True. I will agree that puns do have their place where they are good to use. Puns are a great way to get a laugh But ultumately, a joke with a pun will get old really fast.

Yes. Take Abbott and Costello's Who's on First. I love it to death, but it gets old after a while. "You know what?" "No, but I heard he was a good second baseman." or the other responce. " No, but I know his brother why." why and what weren't brothers. they were team mates. Jokes getting old. it's really annoying.

Yeah I guess I understand what you mean, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't write with puns. I mean, yeah, you can only hear "You remind me of a man ..." so many times before you go crazy, but it's kinda a classic. Just like cliches, we all try to avoid cliche "happily ever after" endings, but if someone hadn't written the story to begin with, a lot of things would be different (especially in the writing world)! So maybe puns do get overused (I am fully aware of that) but they are still my favorite.

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

PS: I really hope that no one sees this as mean or degrading, but this is my openion and as much as I LOVE hearing your's it probably won't change mine.

Too late, I'm offended! Not really. But still, there are some puns that have been used so much that they're not even funny in a humorous sense. Like Darth Vader's "Luke, I am your father." That has been reused so many times that it's not even funny! (No offense Double AA (actualy, you were able made that work))

My favorite kind of humor is the kind that is suddly inserted into a serious plot. Like in Artemis Fowl, Harry Potter, The Cronicles of Narnia, and Grimms Fairy Tales.

Yeah, that's true. But "Luke, I am your father." wasn't a pun it was a plot twist and it's cliches like that that I was talking about rewriting a while ago. So yeah, Double AA's thing is an AWESOME fractured fairytale-ish story that I think we should all read and can learn something from.

But I do believe that some jokes can be overused to the point where they aren't even funny anymore, but that's just part of our culture (There's tons of stuff having to do with "The Godfather", "Rocky", "Star Trek", etc. that doesn't even make sense out of context, but people still say it!).

So forgive me if you, the author of "An Experiment in Character Driven Plot", didn't strike me as someone who was into this mythical serious humor. And seeing as I've only ever read one of the series that you mentioned (The Chronicles of Narnia) I kinda get what you mean, but if someone gets it more, I'd prefer them to explain.

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

Wow! I don't even subscribe to this forum and I get mentioned. I guess now is a good time to start. Something thing that I think is funny, if written right, is when you have silly characters doing silly things in a serious manner, or the reverse serious characters doing serious things in a silly manner. I'd give you an example, but I don't think I could do it justice. Am I making any sense?

This might seem a bit off topic, but I just remembered where I've heard that word antidisestablishmentarianism before! It was in a YouTube music video by Neil Cicerega. Like I said, just a random bit of information.

Yeah, that is random, but it made me laugh so it proves that random humor works. ...

And I guess what you were talking about the last time you review with the "serious" humor would be similar to dry humor? Because that's like the definition of "deadpan", but if that's not what you were talking about ... I'M LOST!

And thirdly, Double AA, yeah, I get what you mean, it like in ... Elf when he's doing stuff that looks totally weird, but with a perfectly straight face (except for the creepy smile). But I'm still not sure that I get the serious character doing the serious thing in a silly way, or do you mean like a character trying to hold it together through the chaos (e.g. The Pacifier) and when everything falls apart it's hilarious? Idk.

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

Another funny thing for me is the ending of alot of episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. Usually McCoy and Kirk are gathered on the bridge and is teasing Spock, who takes it all so seriously. Or when Spock's insulting them without knowing it and when they reply he insists on leaving. Such as the Devil in the Dark in season one.

Yay! Almost two years of being on this site!

Yeah, the sad thing is my brother probably has that episode on his computer *shudders*, I can't stand Star Trek, but I've been forced into it because of my family!

But yeah, I understand, kinda, what you mean, but I have to refuse to watch the episode just be I'm allergic to girlie guys wearing heels and corsets. So does this go along with what Double AA was talking about, cause Spock is probably the best know serious character out there!

(Congrats! Only like ten more days until you get the HIGHEST rank possible in all the FP forums!)

aww. (is sad) at least your brother is a trekkie like me. I know, it is off-topic. But in a ways on topic.

"but I have to refuse to watch the episode just be I'm allergic to girlie guys wearing heels and corsets." Where did that come from? Nothing like that happened in the show thus far.

Yay! I'm the eldest site wise!

or not...

I get what you're saying, and it is similar to what I'm thinking. But it can also apply to a silly character who thinks he serious, and he does serious things, just he does it sillily(Yes it's a word!). Let me try to give an example:

"Quick nurse! Get the drill, the patient has CAVITIES!!!"

Did that help?

P.S. I have to admit it, I'm a Trecky too! I come from a family of Treckies('sept my dad). But I'm not one of those extreme Treckies that have all the episodes memorized, I just like watching it.

Another Trekkie example is the expressions on Spock's face whenever he hears or sees stuff he really doesn't care to hear or see. like in one episode when he walked in on Captain Kirk kissing somebody.

Yay! maybe somebody should start a forum for Trekkies!

NOOOOO!!!!! I HATE Star Trek! (Besides it's hard to write those those things and that's why we're here.) So I guess this can be put as a character put into an awkward position, but once again, how would you write that?

