Isn't all Humor essentially Cruel?

Question

Whether it is laughing at someone taking a baseball to the groin, a fat joke, or snide 'reparte' amongst friends....?

Answer 1

No. It's dangerous to try and generalize about humor, because there are always exceptions. And the more deeply you try to pronounce upon the subject the more pretentious (and humorless) you usually end up sounding. But, at that risk, I'll suggest, that most humor relies on an unexpected outcome rather than cruelty.

Answer 2

This one took some thought. You are correct. There is an element of cruelty in humor, but it is very restrained. For example, we all laugh if Chevy Chase or some other comedian takes a fall on Saturday Night Live. However, If they got seriously injured, the laughter would come to an immediate halt. We laugh at the blond who burns dinner, but we don't joke about people who are starving. We joke about death, but not about someone dying. I would say a lot of comedy is largely based on barely averting tragedy by being in a risky predicament and barely getting out of it. I've have never heard a funny joke about AIDS or cancer. That would be too cruel.
Don Rickles was succcessful in his type put down humor because he only took on the people who weren't really hurt by their faults. He dared to insult people who normally no one would insult. It is that close proximity to tragedy that makes humor risky - too close and most of us say - That's not funny.

Answer 3

I must tell you...I was recently in a very bad domestic violence situation and after the things that my bf did, I no longer have a sense of humor because I realized that many of the things that I once thought were funny are hurtful to someone..the answer to your question is yes. There has to be something to humor though...i just cant figure out what it is!!!

Answer 4

knock knock
who's there?
Orange
orange who?
orange you glad I didn't say banana?

while this is a really dumb joke.....it isn't cruel....unless you REALLY like bananas, but yes, most humor is in some way cruel. but people have to learn to laugh at themselves. We are all flawed and I'm guilty of laughing at Caucasian joke while I am Caucasian....just don't take the jokes too seriously and be open minded. It's their opinion and it doesn't mean whatever they say is true

Answer 5

yes, essentially all humor is cruel in someway, poking fun at different people and things. i guess it all depends on your attitude. some people can laugh just about anything off, and others will find the slightest tease and jab at themselves completely offensive and would be willing to stick a knife in you for making such a joke... like my cousin.

Answer 6

You know, I have to say YES. The reason being that so many people have answered NO and not a single one of them has offered an example of humor without cruelty.

Answer 7

Only if you allow your style of homor to go in a cruel direction. A lot of humor revolves around irony or shock value that doesn't have anything to do with being cruel.

Answer 8

Yes,come to think of it.

WE all at some point or another need to laugh at ourselves and how absurd things really are.

Even if i rib my friends with dry sarcasm,I make it a point to let them know that I have no venom in my
words,It's all just to keep things on the lighter note.

Answer 9

It is but it doesn't have to be cruel, it can be just funny if there is a certain limit. Yes it is cruel to laugh at others but it's not cruel to laugh with that person, rather then just laugh at that person.

Answer 10

It's basically trying to laugh at human stupidity. But it's also
bad for more impressionable people, especially the young.
because they think it is normal behavour.
That is why domestic violence is on the rise. Even adults
think ridiculing and insulting people, and slapping them, or
throwing drinks on them, is acceptable behavour.
Martin is funny when he sticks his hand in somebody's
face. Do that in real life and somebody will get busted in the MOUTH!