Is it normal to pretend laugh at things you don't think are funny?

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8 Comments

Alot of times when I'm with a group of friends, they get on youtube and look at a bunch of random videos. They're all laughing hysterically and I don't see any humor in the video at all. So since I don't wanna look like a boring downer and not laugh too, I just smile and pretend to laugh along with them. This gets extremely annoying after the 20th video is played. The same thing also happens with some movies. It's not like I don't have a sense of humor. I think that The Soup on E! is absolutely hilarious, as well as Family Guy, South Park and The Simpsons. The Hangover also had me laughing the entire time. Maybe my friends just have a different sense of humor than I do? Anyone else ever feel this way.

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86% Normal
Based on 85 votes (73 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • detroitlove81
    12 years ago

    I am one of those people who at an early age figured out that other people do that. SO at the age of 30, most people think that i am mean as hell cause i literally do what i actually feel. SO if something is not funny, i dont laugh or pretend it was sorta funny...nothin. I stare at the person and blink or change the story. I dont like feeling imposed on. ugh...

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  • sandrinka
    13 years ago

    I do the exact same thing! Some videos are actually funny, but others are just really stupid, and so I just fake laugh so it's not awkward.

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  • zEropoint
    13 years ago

    What you're doing is *typical*, but I don't think it's normal. It's not normal to feel so persuaded to fit in that you're willing to be bored to death for hours and lie about it.

    I wouldn't confront your entire group of friends head on about it, though. Wait until you're with just one of them and just kind of bring it up. Don't say anything mean or grating like, "I don't think the crap you watch on youtube is funny. What's wrong with you?" Start with, "I guess I'm a little slow, but I just wasn't getting what was so funny about those videos we were all watching the other day. What am I missing?"

    This should, if your friends are even close to normal, initiate a conversation where nobody feels put down for liking something that someone else doesn't. And maybe you could suggest that you all get together and watch something *you* think is funny (because if your friends honestly don't think Family Guy and stuff is funny, then they're either really weird or, like, senior citizens or something).

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  • dumbpeople40
    13 years ago

    thats what my mom thinks. oh well.

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  • gako
    13 years ago

    You just have a different sence of humor from your friends. Maybe finding a different group of friends w/ the same intrest would be better.

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  • jrphotographer
    13 years ago

    Ya sometimes I don't get it but I still think its funny

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  • SassyFrassyLassie_old
    13 years ago

    That's not funny.

    Just kidding.
    That's interesting what Deepthought33 wrote because I was starting to think that I never did it myself... And then I remembered that I do it with ALL of my family members just to make them feel more comfortable. I don't do it with strangers or friends, usually. But, isn't a natural reaction to smile when someone smiles at you, whether you think they are funny or not?

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  • deepthought33
    13 years ago

    Yea this happens to me especially with my husband. He thinks he is really funny (he DOES have his moments) and unless I'm in a particularly impatient mood I'll go along with whatever he is showing me or saying--especially around other people who might not get that he was joking.

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