Comments on: What is the 2 of 6 Rule of Humor? http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/ Humor Writing Tips | Comedy Writing Tips | Blogging Tips Wed, 26 May 2010 12:09:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ray http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Ray Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:19:42 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-396 This seems a useful tool for someone trying to be funny, but I wouldn't go so far as to say, "if you hit 2 of the categories solidly enough, it’s funny." It's easy to think of combinations of "cute" and "cruel" which wouldn't be the least bit funny, for instance. The normal reaction to seeing cruelty inflicted upon something cute would be negative; humor reverses the reaction. The critical thing which allows this reversal, whatever it is, isn't explained by this rule (not that the rule necessarily tries to explain it). It seems to me that surprise listed twice; under "bizarre", it's called the "unexpected". I'm inclined to think that surprise may be a category unto itself, and that the bizarre and parts of cleverness may fall under it. Just a thought; could be wrong. Anyway, though, good and interesting list. Thanks. This seems a useful tool for someone trying to be funny, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say, “if you hit 2 of the categories solidly enough, it’s funny.” It’s easy to think of combinations of “cute” and “cruel” which wouldn’t be the least bit funny, for instance.

The normal reaction to seeing cruelty inflicted upon something cute would be negative; humor reverses the reaction. The critical thing which allows this reversal, whatever it is, isn’t explained by this rule (not that the rule necessarily tries to explain it).

It seems to me that surprise listed twice; under “bizarre”, it’s called the “unexpected”. I’m inclined to think that surprise may be a category unto itself, and that the bizarre and parts of cleverness may fall under it. Just a thought; could be wrong.

Anyway, though, good and interesting list. Thanks.

]]> By: Fiar http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-234 Fiar Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:03:00 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-234 Here is a post that - While the topic is magic, and not humor - pretty well summarizes the way I feel about it. http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1165796529.shtml <blockquote>Some people tell me they don't want to know how the stage magicians accomplish their tricks. I respect that. But me? I want to understand their magic. When I figure out how they do their magic, I appreciate it all the more. And this makes me realize that the truth of a great performance is not about skill, but whether you can entrance and enthrall your audience.</blockquote> Here is a post that – While the topic is magic, and not humor – pretty well summarizes the way I feel about it.

http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1165796529.shtml

Some people tell me they don’t want to know how the stage magicians accomplish their tricks. I respect that. But me? I want to understand their magic. When I figure out how they do their magic, I appreciate it all the more. And this makes me realize that the truth of a great performance is not about skill, but whether you can entrance and enthrall your audience.

]]> By: Fiar http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Fiar Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:53:06 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-233 very interesting, but I don’t agree with you. ~Idetrorce very interesting, but I don’t agree with you.
~Idetrorce

]]> By: suburbancorrespondent http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-231 suburbancorrespondent Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:39:12 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-231 Hmmm....not helpful....not helpful at all. Methinks that any time you try to dissect humor, all you end up with is a dead joke. That said, most of the bloggers that I read who try to be funny miss because of their long-windedness. If you can see the joke coming from a mile away, it ain't funny! Good stories are wasted on them....they don't know how to use them. So the main advice I would give to a humorist is "Edit, edit, edit!" And don't repeat yourself. Hmmm….not helpful….not helpful at all. Methinks that any time you try to dissect humor, all you end up with is a dead joke.

That said, most of the bloggers that I read who try to be funny miss because of their long-windedness. If you can see the joke coming from a mile away, it ain’t funny! Good stories are wasted on them….they don’t know how to use them.

So the main advice I would give to a humorist is “Edit, edit, edit!” And don’t repeat yourself.

]]> By: Performancing Awards 2007 Reader’s Choice Polling Has Begun | Humor Blogging http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Performancing Awards 2007 Reader’s Choice Polling Has Begun | Humor Blogging Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:40:09 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-191 [...] am a fan of Violent Acres and Dilbert Blog (Duh. How much am I stealing his 2 of 6 Rule of Humor idea?). I’m not so much a fan of Lolcats (I Can Has Cheezeburger). I’ve read Waiter [...] [...] am a fan of Violent Acres and Dilbert Blog (Duh. How much am I stealing his 2 of 6 Rule of Humor idea?). I’m not so much a fan of Lolcats (I Can Has Cheezeburger). I’ve read Waiter [...]

