So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

[Hercule]

Forced laughter.

I find it grating and even a little insulting. Do you really think that phony laugh is believable? Is it the hat that makes me look stupid?

My boss has a loud and obnoxious forced laugh. It's like fingernails on a chalk board. Come to think about it I don't think he has a natural laugh in him.

Hmm, it's interesting to wonder about the origins of the laugh and how it came to be what it is and what it represents.

 

[tonyb]

My boss has a loud and obnoxious forced laugh. It's like fingernails on a chalk board. Come to think about it I don't think he has a natural laugh in him.

Hmm, it's interesting to wonder about the origins of the laugh and how it came to be what it is and what it represents.

I of course have no way of knowing what’s at the heart of your boss’s phony laugh, but in the case of most fake laughers I’ve known it seems to be an attempt at lightheartedness, a projection of friendliness and good humor. So it appears that in the fake laugher’s mind he’s just being a good guy. Where’s the harm in that? Well, the harm is in making oneself the center of attention, sucking all the oxygen out of the room, so to speak. It’s something of an imposition, really, but the phony is too self-centered to recognize that.

 

[Edward]

My boss has a loud and obnoxious forced laugh. It's like fingernails on a chalk board. Come to think about it I don't think he has a natural laugh in him.

Hmm, it's interesting to wonder about the origins of the laugh and how it came to be what it is and what it represents.

I remember seeing a documentary years ago which theorised that laughter is a social thing, often subconsciously used as a social indicator that we appreciate or are 'in on' a joke. Interesting, because I have noticed that sometimes while finding something equally funny, I realise I would laugh more in a social setting than alone. A sample of one proves nothing, but I clearly do seem to conform to that trend to some extent (though not exclusively).

I of course have no way of knowing what’s at the heart of your boss’s phony laugh, but in the case of most fake laughers I’ve known it seems to be an attempt at lightheartedness, a projection of friendliness and good humor. So it appears that in the fake laugher’s mind he’s just being a good guy. Where’s the harm in that? Well, the harm is in making oneself the center of attention, sucking all the oxygen out of the room, so to speak. It’s something of an imposition, really, but the phony is too self-centered to recognize that.

It's something I experience a lot in China. At first I thought my students were laughing at poor pronunciation (our course in Beijing is English language medium, but I do try to greet the students in Mandarin as a formal politeness at the start and end of classes). I came to realise, however, that the Chinese often use laughter to communicate approval, acceptance and to indicate appreciation.

 

[Hercule]

I think I just came up with a topic for my next project. I'm sure I can get a book out of it! - the history of the laugh.

 

[tonyb]

And we inevitably get into an examination of what is innate and what is learned. My understanding is that newborns’ smiles are mostly reflexive, and not an indication that they find something humorous. But in a matter of weeks they smile at the presence of others and certainly appear to think that pleasant little surprises are funny. But then, you gotta wonder how much of that behavior is reinforced by the older humans who laugh and smile along with the infant.

 

[Edward]

And we inevitably get into an examination of what is innate and what is learned. My understanding is that newborns’ smiles are mostly reflexive, and not an indication that they find something humorous. But in a matter of weeks they smile at the presence of others and certainly appear to think that pleasant little surprises are funny. But then, you gotta wonder how much of that behavior is reinforced by the older humans who laugh and smile along with the infant.

I certainly notice things my cat and dog do (and long experience with other pets) which appear to be learned behaviours designed to indicate pleasure, affection, whatever. I'll swear Mimi Dog grins when she gets a treat she loves particularly, a big, open-mouth, excited chewing accompanied by a manically waggly tail. Bless her, she's a rescue and the way she reacts to anyone as will fuss her suggests she's just looking to make up for the love she missed out on during (it is estimated) three hard years living on the streets in Romania.

 

[LizzieMaine]

A comedy line that produces a mild chuckle if you listen to it alone in your living room will produce a roar when you're sitting in the middle of a live audience. The line itself is no funnier, empirically, in either situation, but your reaction to it will vary based on the size of the audience. The same line will get a bigger laugh from 200 people than it will from 20, and a bigger laugh from 20 than from 2. You can conclude from that that laughter is indeed primarily social, not individual.

Now, what *causes* people to laugh is a whole different problem, but the one common thread I've always found in what works or what doesn't in comedy material is that, in one way or another, a laugh is an expression of a relieved tension, usually relating in some way to misdirected expectations. In other words, the size of the laugh doesn't depend on the punch line, it depends on the tension you build in the set-up. Build up an improbable situation, and the more improbable you make it, the more tension you build and the bigger the laugh you'll get when you snap the situation to an unexpected resolution.

That tells me that all laughter in any situation is a response to some form of tension. Someone who tries to defuse a tense social situation with a joke is an obvious example of this, but you see it all the time in less obvious situations.

 

[tonyb]

^^^^^^
Dogs are almost entirely transparent, although I am not necessarily convinced that I’m projecting when I suspect them of human-like motivations and behaviors. I’ve seen enough instances of what appear to be deceptive behaviors in dogs for me to dismiss the idea that they know how to be sneaky.

