What is true comedy?

[Jaimee]

Since this IS a comedy site, I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts were on the above question. I personally feel that true comedy is real life. The things that just happen - no remakes or spoofs.
I hope I didn't open a can of worms with one!! HE,HE,HE!

[SpazzAttack]

I think true comedy is something spontaneous, that nobody suspects. My friends and I die laughing at the random, unexpected things that we do to amuse ourselves.

[Jaimee]

Very true!

[aural]

Pain, probably. What's the Carol Burnett quote? "Comedy is tragedy plus time." I'm convinced that man first laughed when one cave person tripped over a root & landed in a pile of dung. Surely it was a great amusement to of all those assembled & lo, we have great merriment.

A lot of the funniest people in history were in a lot of pain; spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, etc. Humor can be a great way of expressing that inner turmoil. Freebasing & alcoholism & hookers, however, are not.

[Jaimee]

Pain is not really a word I associate with funny - I cringe. I can't watch all of those "funniest video's" where the person gets wrecked! Even though people laugh - I know they got really hurt. I do agree on humor being a great way of expression.

[aural]

Pratfall. Slapstick. Not much subtlety in the language is there? From Plautus to Shakespeare to the Keystone Kops to Mel Brooks, so on & so forth, somebody landing on their ass for for a gas remains funny to a lot of people.

Think about the Three Stooges. Yeah, they're corny, but people still love them. I still don't understand exactly why three buffoons abusing each other & dropping one liners in weird situations is funny, but it is.

There is a certain rawness, a purity to a video of some poor schmuck taking a hit that tickles the reptile brain in us all. You laugh, then you wince. It happens before you can even think about it, you simply react.

For example, I was having shower sex with my boyfriend. My foot slipped & I wound up in a pile at the bottom of the tub with a leg hanging out. It was excrutiating! He helped me up, made sure I was okay, & then & only then did he laugh his face off. Had he laughed before helping me things would have gotten ugly, but he was compassionate enough to wait. Which made it even funnier. So I started laughing & all was well.

[Junior]

It's all in the timing. Whether it's something contrived, spontaneous, painful or otherwise.
Great topic!

[Jaimee]

Timing is everything!

[aural]

A person's taste in comedy is a fickle & subjective thing. A lot of people have their sacred cows, a lot of people will slaughter anything within reach of their verbal ginsu for a laugh. Some people find that happr medium, the lucky sons of bitches.

Me? I like duck vaginas.

[Joy]

Humour is largely subjective. The slapstick is more primal - it's a basic knee jerk. I don't find that kind of reaction to be true humour - I mean, you laugh when you're being tickled, but not everyone likes being tickled. I think real humour is the kind that appeals to the mind because then it's fully stimulating. What gets the mind is hugely variable, and I think is mainly dependent on the person.

[Ida Kno]

True comedy cannot be defined, for comedy is subjective from person to person. I am one of those people that find almost everything funny, while I have met some that laugh at almost nothing. My husband thinks I'm crazy with the lines that I repeat. They mean nothing to him, but are the most hilarious thing in the world to me. Whatever makes you laugh is true comedy to you.

[Jared]

laughing without any thought. a blink of an eye moment in time where you just let it go.

[Amie W.]

Comedy iss randomness :)
And a little bit of self deprecation
And the asbo fighter pilots from Armstrong and Miller :P