Yeah, I walked into that question. Inducing laughter in general is too big a question to answer, but I will explain the technique.
As background reading, I would recommend Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. Mostly because it validates my belief that humor is often cruel. Really it is great reading for any alienated smart person.
I tried to observed my actions today as I used humor to escape conversation, and I was conscious of using the technique five times. I have concluded that actual clever wordplay or other comedic art is not necessary. While I have gotten in trouble for not “speaking like a human” before, this conversational strategy seems surprisingly effective at work or office situations (US, east coast).
Do not attempt this technique in situations when you can not guess at the social hierarchy or on solemn occasions.
Be adequately certain that the dominant member of the group you are trying to escape from is not disagreeing with you.
Demonstrate through tracking eye movement, reactive micro-expression, and body stance that you are engaged in the conversation. Failing that, watch the mouth of the person speaking focusing on the formation of words and sounds.
Wait for a pause in speaking, lean forward and start to smile with the edge of your mouth and eyes.
Magic part: Any inane thing you say will be taken as a joke. It’s the setup that triggers the response allowing the escape. If you don’t want your listeners to think you a moron, say something sarcastic or hyperbolic about yourself, about the topic being discussed if it is innocuous, or about the task you are going to perform. Remember not to step on their memes and to respect their status hierarchies.
Walk away at a leisurely pace if you want. If they are laughing with you, you may want to stay.
Thanks. This reminds me of something I’ve found which works well in the short run. I admit I haven’t checked for long term consequences.
It makes me crazy when people repeat themselves in short succession. If you listen, it’s possible to discover that Waiting for Godot is more realistic than a lot of more interesting theater.
Hypothesis: People repeat themselves if they aren’t sure they’re being heard, or, oddly (and I’ve done this myself) if they’re unsure of how what they’re saying will be received.
Solution: Smile at the person and repeat back what they said. Your body language is “I was so interested I remembered what you were saying” not “I heard it already and I’m bored”.
Observation: People stop repeating that particular thing. Yay!
However, they tend to seem a bit taken aback, though not hostile. I don’t know to what extent they feel comforted and heard and possibly surprised because they weren’t expecting that, and to what extent they’ve been embarrassed that their amount of repetition has been noted.
Hypothesis: People repeat themselves if they aren’t sure they’re being heard, or, oddly (and I’ve done this myself) if they’re unsure of how what they’re saying will be received.
I have worked hard to stop doing this. As a teen I’d often repeat something when it wouldn’t provoke a response. This is silly. I now realize that 9 out of 10 times the other person heard you perfectly well, so repeating what one said is counterproductive.
Also I’ve figured out that I should be louder. Everyone knows that one person who nobody likes because ze is too loud, but being too quiet is low status.
Observation: People stop repeating that particular thing. Yay!
Awesome I’ve tried this and it totally works. Thank you!
I hated it when it was done to me in my youth, and I still hate it when it’s done to me now. In fact, most repetitious and nagging patterns of speech make me shut up like a clam. I’m hardly as loquacious in person as I can be through text.
Except… I teach piano and guitar to children. And, in my teaching of habits of practice, I tend to repeat myself maybe a bit too much. I’m really trying to improve.
And also… hehe… I noticed myself introducing rationality techniques. ^_^; How to analyze and target your confusion and lack of understanding whilst reading new music that contain hitherto unseen musical notations or phrases. That’s how I’m used to learning.
How do you make people laugh?
Yeah, I walked into that question. Inducing laughter in general is too big a question to answer, but I will explain the technique.
As background reading, I would recommend Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. Mostly because it validates my belief that humor is often cruel. Really it is great reading for any alienated smart person.
I tried to observed my actions today as I used humor to escape conversation, and I was conscious of using the technique five times. I have concluded that actual clever wordplay or other comedic art is not necessary. While I have gotten in trouble for not “speaking like a human” before, this conversational strategy seems surprisingly effective at work or office situations (US, east coast).
Do not attempt this technique in situations when you can not guess at the social hierarchy or on solemn occasions.
Be adequately certain that the dominant member of the group you are trying to escape from is not disagreeing with you.
Demonstrate through tracking eye movement, reactive micro-expression, and body stance that you are engaged in the conversation. Failing that, watch the mouth of the person speaking focusing on the formation of words and sounds.
Wait for a pause in speaking, lean forward and start to smile with the edge of your mouth and eyes.
Magic part: Any inane thing you say will be taken as a joke. It’s the setup that triggers the response allowing the escape. If you don’t want your listeners to think you a moron, say something sarcastic or hyperbolic about yourself, about the topic being discussed if it is innocuous, or about the task you are going to perform. Remember not to step on their memes and to respect their status hierarchies.
Walk away at a leisurely pace if you want. If they are laughing with you, you may want to stay.
Well, at least I tried to answer the question.
Thanks. This reminds me of something I’ve found which works well in the short run. I admit I haven’t checked for long term consequences.
It makes me crazy when people repeat themselves in short succession. If you listen, it’s possible to discover that Waiting for Godot is more realistic than a lot of more interesting theater.
Hypothesis: People repeat themselves if they aren’t sure they’re being heard, or, oddly (and I’ve done this myself) if they’re unsure of how what they’re saying will be received.
Solution: Smile at the person and repeat back what they said. Your body language is “I was so interested I remembered what you were saying” not “I heard it already and I’m bored”.
Observation: People stop repeating that particular thing. Yay!
However, they tend to seem a bit taken aback, though not hostile. I don’t know to what extent they feel comforted and heard and possibly surprised because they weren’t expecting that, and to what extent they’ve been embarrassed that their amount of repetition has been noted.
I have worked hard to stop doing this. As a teen I’d often repeat something when it wouldn’t provoke a response. This is silly. I now realize that 9 out of 10 times the other person heard you perfectly well, so repeating what one said is counterproductive.
Also I’ve figured out that I should be louder. Everyone knows that one person who nobody likes because ze is too loud, but being too quiet is low status.
Awesome I’ve tried this and it totally works. Thank you!
My word, I do it too, and I never realized!
I hated it when it was done to me in my youth, and I still hate it when it’s done to me now. In fact, most repetitious and nagging patterns of speech make me shut up like a clam. I’m hardly as loquacious in person as I can be through text.
Except… I teach piano and guitar to children. And, in my teaching of habits of practice, I tend to repeat myself maybe a bit too much. I’m really trying to improve.
And also… hehe… I noticed myself introducing rationality techniques. ^_^; How to analyze and target your confusion and lack of understanding whilst reading new music that contain hitherto unseen musical notations or phrases. That’s how I’m used to learning.