Always had dogs in my childhood, but in my adult life it’s only been in the past decade that I’ve had a dog of “my own.” (I don’t think of them as property. I take care of them, which isn’t quite the same thing.) I’ve always loved dogs, and that’s the primary reason I didn’t have one for all those years. Dogs need their humans in ways cats don’t. We are their pack. Most dogs don’t do well without regular, reliable human company —like, every day, for several hours every day. It’s not necessary to “entertain” them; just being in their company generally suffices. People who can’t provide that shouldn’t have dogs. And for much of my life I wasn’t able or willing to provide that. Now I can’t imagine living without them. I’ve turned into a veritable Dorothy Gale, wanting more than anything else to be at home with my loved ones, including the dogs.

 

[tonyb]

A comedy line that produces a mild chuckle if you listen to it alone in your living room will produce a roar when you're sitting in the middle of a live audience. The line itself is no funnier, empirically, in either situation, but your reaction to it will vary based on the size of the audience. The same line will get a bigger laugh from 200 people than it will from 20, and a bigger laugh from 20 than from 2. You can conclude from that that laughter is indeed primarily social, not individual.

Now, what *causes* people to laugh is a whole different problem, but the one common thread I've always found in what works or what doesn't in comedy material is that, in one way or another, a laugh is an expression of a relieved tension, usually relating in some way to misdirected expectations. In other words, the size of the laugh doesn't depend on the punch line, it depends on the tension you build in the set-up. Build up an improbable situation, and the more improbable you make it, the more tension you build and the bigger the laugh you'll get when you snap the situation to an unexpected resolution.

That tells me that all laughter in any situation is a response to some form of tension. Someone who tries to defuse a tense social situation with a joke is an obvious example of this, but you see it all the time in less obvious situations.

Gotta hold the audience. A narrative of any sort — comic, dramatic, educational, whatever — without tension is a narrative that gets ignored. People need to anticipate. I’ve heard some comics offer that it’s all about surprise.


And yes, there’s a reason they put laugh tracks on TV situation comedies.

 

[Woodtroll]

Bless her, she's a rescue and the way she reacts to anyone as will fuss her suggests she's just looking to make up for the love she missed out on during (it is estimated) three hard years living on the streets in Romania.

We've had several rescue animals over the years, and I swear that they fully appreciate being in a better situattion once they've found a home and are much happier for it.

 

[Woodtroll]

I’ve seen enough instances of what appear to be deceptive behaviors in dogs for me to dismiss the idea that they know how to be sneaky.

Heck yes they can be sneaky, and intentionally so! Pack hunting behavior also proves they can carry out a "plan" as a group. And they most certainly can be shamed, and embarrassed... And it does seem to me that they can be content and even "happy" as well, if not quite in the same way that we experience it.

 

[Edward]

A comedy line that produces a mild chuckle if you listen to it alone in your living room will produce a roar when you're sitting in the middle of a live audience. The line itself is no funnier, empirically, in either situation, but your reaction to it will vary based on the size of the audience. The same line will get a bigger laugh from 200 people than it will from 20, and a bigger laugh from 20 than from 2. You can conclude from that that laughter is indeed primarily social, not individual.

Now, what *causes* people to laugh is a whole different problem, but the one common thread I've always found in what works or what doesn't in comedy material is that, in one way or another, a laugh is an expression of a relieved tension, usually relating in some way to misdirected expectations. In other words, the size of the laugh doesn't depend on the punch line, it depends on the tension you build in the set-up. Build up an improbable situation, and the more improbable you make it, the more tension you build and the bigger the laugh you'll get when you snap the situation to an unexpected resolution.

That tells me that all laughter in any situation is a response to some form of tension. Someone who tries to defuse a tense social situation with a joke is an obvious example of this, but you see it all the time in less obvious situations.

One of the funniest things I've ever seen is that 'Foreign Man' skit Andy Kaufmann did on Johnny Carson. It's the fact that he does those several minutes of absolutely beautiful and perfect Elvis impersonation so, so well - but ultimately it's all set-up for that final "Thank-you veddy muuch." Utter genius, a real commitment to the set-up that perfects the gag.

Always had dogs in my childhood, but in my adult life it’s only been in the past decade that I’ve had a dog of “my own.” (I don’t think of them as property. I take care of them, which isn’t quite the same thing.) I’ve always loved dogs, and that’s the primary reason I didn’t have one for all those years. Dogs need their humans in ways cats don’t. We are their pack. Most dogs don’t do well without regular, reliable human company —like, every day, for several hours every day. It’s not necessary to “entertain” them; just being in their company generally suffices. People who can’t provide that shouldn’t have dogs. And for much of my life I wasn’t able or willing to provide that. Now I can’t imagine living without them. I’ve turned into a veritable Dorothy Gale, wanting more than anything else then to be at home with my loved ones, including the dogs.

