funny?"...
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