Why did humans evolve to have a sense of humour, how does it help individuals and society as a whole? Moreover, why is absurdity funny?

It keeps those of us intelligent enough to appreciate the human condition from committing suicide.

Humor is schadenfreude,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

Maybe it serves as a coping mechanism in difficult times, and also increases social bonding.

"Why did humans evolve to have a sense of humour, how does it help individuals and society as a whole? Moreover, why is absurdity funny?". Wow.

First of all humor is subjective, is it not? Secondly, empirically, prove that humans evolved to have a sense of humor and that absurdity is funny.

I agree with soilguy; humor IS a form of communication. Some people use humor in order to alleviate their anxiety. Others use humor in order to "break the ice". "Sense of humor" or "Common sense".. one and the same. http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0800/et0800s17.html

This is supposedly humorous :

http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/sn-python.html

Sincerely,

Humour is a short detachment from life or survival, so it gives a break from its stresses. Similiar in some ways to an "out of body" experience a person might get if involved in an accident or threat of physical danger. But because of that detachment there if often found a strange objective truth. I think humour might be one of the highest forms of communication. It's not the message of the humour, it's the means of expressing the message that's unique. Talking about humour isn't funny.

So I often laugh at other peoples pain. It's all good. But still, why the hell do I do that?

Because you're an evil, evil man! Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

I really don't know, but it may be conditioning. People may learn what is considered funny. Sometimes a particular comedian doesn't strike me as funny, but as the years roll on, I later start thinking of their antics as funny. Not always, though. Sometimes it's the opposite.

Hi everybody-

I'm brand new to this board and am glad I found it. Your posts demonstrate intelligence, which I often have trouble finding on various forums.

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Two New Jersey hunters are in the woods when one drops to the ground, his eyes roll back, and he stops moving.

His friend calls 911 and says,

"Operator, my friend just fell down and he's not moving! I think he's dead!"

She replies,

"OK, Sir, now calm down. First, let's make sure he's dead."

He says,

"OK, hold on."

The operator hears a loud gunshot. The hunter gets back on the phone and says,

"OK. Now what?"

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I have some theories based on natural selection about why this is funny, but first would like to hear from you.

VB

Exposes taking things literally, a mindless following of experts in an emergency. But the joke lacks a fallguy who we like to think might act as stupid as this. The natural selection might be to expect your friends to have a brain. Welcome to where it's better to know the answers before you ask.

in dreams, things that are really un-funny seem hilarious. Has anyone noticed?

No.

Who says some of us aren't?

Havent' you noticed the level of culture and sophistication of humor going steadily downward?

I mean where is the high-class humor of the Marx Brothers or Three Stooges today?

We are doomed ... doomed I tell you.

Kate, if someone ANSWERS to my post in a non-sarcastic or mocking tone, it's obviously not useless and not worth deleting.

Why did humans evolve to have a sense of humour, how does it help individuals and society as a whole? Moreover, why is absurdity funny?

- I personally think it doesn't always make sense to expect to find evolutionary reasons/benefits for all human characteristics.

I think some things may be just emergent properties.

Maybe anything with a brain as large and complex as ours will get the joke.

Regards,

Blacknad.

BELLATOR,

Considering you find other's stupidity amusing, this website will have you in tears.

Darwin Awards homepage

If you like the Darwin Awards books, you might want to try another one called Enormous Boobs. Boobs as in -mistakes. Or you could listen to one of G.Bush's speeches

Blacknad,
"I think some things may be just emergent properties." Yeah, I agree.