How do you funny?

[volterock]

What do you do to spark a smile on someone?

And, how do you identify the right person for the right joke? Which
ones work for which people?

[amur]

People who are the most miserable are the nicest to do that to.
Being a miserable INTJ myself.

[Nunki]

I've always taken the self-entertainment approach. I don't set out to amuse others: I set out to amuse myself. If others happen to be amused by that, so much the better.

[Anonymous]

What do you do to spark a smile on someone?

Unintentionally.


And, how do you identify the right person for the right joke? Which
ones work for which people?

I can't really make jokes, but I know when not to make tongue in cheek comments about certain subjects when around certain people. For instance, I wouldn't start making snide comments about religion with my Jewish friend.

[jp007]

I'm not really a big fan of "jokes," as in giving the setup followed by the punchline. I'm more a fan of wit and being witty, and that pretty much means riffing off whatever the current situation and environment is. I've gotten better at revealing to others "what the intp is laughing at in his head." I've found, at least with my social circle, others will find it really funny too, especially when it's not only sharp and witty, but tying something that is really freakin "out there" (usual business for an intp brain, no?) with the events on the ground.

[Saeculustra]

Stupidly, I usually try to challenge something they say or do in a mock-derogatory way, to make them playfully challenge me back. Unfortunately, no matter how completely stupid a bone I choose to pick, people think I'm being serious, rather than essentially mocking myself.

But when they get it, it's a lot of fun. I have a hard time identifying the right person to try this on. I try to find the ones that are very quiet on the outside but a firebrand inside (like myself).

Otherwise, I rely on dry humor.

[Sarcastikus]

Sarcasm, puns and other word-play, occasionally telling jokes or humourous stories.

[carbon cold]

I tilt my head and tug their clothing or hair.

I have a very "dreamy" atmosphere and mannerisms, and people seem to find it..cute.

Also, my random sounds seem to help.

Sarcasm works sometimes, though.

[master student]

I tend to find people laugh at "random" and offensive antics.

For the most part I just do what is funny to me. Sometimes other people think it is funny and sometimes they don't. My favorite jokes are ones that people have to think a little about before they get it.

[gunslingerfry]

I've always taken the self-entertainment approach. I don't set out to amuse others: I set out to amuse myself. If others happen to be amused by that, so much the better.

Get me really tired and I'm apparently hilarious; I tend to not filter what comes into my head when I'm tired.

[eyebyte_atWork]

I usually spark things with with hawt chicks - by hitting on them with the most absurd pick up line ever.

They know I am not serious - but they learn that I am fun loving. I think they appreciate the effort and in some way find it complimenting while not threatening.

OR

I do self depreciating humor.

[foodeater]

I take their words out of context, make fun of myself, make fun of them, make fun of other people, point out the absence of logic through one of those, ignore logic entirely or say the opposite of what would be logical, surprise them with things I wouldn't normally do, etc.

If I'm talking to someone and I can form words coherently I'm probably trying to make a joke. Sometimes even when I can't form word coherently.. Which ones work for who depends on the situation and how well I know a person.

Edit: And pretty much everything that everyone else said. Except Carbon Cold- I make fun of people who make random sounds and when I tug peoples' hair they spray me with mace.

[daveshane]

I'm not really a big fan of "jokes," as in giving the setup followed by the punchline. I'm more a fan of wit and being witty, and that pretty much means riffing off whatever the current situation and environment is. I've gotten better at revealing to others "what the intp is laughing at in his head." I've found, at least with my social circle, others will find it really funny too, especially when it's not only sharp and witty, but tying something that is really freakin "out there" (usual business for an intp brain, no?) with the events on the ground.

Pretty much sums me up. I never "tell jokes", but witty comebacks just pop into my head as soon as someone says something, and then I decide whether to say the line, or just be polite.

[fripping]

basically, there's a dutch door in my head which an evil monkey demon lives behind. whenever something dumb happens, there's a chance he might pop out and hand me a piece of paper with something funny on it.

i get about half a second to decide whether it's worth saying or not, then it stops being funny.

he's on his own schedule though and is often too busy getting drunk or masturbating to give me any good material, sometimes for months at a time.

and only if the pressure is off, if somebody disses me to my face i just kind of go durrrrr and look stupid.

the more my life sucks the funnier i get. i'm coasting through life right now and haven't said or done anything hilarious in a long time.

[30footsmurf]

I like to play with language and puns. I will purposely state things in a way that forces most to reach state of cognitive dissonance over the meanings that they were interpreting from a simple conversation. I always do it off the cuff with little thought into the remark. Often these come out painfully obvious and I'll get a knowing smile followed by an appeal to be serious for a moment. I also like to use movie quotes whenever possible, most everyone in our society is programed to laugh at them.
For example:
Someone: Hey, would you like to join us for dinner, we're having chicken.
Me: (with a completely serious voice almost quiet, but totally audible and clear) You know I love the cock. Of course I'll stay for dinner.

Its kindofa shitty example, but when you're pulling stuff out of you're ass, sometimes thats what you get.

[Vaera]

Get me really tired and I'm apparently hilarious; I tend to not filter what comes into my head when I'm tired.