]]> By: Skul http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Skul Mon, 24 Dec 2007 21:12:27 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-141 >tug!!1!< >tug!!1!<

]]> By: Fiar http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Fiar Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:22:35 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-137 Good call, <strong>Chris</strong>. I actually thought I had that in there. Thanks for catching that. <strong>Gideon</strong> Thanks for stopping by. I recall something that had to do with the need to speak faster on small video than on TV, or maybe it was the other way around, but I don't think it was. There's something about the difference in format that causes a difference in perception. I think that may be a factor with the canned laughter, and the criticism I mentioned. Good luck with your character. <strong>Diesel</strong> I agree. The degree that you hit the element matters. Like, Not quite clever, or almost cute, or not that cruel, would have a result of not that funny. I have a post queued up about the subjective nature of humor that hits on what you said. <strong>Skul</strong> Pull my finger. Good call, Chris. I actually thought I had that in there. Thanks for catching that.

Gideon Thanks for stopping by. I recall something that had to do with the need to speak faster on small video than on TV, or maybe it was the other way around, but I don’t think it was. There’s something about the difference in format that causes a difference in perception. I think that may be a factor with the canned laughter, and the criticism I mentioned.

Good luck with your character.

Diesel I agree. The degree that you hit the element matters. Like, Not quite clever, or almost cute, or not that cruel, would have a result of not that funny. I have a post queued up about the subjective nature of humor that hits on what you said.

Skul Pull my finger.

]]> By: Skul http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Skul Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:18:57 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-131 Fart jokes are not naughty. Some are cute. The "Harvard fart" comes to mind. Some are clever, like the "car door" fart. Cruel gets a nod for the "carpool" fart. Say "yes" to familiar. How often do hear "that stinks like $hit!" Bizarre? How bizarre is it to fart in the shower and it sounds like a duck quacking? There, five out of six. Fart jokes are alway funny, not naughty. Fart jokes are not naughty.
Some are cute. The “Harvard fart” comes to mind.
Some are clever, like the “car door” fart.
Cruel gets a nod for the “carpool” fart.
Say “yes” to familiar. How often do hear “that stinks like $hit!”
Bizarre? How bizarre is it to fart in the shower and it sounds like a duck quacking?
There, five out of six.
Fart jokes are alway funny, not naughty.

]]> By: diesel http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-111 diesel Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:42:05 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-111 I think this is a pretty good reference, although a lot of the actual humor value is dependent on how well the joke is executed. Personally, I tend to hit 2-5 hard, and rarely do 1 or 6. Cute and dirty are both too easy, in my opinion. The middle ones are harder, but the payoff is bigger if you can pull it off. Clever and bizarre are my favorites. :) I think this is a pretty good reference, although a lot of the actual humor value is dependent on how well the joke is executed.

Personally, I tend to hit 2-5 hard, and rarely do 1 or 6. Cute and dirty are both too easy, in my opinion. The middle ones are harder, but the payoff is bigger if you can pull it off. Clever and bizarre are my favorites. :)

]]> By: Gideon Shalwick http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Gideon Shalwick Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:03:04 +0000 http://humorblogging.com/blog/what-is-the-2-of-6-rule-of-humor/#comment-108 Hey Fiar Thanks for the comment on Yaro's blog. Really appreciate it! That was my first go at anything like that (in my life)... And I think Ron Goodwave, my character, will develop a bit more as well as time goes by. I will certainly consider looking at the canned laughter - we've had some really good feedback about that as well. So we'll see how it goes... But what I really want to thank you for is the cool tips you've got on this particular post! I havent been consciously aware of these tips, and have simply been acting out a script. But now with this new info, I can perhaps use that in the next show. I'm sure it will work a treat - this is brilliant stuff! Thanks again! Gideon Shalwick PS: I've subscribed cos this looks like a really handy resource to keep an eye on! Hey Fiar

Thanks for the comment on Yaro’s blog. Really appreciate it!

That was my first go at anything like that (in my life)…

And I think Ron Goodwave, my character, will develop a bit more as well as time goes by. I will certainly consider looking at the canned laughter – we’ve had some really good feedback about that as well. So we’ll see how it goes…

But what I really want to thank you for is the cool tips you’ve got on this particular post! I havent been consciously aware of these tips, and have simply been acting out a script. But now with this new info, I can perhaps use that in the next show.

I’m sure it will work a treat – this is brilliant stuff!

Thanks again!

Gideon Shalwick

PS: I’ve subscribed cos this looks like a really handy resource to keep an eye on!

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