Vikings 'brought sarcastic sense of humour to Britain'

telegraph.co.uk/ ^ | 1:15PM GMT 05 Mar 2014 | Claire Carter

[BenLurkin]

“It was not all about raping and pillaging, the Vikings were trading as well,” said Mr Grube, who has been in the UK for six months but said he has been struck by the similarities in British and Danish comedy.

“You have a more open attitude to the world around you if you are living from trade.”

Mr Grube said trading led to exchanges with the Vikings and the inheriting of expressions and body language, which influence comedy today.

He added: “Humour is actually an important part of the way you express yourself.

“The use of sarcasm and irony is quite distinct from other countries. For example if you use that in France and Germany it will often be taken literally, and the humour lost.”

Mr Grube said this difference adds to his belief that humour in the UK and Denmark dates back to our shared history.

[BenLurkin]

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/monkeys.wav

[KC_Lion]

Did they use lots of SPAM?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

[Graewoulf]

Jah! As you know, a Norwegian is not always right, but he or she is never, EVER wrong!

[KarlInOhio]

Because nothing says sarcasm like a battleaxe upside your head.

[BenLurkin]

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/Uh_Yeah.mp3

[Maine Mariner]

I am glad somebody did!

[Buckeye McFrog]

Yeah, knocking off the Steelers with Matt Cassel at quarterback was a real knee-slapper.

[BenLurkin]

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/goldberg.wav

[BenLurkin]

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/whip.wav

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Because nothing says sarcasm like a battleaxe upside your head.

"Yes. That would be humorous, wouldn't it?"

[cloudmountain]

Jah! As you know, a Norwegian is not always right, but he or she is never, EVER wrong!

Boy, did you EVER hit the nail on the head.

I always thought it had to do with so much glug or grog imbibed.

[DManA]

You can always tell an English man,
You can always tell a Dutch,
You can always tell a Norwegian,
[but you sure can’t tell him much]

[BenLurkin]

[BenLurkin]

['smith]

This sure explains a lot about my family!

[Diamond]

I didn't know exactly what form it would take but I did have the feeling that I would find some cutting-edge humor on this thread.

Cordially,

[Graewoulf]

So true, so true - - - .

It is so difficult to improve on perfection - - - sigh.

Like the Viking song goes about how hard it is “to be humble, when you’re perfect in everyway - - - .”

It’s a tough job, but if anyone can do it a Viking can!

[blueunicorn6]

Just more of the tired, unfounded prejudices that some people had towards the peaceful magazine salesmen from the North.

[Fightin Whitey]

Plainly a humourous (and effective) jousting move passed down by those lusty, fun-loving Vikings.

Benny Hill