I always was - and still am- primarily a cat man. It was the wife persuaded me to take in a dog. I have bonded with Mimi in a way I never thought I would. It's a whole different experience - not better than a cat, but different. The only downside it's harder or near impossible to do a spontaneous weekend away with a dog. But who cares when she's as adorable as our Mimi!

 

[Edward]

@Woodtroll - anyone who thinks a dog can't experience joy - and all the other emotions - has never met one like Mimi, I can tell you. She is even one of the most generous creatures I've ever met. Greta Cat had eight years of being with her litter sister, Marlene, before the latter sadly died young. Then four years of being Only Baby. She was furious when the dog arrived. After the first week spent sulking below my bed, she came out to confront "the intruder". Mimi had (still has, though it's badly destroyed now!) a little ball, one of two toys she came from the rescue with, and after three years, they believe, on the streets, alone, the first thing in the world that she owned. (Her original name isn't even known - the rescue name her Mimi.) She carried it over and set it down to the cat. "This is really awfully fun, you can play with it too if you like." The cat hissed and ran off, because Greta is a spoilt ass. They get on ok now, Greta will occasionally hiss if Mimi gets too in her face, but they're fine really. Mimi will still ,though, if one of us is ill or upset or down, bounce over, offering one of her toys, and looking to help.

And yes, there’s a reason they put laugh tracks on TV situation comedies.

Yeah, I hate that, but it is what it is.

We've had several rescue animals over the years, and I swear that they fully appreciate being in a better situattion once they've found a home and are much happier for it.

Undoubtedly.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I've done radio comedy in front of a live audience and without one and I find that you can work much smaller when you don't have an audience punctuating your act with laughs. The timing is different, the approach to characterization is different, and your line delivery is different. From a creative point of view I'd much rather work without a live audience, but from an energy point of view a live audience is much more invigorating.

The woman I learned radio acting from taught me a vital lesson -- on stage, you underplay the emotion and overplay the lines. But on radio, without a live studio audience, it's essential to underplay the lines and overplay the emotion. That also works for comedy.

 

[BobHufford]

Our newest Poodle will negotiate her return from going outside. Sometimes she will just come back in, but most times she will wait for an offer. We start with "you will be a good girl", then a "treat", then a "doggie cookie" and finally a "Greenie". The "Greenie" always works. If there is a predator around (a circling Eagle or coyotes barking in the distance) we'll up the reward pretty quickly just to get her back in. Both the dog and her human caretakers can be stubborn so sometimes she stays out for a while.

 

[tonyb]

^^^^^
We got coyotes and foxes here, and this isn’t the countryside. But there’s a several hundred acre state park less than a mile from here, so there ya go.

One of our dogs was quite reluctant to go outside for awhile. I wouldn’t be surprised if he spied a wild animal with better teeth than his.

 

[tonyb]

One of the funniest things I've ever seen is that 'Foreign Man' skit Andy Kaufmann did on Johnny Carson. It's the fact that he does those several minutes of absolutely beautiful and perfect Elvis impersonation so, so well - but ultimately it's all set-up for that final "Thank-you veddy muuch." Utter genius, a real commitment to the set-up that perfects the gag.



I always was - and still am- primarily a cat man. It was the wife persuaded me to take in a dog. I have bonded with Mimi in a way I never thought I would. It's a whole different experience - not better than a cat, but different. The only downside it's harder or near impossible to do a spontaneous weekend away with a dog. But who cares when she's as adorable as our Mimi!

We’ve paid good money for giving a young woman the tremendous burden of raiding our fridge and watching our TV (you wouldn’t believe the cable bill) and hanging out with our pets — two smallish dogs and a cat. And seeing to it that the furry friends got their food and water and medications and companionship. But it’s worth it. She’s reliable, and the animals know her.

 

[Edward]

We’ve paid good money for giving a young woman the tremendous burden of raiding our fridge and watching our TV (you wouldn’t believe the cable bill) and hanging out with our pets — two smallish dogs and a cat. And seeing to it that the furry friends got their food and water and medications and companionship. But it’s worth it. She’s reliable, and the animals know her.

We got the dog a couple of months before lockdown, so we've not had to cope with a holiday yet, just the odd night with a sitter. The cat is dead easy - I have an account with a company who keep a copy of my keys, I just email them, book in the visits as necessary, and they send someone round so she gets to stay at home. Every other day, usually - fine for Greta, she's not a people cat, and the feeders rarely see her.

 

[ChiTownScion]

Debatable as to who rescued who. I have a preference for dogs with "ugly" faces (Bulldogs, Pugs, Frenchies) but a family member had grown tired of her toy, a Bichon /Shih Tzu "teddy bear" and I found myself with a "cute foo foo dog" who had suffered medical and social neglect. He's clearly the smartest dog we've ever had, and he's extremely sociable around people. Wants to tangle with dogs five times his size when we're out walking, but we're working on social skills.

 

[tonyb]

^^^^^
Your mutt looks more than a little like our Sandy, who is seen here in a recent haircut. He looks quite different a few months post-visits to the groomer.