..defining humour..????

[scalf]

/images/graemlins/blush.gif..if we made contact with alien beings; it has already been worked out a proper algorhytm to develop a method of communication: one of the key pimp questions of old was : how would you define left vs right; note that it can be done; as on the subatomic level the universe is asymmetric; so that is now trivial...

but how would you develop a sense of humour with this alien...or how would you define humour; or have any idea what will be identified as humour in society..

as an aside; since it is such a beautiful part of living as a human (humour,laughter) <remember; humour is one of 3 acceptable, positive defence mechanisms>; it is a wondrous thing to watch my daughters ages 3.5 and 2 y.o, develop a sense of humour; and their natural ability to joke and perform "funny behaviors" consciously on purpose..

funnny , ain't it

gl

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[Georgia Avenue]

Could you say more about this:
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as an aside; since it is such a beautiful part of living as a human (humour,laughter) <remember; humour is one of 3 acceptable, positive defence mechanisms>;

[/ QUOTE ]

I've never heard about that 3 def. mechs. idea, and I'm very interested in theories of comedy and humor. Check out Henri Bergson's "On Laughter" for a more negative vision of why people laugh. Read it
ICI. (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4352) Or for a summary…look HERE. (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Bergson.html)

Comedy is such a unique activity…it really isn’t like any other human behavior. I was surprised that some people likened it to listening to music in Zeno’s thread…I don’t see the connection at all. Comedy is certainly less beautiful than music.

[scalf]

/images/graemlins/smile.gif..most of the time; when you ask people to define humour; they reply that it is like pornography...put in regretable quote by supreme court justice..

lol

gl

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When we think, our mind makes connections (neural pathways) between ideas. When we make incorrect connections, are mind has to erase them, so we don't become rabid, confederate flag waving, spam eating rednecks.

It erases them by making them into a joke. That pleasent experience we call humour, is the burning of the bridges.

Super funny jokes burn many bridges.


Not sure if this has any scientific backing but it's always seemed so damn right to me.