I have noticed in the jokes and riddles section that a joke will be told, only for half a dozen answers saying they don't understand it. Is this because the US readers just don't understand the UK sense of humour - and vice versa?
American comedians in the UK don't always go down that well ( with a couple of exceptions), and likewise the UK comedians in America.
Why the difference in sense of humour?
And does this account for some of the ocassional Anglo/American carping that goes on on this site - just a misunderstanding of meaning, or way of life?
2007-02-27 23:48:59 · 17 answers · asked by Bunts 6 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Jokes & Riddles
PS. Americans have a great sense of humour. They voted for Bush.
Brits just have a sense of doom. They voted for Blair.
2007-02-27 23:50:30 · update #1
Readers Digest Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Carp....to talk querulously, find fault.
2007-02-28 07:21:11 · update #2
I like your question!!! Made me chuckle...I'm British!!!!
I dated an American serviceman, and lets just say he never got my sense of humour and I certainly didnt get his!!! Needless to say we arent together anymore...lol
2007-02-28 00:19:47 · answer #1 · answered by lisa4rugby 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think you are right, Americans and British do have a different sense of humour but the difference is really quite subtle.Some people get it, some people don't- it works both ways.
A lot of British humour is based on sarcasm and the Americans use that in a totally different way so perhaps that is a part of it. Some language differences also contribute in that some words have different meanings or are just unknown in the other country.
Also you need to consider that not everybody will always "get" a joke whatever social group you are telling it to, some people are totally without a sense of humour due to stress, lack of sleep or whatever. Whereas other people will laugh at anything.
It's just another part of what makes people interesting and different.
2007-02-28 00:08:53 · answer #2 · answered by Debi 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
From a former UK colony, now independent country, I don't really see much American or English comedy. I get to watch America's Funniest Home Videos and Mr. Bean reruns as well. I understand slang from both American English and Queen's English.
Loo=Potty
Lift=Elevator
Those are the ones I can think of right now.
2007-02-28 00:47:14 · answer #3 · answered by The World Ends with You 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe, but there is a lot of shows we get on cable..i live close to Canada and pick up their stations as well but my wife and i love to see Faulty Towers, and of course we watched Benny Hill.
I watch a shows about the English all the time and I love your humor but I can see that there is a difference in slang and common expressions. Our German relatives don't get our jokes either. My wife is from the Philippines and very few jokes that I tell her go over and she just does not see the humor in the American wit...but she does like the English humor as I do ...maybe its an acquired taste ..like drinking Scotch whiskey..or smoking? I know you call cigarettes fags and that cracks me up...we are separated by a common language..but i do think the English are funny...especially Prince Charles and his new wife and the Royals are all a big laugh to most Americans...just like George W. Bush is to the rest of the world...duh?
2007-02-27 23:59:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Yanks tend to go for the idiot, the smart ***, or family and relationship problems in their sitcoms. In terms of Stand up they have a fondness for fast talkin gags, or general insults.In both categories some of these are undertaken by us. However unlike us Brits they don't really grasp surreal or inuendo possibly because they have a more straightforward output. Thats the only way I can put it.
By the way love the ending quote!
2007-02-28 00:01:23 · answer #5 · answered by Slick Digby 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, Americans do not have a sense of humour, that's why all their sitcoms and most of their films are rubbish beyond belief. UK comedy is the finest in the world. And no mad yanks, i'm not being ironic.
Fawlty Towers or Friends?
The Day Today or Will and Grace?
etc etc etc
2007-02-27 23:59:48 · answer #6 · answered by funkster 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i could say, from very own adventure. We get the yankee humorousness because of the fact we proportion an undemanding language, and as a consequence a great sort of yankee stuff is shown over right here because of the fact of that. in case you're taking action picture to illustrate, there are a number of american movies shown on the cinema. there has been many comedies. you have have been given all styles of t.v shows besides. while we can't locate the money for to offer as many movies etc. i discover American stuff somewhat humorous at circumstances, yet i in my view choose our humor.
2016-09-30 00:25:43 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
treacle is syrup...black or golden....carping i think is moaning, gripeing....
Yes we have a different sense of humour to Americans but it often makes me laugh more the away some jokes are interpreted. Also Americans get very upset over sick jokes were we Brits just laugh and accept them as jokes....
2007-02-28 05:59:40 · answer #8 · answered by chris w. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course different cultures look at comedy in many different ways . Falwty-towers is a classic, but my all time favourite is Phil Silvers in that great American comedy Sarge ant Bilko ,to me is funniest piece of comedy that there has ever been .Long live Bilko.
2007-02-28 04:26:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chrisatmudd..
I'm english and i don't know what carping is either
I don't get american humour sometimes as it is either too obvious to be funny or i am just to naive or stupid to understand
2007-02-28 03:45:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the person.
It's like arguing over which sitcom is the best, Friends or Only Fools & Horses.
They are both fantastic but in totally different ways.
2007-02-28 00:06:27 · answer #11 · answered by daniel_marsland 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