Comments on: Why Jokes Go Viral

By: hilarious quotes

hilarious quotes — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:16:18 +0000

little bastard was funnny and dangerous also

By: Rajje

Rajje — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:16:18 +0000

little bastard was funnny and dangerous also

By: Jesse

Jesse — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:39:54 +0000

Dan, have you read any books that you recommend about being funny (in person)???

I sometimes wonder if it is a quasi-exact science - ie. that a person can consciously LEARN how to be funny.

Funny that I ran across your post just shortly after I decided I should try to be more funny and look for a book on it.

Jesse
http://www.threemoneymethods.com

By: Igor Kheifets

Igor Kheifets — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:32:19 +0000

Probably the best damn jokes analysis I have read in years…

Thanks Dan!

Igor

By: Davis

Davis — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:37:52 +0000

Jokes, because of their popularity and widespread sharing across the Internet, plays an important role in making people laugh in today’s hectic schedule of working people.

By
Davis
Team Leader
Data Recovery Software

By: Mat

Mat — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:11:58 +0000

Just out of interest, where did you get some of these jokes from? some of them are not so bad

By: Mat

Mat — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:13:52 +0000

Haha well, at least i had a laugh on a Thursday morning. Thanks for that.

By: Timi Stoop-Alcala

Timi Stoop-Alcala — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:40:36 +0000

Love the subject. Reminds me of a historical event in the Philippines where jokes (coupled with sms technology) played a great role in the impeachment and imprisonment of the president.

Jan 17-21 saw the unfolding of ‘Edsa Dos’ (Edsa 2 – Edsa’s the name of a major highway where the first ‘People Power Revolution’ took place, and this time around, where the protesters against then President Joseph Estrada converged). Estrada or ‘Erap’ was a former actor-turned-Mayor who was elected President. He was exposed to have received millions of pesos from the operations of an illegal numbers game.

Even before the impeachment trial began, so-called Erap-jokes were already very popular. Erap was portrayed as a not so bright president. At first, the jokes were just about his inability to speak good English or understand politics. Then the more satirical jokes begun to circulate, those that were directly associated with allegations of corruption, power tripping, luxurious lifestyle.

Before, during and after EDSA Dos, anti-Erap-jokes spread like wildfire throughout the country but especially in the urbanised areas via text messaging. Everyone was forwarding jokess and looked forward to receiving the next one. As a people, Filipinos are prone to joking even amidst catastrophes. In this case, from something comical and light-hearted, the jokes began to take on a subversive character that simultaneously provided comic relief and politicised the Filipinos.

By: Ankesh Kothari

Ankesh Kothari — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:02:43 +0000

Good stuff as usual Dan.

I think jokes spread because they help build a deeper connection between folks quicker. Nothing brings people together than shared laughter.

The cognitive dissonance is what makes a joke poignant. The disconnect and unexpectedness is what makes it funny. And we spread it because thats what helps us connect with other folks.

By: Mark Lee

Mark Lee — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:54:13 +0000

Useful analysis Dan.
Thanks for that.
I may well go back and check which of the automatically tweeted items from my accountant jokes and fun blog have been retweeted. I’d be surprised if there’s a discernible pattern, but I won’t know until I check.