Show Me the Funny

There's a girl at work who laughs at pretty much anything I say, even when I'm not trying to be funny. I don't know if it's because she's just very friendly or wants a good review or whether she likes me or is just naturally very jovial. Still, the laughs seem genuine, and it's good to share company with someone who gets and appreciates your spontaneous, wry deadpan wit. Laughter is really a form of social affirmation, so it's always a good feeling.

Once in a while though you'll get the girl who, instead of simply giggling and sitting pretty, will make an attempt to join the humour parade. And almost always it's with pitiful results. Chick humour is usually in the form of scathing sarcasm, but women generally suck at humour. There's Tina Fey and Wanda Sykes and Sarah Silverman and that's about all the funny women on the planet. Why?

I think it's because women just don't bother. The incentive isn't there. Girls say that they like a guy with a good sense of humour. Guys will say that too, but what they really mean is someone who'll laugh at their jokes. I bust out a Pacino impression once in a while. If a girl did a Pacino at a party, I'd look at her like WTF?! Guys can get away with a lot more juvenile stuff.

Furthermore, the benefits accrued for a guy with a charming sense of humour are tangibly greater than for a girl. A guy can make up for whatever he lacks in the looks/status department with charm, wit, and a winning personality. A genuinely funny guy - and not dork funny - is genuine good company. For a girl the currency that matters most is looks - humour won't compensate. A guy won't dump a hot piece of ass because she's boring; a girl might. Most hot girls have no personality.

Still, you can be a funny guy and generate no attraction. Carrot Top. Jay Leno. The stand-up comedian who headlines at the local comedy club won't get as much play as the band opening for him. The guitar is the ultimate panty-removing aphrodisiac. Deliberately cracking canned jokes seems supplicating... like you're trying too hard to seek approval. Striking a balance is key.



Goodfellas. Classic scene.