10 Rules for Humor

10 Rules of Humor

Humans tell jokes, and humans are the butt of them—no other animal laughs or gets laughed at. Weather and waves don't care for comedy; wombats can't aspire to metaphor or standup. We have evolved to be a humorous animal. It’s a mystery why. But there are some rules for humor that are noticeable.

1) Most Humor Does Not Last, but Physical Comedy Does. 

2,000 years ago, Anarcharsis the Scythian made an observation. Monkeys are funny.

An old observation still rings true - monkeys are funny. Their silly, erratic movements never fail to delight kids and adults alike, no matter the era. Yesterday, today, tomorrow - we can't help but laugh at their antics.

Physical comedy seems to transcend time and place. It taps into something universal within us, bypassing language and cultural barriers. A custard pie to the face or a clumsy stumble triggers a primal instinct deep in our brains. It holds up.

2) You Can Date Women Out of Your League With Humor

If you want to increase your value in the dating market you may want to work less on your abs and more on your sense of humor. Especially today. The value of Humor has increased in the marketplace. Women have jobs and careers they may look less at financial stability as a major factor in a partner since they can support themselves. Instead, making them laugh becomes more important.

Why are women attracted to funny guys so much? Women like smart guys. But not nerdy guys. As Nassim Taleb wrote, “Wit and Humor Signals Intelligence Without nerdiness”. You can come to your date with your diploma or spout some random facts to show you’re smart but that isn’t terribly appealing. As Jeff Bezos said there are a thousand ways to be smart. Being funny is the most entertaining type of intelligence.

Christopher Hitchens thinks women are more serious than men because they have the obligation to carry on the human race. Serious business. So a little humor goes a long way in their world.

3) Too Little Laughing is as Bad as Too Much Laughing.

One espresso in the morning is fine (maybe 2) but If you need more than 3 espressos in order to get to work something is wrong with your environment. You are not allowing the natural stimulation of your environment to motivate you. Excessive use of stimulants might indicate underlying issues with your environment or lifestyle that are not being addressed. There might be deeper problems—perhaps related to sleep, stress, or overall lifestyle—that need attention.

It isn’t the espressos you should be focusing on. It’s a sign. I think the same thing exists for laughing as excessive caffeine use. During the times I was depressed, I felt I needed a lot of comedy in my life. But when life got well again, I didn’t need as much. I started to prefer a smile or a smirk to a big raucous laughter.

While comedy can provide temporary relief, an over-reliance on it might indicate an avoidance of dealing with deeper issues. It's important to recognize when we're using something excessively to compensate for other areas of dissatisfaction in our lives.

That doesn’t mean a life without laughter is good. We evolved to laugh and find humor in things.

4) Humor is Effective at Bypassing Hierarchy Without Destroying the System

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