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kuranes · 10-10-2008, 07:31 AM

Parents will be most resourceful here, perhaps. Or think back to when you were a child. Tell jokes that you once ( or current children ) thought/think funny.

They are often funny in a recursive sort of way by being ....not funny. Something like "Plan 9 From Outer Space" etc. but different. Sometimes they show originality ( "out of the mouths of babes " ) and sometimes the fact that the child thought that it was funny illustrates a phase they are going through, a new level of maturity.

A child was asked to complete this bromide. "Two heads are better than______" ??????

The child's answer - "None."

Remember long ago, if it was yourself, or, when kids try to tell dirty jokes for the first time ?

What about corney old jokes like "What's the biggest pencil in the world ?"
"Pennsylvania" Kids go through a stage where they really like stuff like this, and then they discard it. What is the next stage of humor for them ? How do they go about deciding to transition to the next level ?

Is it related to them being able to enjoy a game even more if they know there is a chance of losing it ? When they are especially young, sometimes they can't stand to lose, and so parents "playing" a game with them are challenged to make it more than just going through the motions, but yet still having to subvert it somehow.

Old people can be like this, too. I remember when I bartended at this one place, an old codger would often show up and ask me a riddle. I don't know if he just liked playing with me, or if he was truly that forgetful.

It was always the same riddle.

He'd ask - "Who's the king of corn?"

I'd say "You got me. Who is it, John ?"

"POP Corn !!" he'd say, and then laugh for a few minutes like it was hilarious.

He tipped well, and so I always went along with it to some degree. Sometimes someone else would "do the honors". It was like hearing a familiar pinball machine noise or something. Just part of the night noises.

An old street bum's joke to me one night - "Candy tastes good when you aint got no teef ! Ha Ha Ha "

10-10-2008, 07:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
kuranes Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: XNXP Location: Chicago Posts: 1,042	First Attempts At Humor ( Children ) Parents will be most resourceful here, perhaps. Or think back to when you were a child. Tell jokes that you once ( or current children ) thought/think funny. They are often funny in a recursive sort of way by being ....not funny. Something like "Plan 9 From Outer Space" etc. but different. Sometimes they show originality ( "out of the mouths of babes " ) and sometimes the fact that the child thought that it was funny illustrates a phase they are going through, a new level of maturity. A child was asked to complete this bromide. "Two heads are better than______" ?????? The child's answer - "None." Remember long ago, if it was yourself, or, when kids try to tell dirty jokes for the first time ? What about corney old jokes like "What's the biggest pencil in the world ?" "Pennsylvania" Kids go through a stage where they really like stuff like this, and then they discard it. What is the next stage of humor for them ? How do they go about deciding to transition to the next level ? Is it related to them being able to enjoy a game even more if they know there is a chance of losing it ? When they are especially young, sometimes they can't stand to lose, and so parents "playing" a game with them are challenged to make it more than just going through the motions, but yet still having to subvert it somehow. Old people can be like this, too. I remember when I bartended at this one place, an old codger would often show up and ask me a riddle. I don't know if he just liked playing with me, or if he was truly that forgetful. It was always the same riddle. He'd ask - "Who's the king of corn?" I'd say "You got me. Who is it, John ?" "POP Corn !!" he'd say, and then laugh for a few minutes like it was hilarious. He tipped well, and so I always went along with it to some degree. Sometimes someone else would "do the honors". It was like hearing a familiar pinball machine noise or something. Just part of the night noises. An old street bum's joke to me one night - "Candy tastes good when you aint got no teef ! Ha Ha Ha " __________________ "The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them that they are being attacked and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." Reichsfuhrer Herman Goering at the Nuremburg trials.