Other People's Taste in Humor, Film, Music

You just know when something is promoted as being absolutely pant wetting laugh out loud funny that it won’t be.

Ok, well maybe for you it will be. Not for me. In which case, you move on and I’ll continue writing to myself.

Look at this hilarious piece – the headline on the email cries. Mostly I just avoid them; probably contain a virus anyway, which is not particularly funny. But the ones from friends and worse, work colleagues - you have to read to be in the loop of comedic belonging.

“Oh yes, I got the mail about dwarf flatulence and it was brilliant. So much so that I have forwarded to my Facebook humor friends”.

Or that obsequious laughter when someone from on high tells a joke. “Gosh Sir, that’s the funniest thing since my leg fell off”.

The horrible alternative to this is when you discover a joke that tickles your own slightly warped funny bone. On repeating it you find that no one else finds it funny at all. Most of my comedy follows this pattern. You would not believe, or maybe you would, quite how funny I find my own writing.

Sometimes I can barely type for the eye watering hilarity I am creating.

Not true actually. It’s mostly pure misery trying to be funny; the trick is not to let your audience see it.

“Oh yes, I really am like this all the time. Life is just so incredibly funny to me”. Try practicing this till it sounds sincere, in that internet Facebook friend kind of way.

“You must see xxxx, it’s brilliant”.

Yeah. First check out the intelligence, social status and wit of the person selling this to you. I have lost count (actually it's 47) of how many ‘brilliant’ films I have sat through – stony faced and unmoved.

Normally featuring someone like, well let’s not be too cruel for fear of being sued, but one of those ‘actors’ anyway. A hero type flying, driving or pedalling something way faster than the manufacturers recommended safety limit.

There will be an hour of this, with the tension indicated by the sound levels of the score until the staggering ending. At this point everything you thought would happen – does happen, and mercifully the thing is over.

“Yes, I really enjoyed it” you will tell your friend or neighbour and they will buy you the box set for Xmas.

There’s a pattern here. It’s other people’s taste being thrust into your headspace.

“You must hear xxxxx, it’s wonderful”. There’s something about listening to someone else’s musical choice for an hour or so that should be taken up by the Guantanamo Bay people. In fact I believe it already is used.

When I originally heard that suspected terrorists or unfortunate tourists had to listen to rock music for 24 hours a day I initially thought that wasn’t so bad. I quite like rock music. Quite subtle really. Do something to them that seems reasonable to us.

After accepting, and suffering, every recommendation from a friend for years one might be tempted to share an opinion on some music you love yourself. Don’t do this. Take a treasured piece of music, one that lifts your soul and provides happy memories, and suggest to someone they give it a try.

“Yeah, it was OK, bit dull” might be a typical comment. “I have no f…… taste” would be a more honest and accurate response.

Art is probably the best area for total bullshit and utter confusion. Is Picasso a better whatever than Emin? At least with art though you are allowed different opinions.

That’s all part of the being arty process. Discussing in ever more flowery terms the points about the ghastly thing that simply make you float upward with sensory delight.

Why is art allowed to be discussed when the other stuff isn’t?

Probably because you move nearer to the chattering classes with art, rather than the “this is so funny” stuff at the other end of the spectrum. In love with the sound of their own words, at least highbrow low income arty types are prepared as a quid pro quo to allow you a little time with the sound of yours.

No one actually listens of course. What would be the point?

Now then. Defences at the ready. Who's first to diss my writing? Or should I do it to myself quickly in a funny, self defecating style?

Let’s not talk about mine. Other people’s – that’s much more fun.

It’s the same thing over again. “Have you read this great piece?” “Isn’t so and so just awesome?”

Well, maybe. That’s if I see things in exactly the same way as you. Now of course, because I’m your friend, colleague or family member I will have exactly the same set of things that tick my boxes – because who wants to be different anyway?

So yeah, I’ll read it and agree, and belong, and feel part of something that if I were being entirely honest I didn’t really get at all.

Of course you must also choose exactly the right words. Lucky on HubPages we only have four – useful, funny, awesome and beautiful. Even then it’s a potential minefield.

Suppose everyone else says funny but it actually moved you in a Beautiful way? What to do? Press the Funny and move on will save a lot of angst. But there’s a little niggle inside.

On rare occasions a Crap button would be good too.

It wasn’t hilarious of course. How could it be?

In real life it’s best not to start from too high an expectation. “You might like this” is a much better lead in to your sharing an experience.

But on the internet – every appalling tedious third rate piece of garbage needs the top classification – otherwise who is going to bother looking?

If it’s not Hilarious why bother clicking in?

My next piece will be Really Funny – there’s a promise. Until then, there’s a Share button just below.

You know what to do.