This is so very true. the amount of random, unfiltered things that come out of your mouth while you're exausted and badly lacking sleep is awesome. It's even more hilarious when you have it told as a story after you wake up. The usual:'What did you just say???" soon enough becomes the streak of questions coming from the person(s) you're with at that time, since they usually cannot believe what's coming out from your mind. Randomness at it's best.

As far as doing funny, I'm pretty much hopeless case, which comes from the fact that i cannot relate to social situations im finding myself at. But I'm master of bitter, sarcastic and random rants/comments which are usually understood by few (followed by salve of laugh).


"You know I love the cock. Of course I'll stay for dinner."
... but when you're pulling stuff out of you're ass, sometimes thats what you get.

This made me giggle a bit :)

[ryan_m_parr]

What do you do to spark a smile on someone?

And, how do you identify the right person for the right joke? Which
ones work for which people?

"Monkey chunks" and "Juice and Jewelry," are not for everyone. It takes an acute understanding of the human psyche to distinguish which elements of a particular statement, are not appropriate.

[diogenesaraujo]

I'm constantly imagining funny situations that could happen and would make good jokes(for the intp kind of humor), but I'm horrible to TELLING jokes.

[bass_n_treble]

I've always taken the self-entertainment approach. I don't set out to amuse others: I set out to amuse myself. If others happen to be amused by that, so much the better.

Very much agreed. (I adopt the "Welcome to my party, bitches!" approach)

[Technical]

I joke, generally slightly more than the situation calls for. So just a little bit when I'm in an elevator with a Priest and a Rabbi.

[Jonah Davids]

I have a really dry sense of humor in practice. Deadpan deliveries. Messing with people. One of my more evil moments was when some dude in a bar made a joke about my mother, and I looked him dead in the eyes for a longer-than-comfortable moment and informed him coldly that my mother was dead. The reactions were priceless! I guess that will all become less funny to me once she actually does die, but whatever. We only live once.

Whereas if you're actually "telling jokes" per se it demands a reaction of some kind, the setup leads to a moment where it's like "Eh? Eh? That was funny, eh? EH?" sort of thing. Not really my thing.

[ryan_m_parr]

I have a really dry sense of humor in practice. Deadpan deliveries. Messing with people. One of my more evil moments was when some dude in a bar made a joke about my mother, and I looked him dead in the eyes for a longer-than-comfortable moment and informed him coldly that my mother was dead. The reactions were priceless! I guess that will all become less funny to me once she actually does die, but whatever. We only live once.

Whereas if you're actually "telling jokes" per se it demands a reaction of some kind, the setup leads to a moment where it's like "Eh? Eh? That was funny, eh? EH?" sort of thing. Not really my thing.

Reminds me of that scene in 'Fatal Attraction' where the protagonist plays dead of a heart attack while running in the park with a woman he was having an affair with, only to have her chase after him, believing he might actually have died. She then panics and he then breaks the act so to surprise her, to which she replies to him, such and such, "My father died of a heart attack when I was little," followed by long silence and the 'joke' response of her own, that he really didn't. In fact he did die of a heart attack, and the story really climaxes with him finding out the truth of her story, and who she was as an individual.

[Qfwfq]

I find taking a dump on someone's couch to be utterly hilarious.

[ryan_m_parr]

I find taking a dump on someone's couch to be utterly hilarious.

Do you then run around naked, only to be chased outside, and placed in a "quiet place" to meditate on what you just did? Have you achieved divine revelation, and transcendental ecstasy, believing you could be the "next big thing?" Do you feel refreshed by it afterwards?

[HoneyCyclical]

Have you achieved divine revelation, and transcendental ecstasy, believing you could be the "next big thing?" Do you feel refreshed by it afterwards?
I have had dumps like this.

[Jonah Davids]

Reminds me of that scene in 'Fatal Attraction' where the protagonist plays dead of a heart attack while running in the park with a woman he was having an affair with, only to have her chase after him, believing he might actually have died. She then panics and he then breaks the act so to surprise her, to which she replies to him, such and such, "My father died of a heart attack when I was little," followed by long silence and the 'joke' response of her own, that he really didn't. In fact he did die of a heart attack, and the story really climaxes with him finding out the truth of her story, and who she was as an individual.

I thought I'd seen that movie, but based on your description I guess now I was thinking of Single White Female for some reason.


Also, Toshiro Mifune FTW.

[Qfwfq]

Do you then run around naked, only to be chased outside, and placed in a "quiet place" to meditate on what you just did? Have you achieved divine revelation, and transcendental ecstasy, believing you could be the "next big thing?" Do you feel refreshed by it afterwards?

Have you heard of Nirvana?

[Digital Future]

I've always taken the self-entertainment approach. I don't set out to amuse others: I set out to amuse myself. If others happen to be amused by that, so much the better.

Agreed. I generally take this approach. If people think I'm a dick I honestly don't care. However I don't aim to offend.


I tilt my head and tug their clothing or hair.


That alone made me smile. I'll try it, but I might get a slap. Failing that the old fashioned Glasgow smile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_smile) does the trick. :devil:

http://www.buffyholt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/heath-ledger-the-joker-2.jpg