Why are many Americans so totatally unable to have a sense of humour about themselves?

Question

If somebody makes a joke about Bush, rednecks, the bible belt, etc. they totally fail to see why anybody would find these things humourous.

As a Brit, I'm always having a laugh at the expense of chavs, Blair, the plum-in-mouth brigade etc. I can totally see the things about my compatriats which cause people from other countries to have a bit of a giggle.

Our comedians are renowned for their political satire, whereas American comedians come in for a lot of stick for doing the same thing and get marked as a possible communist, loony lefty, etc.

Lighten up, guys, your president's a retard, your farmers marry their cousins and Jerry Springer got rich on the back of the American Idiot. You're providing world class entertainment here, and you're making a fortune. Crack a smile once in a while. It could be worse - we're led by a grinning chimp and his limp wristed politically correct gang, pay massive taxes and receive substandard services.

But you've got to laugh...

Please note the deliberate use of the word "many", rather than "all".

Daniel r and Wow Are We Stupid: I must appologise for pitting my obviously inferior intellect against your great American education. As the only representetives answering in defence of the famous American wit and intellect, you truly epitomise your great nation's intelligence with your cunning use of grammatical nuances. There was little British me, happy thinking that one should use capital letters at the beginning of a sentence and when writing proper nouns. Oh, how you scathe my archaic insistance on the use of punctuation and my aversion to beginning a sentence with a conjunction. Clearly, it is I who is likely to have sullied my intellectual potential by sleeping with my cousin. Thank you for pointing out the error of my ways, oh great and learned professors.

Magilla: Sorry, I think you will find we have been laughing at you for some time, now. I can only appologise on behalf of my compatriats that nobody has informed you before today. Good luck on not getting reported for the "paki" jibe; a true stroke of comic genius, by the way. You might want to work on your punctuation, though - some of your comments are somewhat ambiguous (which means "don't actually make any sense").

Answer 1

perhaps u r talking to the wrong americans. the ones who get the most offended are probably the ones being laughed at: the rednecks, the republicans, the couch potatoes. u make some good points, but there are plenty of us who can laugh at ourselves. :)

Answer 2

If you watch 'The Simpsons' you'll notice that it is full of American sarcasm, irony, and satire regarding the socio-economic / political situations in the US. That has been going on since 1989. Find the DVDs of 'The Chappelle Show' as well, they're classic!

Personally, as an American, I love British humor. 'Little Britain', 'Jeeves and Wooster', 'Monty Python', and of course the 'Carry On' films. I also love making fun of council-estate chavs, the DWP losing £7 Million per day from benefit cheats, Balti houses, Brummies, 'Coronation Street', 'Eastenders', 'Emmerdale', Blair, "Hug-A-Hoodie", the British Police, all the stabbings and the failed knife "amnesty", the "punctual" transport system in the West Midlands, Footballers, Victoria Beckham (Reminds me of Mr. Burns from 'The Simpsons'), and lots more. It's fun to laugh, it makes you live long.

Answer 3

I'm engaged to an Amurcan, and for the most part, she has a cool sense of humour, (like running around a mall talking to a stuffed animal she was carrying).

I think it's the American nation though, they're one of the most egotistical nations ever, believing they're the centre of the world, and that they have the right to police the world, and ignore the UN and Geneva conventions, who valiantly defend themselves by bombing nations that can't defend themselves, just because they need to flex their military muscles, (I'll stop here, as I don't wish to associate this too much with politics).

The US believes they are the land of the free, but it costs so much to live, (with a national debt of $9 trillion, they're theoretically a 3rd world country).

It could also be down to education, whereas in most parts of the UK and EU, you have to finish at least high-school education, (and even college is relativly low-cost), the US don't have to graduate, and also, they have to study for 2 years longer, (though I do agree with their aspects of community service being compulsory for a short period).

It is because of this lack of intelligence for the most part, that I feel they have to resort to not laughing, and rather threatening to beat you up, verbally abuse you, or attack your house with a B52).

I do however, disagree on the tax issue, true we pay more taxes on average than they do, but they don't have public healthcare, and education is more limited, (see above statements).

Also, they wonder why there's so much violence in the nation, and when a teenager goes into a class and shoots them all dead, they blame it on the video games he plays, rather than the fact you can get a gun in less than 3 days without a licence, (you're even allowed 2 strikes, as long as neither of them is assault or weapons related).
Last year, the US had 12,000 gun related crimes, the UK had 65, and Canada had 62, even if you rounded these numbers up to compare with the US population, it still doesn't even come to 5% of their figures, (also, since guns are harder to obtain in the UK and Canada, it would not affect these figures as much).

It's because of the above listed ago, that the US fail to realise much of the amendments that their independance was founded on, (which was written on hemp paper, by the way), and because of this, they are more self-centred, and don't mind jokes about them, because they believe they are so superior.
Believe me, this is not a superior nation we're discussing here.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I think some americans do have a sense of humour, but it differs to the uk. We just love our sarcasm, irony and word play and surreal comedy in this country which is great and unique to the uk i feel. They seem to take every comment at face value and literally.

I've found plenty of uk answerers on this site with absolutely no sense of humour either. It's worse in the religious and immigration section. Absolutely no jokes allowed there then.

Keep the uk sense of humour alive- it's what keeps me going. Let's keep it to ourselves if needs be!

Mind you- The Simpsons and south park- well they couldn't take the micky more- so maybe they have got one!

Answer 6

I honestly can't say I've noticed this about Americans. They do have a different sense of humour to us Brits, more slapstick usually. They also have NO concept of sarcasm! There are however very many excellent comedians from the US.

Answer 7

Lickintonight - THAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING I HAVE EVER READ!

lmao!!!!!

well done you for coming out an saying it. Bill Hicks is he only comedien who ever played the role of political incorrectness in the comedy industry in the US, and now he is goine... is there no hope left for the Americans!?

Answer 8

OMG, now the Brits have gotten into it!

All this time, it was the Muslims doing the Yankee Bashing, then came the Atheists and now the Brits!?

And you lack the quick English wit!?

I guess the Paki Colony that you guys will soon become is beginning to have effect.

Heck, if anyone makes jokes and laughs at every President, it's us, buddy. No comments on Jerry Springer, you might be right there. But, our farmers marrying their cousins? Where'd you get that from?

Wow, we're being provided world-class entertainment here!?!? Now, that's really funny!?

LMAO

Answer 9

I think the Americans are so sensitive because everyone (all countries) are constantly bashing them all the time, in a SERIOUS non-joking manner and they probably get tired of it.

Answer 10

I am a huge defender of Bush, but I do think the jokes about him are HILARIOUS! Haha, I love The Daily Show w/ Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, and they bash Bush and everyone in a very satirical way, hilarious stuff. Nothing is funnier than making fun of stereotypes, religion, race, gender, accents anything, its hilarious................