Posted on 12/21/2007 7:25:57 PM PST by blam
Scientist claims men are funnier than women
By Nick Britten
Last Updated: 1:40am GMT 22/12/2007
Men are more naturally funny than women, according to a male scientist who says men make more jokes and the gags tend to be more aggressive.
As part of his research Professor Sam Shuster, of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, rode a unicycle around Newcastle upon Tyne and judged the reaction of 400 onlookers.
Comedians Victoria Wood and Peter Kay
He said 75 per cent of male respondents made snide comments such as "Lost your wheel?" and jeered, while few women made cutting remarks and tended to make encouraging, praising comments.
Men were also more likely to comment and young men were the most aggressive, Prof Shuster told the British Medical Journal. The older the men were, the mellower were their comments.
Previous research has suggested women and men differ in how they use and appreciate humour, and it backs Prof Shuster's findings that suggest men are more likely to use humour aggressively by making others the butt of the joke.
Prof Shuster said he believed humour develops from aggression caused by male hormones. The simplest explanation, he said, is the effect of male hormones such as testosterone.
"The difference between the men and women was absolutely remarkable and consistent," said Prof Shuster.
"At 11-13 years, the boys began to get really aggressive. Into puberty, the aggression became more marked, then it changed into a form of joke. The men were snide."
He added that the initial aggressive intent seems to become channelled into a more subtle and sophisticated joke, so the aggression is hidden by wit.
Dr Nick Neave, a psychologist at the University of Northumbria who has studied the physical, behavioural and psychological effects of testosterone, said men might respond aggressively because they see the other unicycling man as a threat, attracting female attention away from themselves.
"This would be particularly challenging for young males entering the breeding market. It does not surprise me that their responses were the more threatening," he said.
The research was dismissed by one of the country's leading stand-up comics. John Moloney, who works on the club circuit, said: "In 21 years on the circuit I have never noticed men being funnier.
"I think the testosterone leads men to be more naturally aggressive but not necessarily funnier.
"The difference is that if a group of women were together and the conversation lulls, they don't automatically start telling jokes, which men do, and then it becomes a bit of a competition. But that doesn't mean to say they are funnier."
Two years ago, researchers at Stanford University claimed there was a gender divide in appreciating humour. Studies of brain patterns suggested women place a greater emphasis on the language, employing a more analytical approach and less on the punchline.
Humor is to men what beauty is to women. A ticket to instant attention from the opposite sex.
In general, women don’t want to date a man who is more attractive than they are and men don’t want to date a women who is funnier.
To many men the definition of a woman with a sense of humor is a woman who finds him funny.
So you’re saying that Lucille Ball wasn’t loved by Ricky?
Or Carole Burnett’s hubby doesn’t find her attractive?
Or Jill Connor-Browne isn’t found super sexy, funny and lovable by her much younger and cute as heck husband?
Golly,
if I had to choose between humor and having a man....
I’d think I’d choose humor....
Granted, with a man around there might be more to laugh about ;)
OK,,,to get to the Shell Station,,my wife tells it better..
Click the Pic J
Sure you're not secret agent woman?
I thought Hillary’s cackle shred that idea to smithereens.
So does Benny Hinn and that man ain’t funny one bit.
Lauren Caitlin Upton, - Miss South Carolina:
“I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because,
uhmmm, some people( I swear she said Osama),
out there in our nation don’t have maps and uh, I believe that our,
I, education like such as uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq,
everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh,
our education over here in the US should help the U.S., uh,
should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq
and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.”
Me too. I already did. Thanks. I love groaners.
"People out there in our nation don't have that,
And I believe that our education
like such as South Africa and
such as the Iraq.
everywhere 'such as'."
"And I believe our education
should help the US should help the South Africa
and the Iraq
and the Asian countries
so we can build up
our future."
Lauren Caitlin Upton, - Miss South Carolina:
Heard a comic tell this one: A man is walking through the field one day and talking to God. "God, why do you make women so soft?" God answers "So you'll like them." Then asks the man "God why do you make women so beautiful?" And God answers "So you'll like them." The man stops and looks a bit puzzled. "Well God," he asks "Why do you make women so stupid?" And God answers "So they'll like you."
>Nothin’ new, really: Women nurture, men prod. It makes for a working team.<
“A very astute and impressive observation.”
And deep too.
That’s funny!
Whatever you say, sweetie, is just fine by me.
Personally I find women to be as funny as men. But it’s not unusual for men to claim that men are funnier than women. Christopher Hitchen’s wrote an article in Vanity Fair recently about this very subject. Hitch was in a quandary to why women just don't tickle his funny bone. Cause he's such a laugh riot.
And don’t forget Ricky cheated like the dickens.
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