So PLEASE, let that be the last Star Trek reference! I would much rather talk about dancing potatoes!

Of course, some songs are always quite funny. My dad loves to listen to folk. Usually they're making fun of key figures, such as Senator McCarthy. One of my favorites is one about Elizabeth Borden.

We need to start a forum for people who are addicting to killing off their characters. Such as me. I know this is off topic. But I need to get over it. and I need help doing that.

I killed off everyone on Earth one time except like... 8 people. Then they weren't actually dead. It was bad, I wrote it quickly because it was due the next day.... I tend to write short stories where I kill someone, but I'm not addicted to it in longer stories. I usually kill a few people, though. Wow, that was really off topic... Sandra! ;)

Idk, my bff, Beluga1, is trying to get me to write a book where all the character die at the end and then write a sequel. ... I guess that's a kind of humor? It would be SO anoying to read, but it's a kinda funny idea, why?

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

PS: You're not the only one you likes killing off characters, when I write romances the couple is like the only people who don't die (and that's only because I do actually like happy endings)!

What kind of romance involves almost everyone dieing off?! A horror romance?

Oh and the whole idea about a sequal after everyone dies. I think the joke would get lost in the length of the story and it might even be missed altogether.

The thing is it is my main characters that die, if You have ever read my soundtracks of a life, you'll see what I mean.

Actually it wouldn't really be a "horror romance", but more of a drama romance for anyone who has read Romeo and Juliet.

But I do feel that this conversation has kinda ... digressed so why not get back to the main topic! So so farwe have puns, punch lines, stupid humor, witty humor, observation on reality, irony, sarcasm, predictability, breaking predictions, and cliches/parodies, satire, dry humor, humor that people can relate to (or realistic humor), over complication, RANDOMNESS, "serious" humor (I still need an explanation for that), serious characters stuck in silly situation, silly character stuck in serious situations, awkward situations, situations that include typing the word "situation" a million times, and finally ... killing people? Yep, we're random, but if I missed something or if someone else has another idea, PLEASE REPLY!!!!!!!

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

PS: Captain Kirk is a girlie guy who wore heels and a corset and I've always doubted that his hair was real, but that isn't proven (the heels and corset are, just not in the first season). ... LONG LIVE DOCTOR WHO!!!!!!!!!!! He's WAY better!

yes, that's sounds about right.

P.S. I love Doctor Who also.

Yeah I think you got everything. Though what I meant by serious humor is just my own over complicated way of saying what you already got: serious characters in silly situations. I think there actually is serious humor though, in those rich people magazines, but I never read those, I'm just thinking of something I saw on TV. Ooh I just remembered something! Have we mentioned slap-stick? What is slap-stick anyways?

P.S. DOCTOR WHO ROX!

Off the top of my head, I have no real clue what slapstick is. so I'll look it up on Wikipedia!!

Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated physical violence or activities (e.g., a character being hit in the face with a frying pan or running full speed into a wall).

So basically it's physical humor, which I should have thought of before, THANX DOUBLE AA!!

Anybody else have more ideas, or an example of slapstick that might help others better understand it? If so REPLY!!!!!!!

So that's what slapstick is! I suppose that The Three Stooges (Or however you spell it) is slapstick. I was obsessed with that show for a good month or two. The episodes where they make the soufle' (or however you spell it) and where they try to deliver ice are my favorites. Away from the subject of ther Three Stooges, slapstick is, for me, possibly thee simplest kind of humor. It can be hilarious, but it has to be in the right context. For example, hitting someone in the head repeatedly would be considered slapstick, I suppose, but it wouldn't be something that I would enjoy reading or watching. If, however, there was a unexpected reason for the head-hitting, it would be funnier, and I just might enjoy reading or watching it. Hmm. That didn't make sense even to me. What I'm trying to say is that you need a reason behind random actions. Yeah. That about sums it up.

A reason for randomness? ... That defeats the word "random", but I get what you mean. One example that is too often used is when a fly is buzzing around and a person istrying to hit it and then it lands on their forehead and they hit themselves and knock themselves out but the fly moves at the last second and is safe, thus using both slapstick humor and irony. So yeah, put a reason behind it, cause hitting people over the head for no reason at all is only hilariously funny the first few times!!

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

Here's another one that I do all the time. Someone's just sitting there or standing, they're talking about something, like their English class, then suddenly they go... "What am I talking about? I forgot what I was going to say."To me that's funny. Of course it's laughing at yourself, but that's the best kind of humor.

So forgetfulness? That makes sense, I guess, that sort of goes along with the person who randomly bursts into song or bangs their head into a wall for no reason, it's just plain, random and a change from what the reader is expecting. I feel that, as humor writers, it is our goal to bring new plots to our readers and if that is beyond us in some case, to bring them new ideas in the same predictable plot. And therefore, our largest adversary ispredictability so something like this, when put in the middle of a ramble or whatever that the reader is totally expecting to go on forever, could perhaps help to fight said largest adversary! ... idk, I'm probably just being melodramatic, but I can defiantlyhear cannon fire coming from upstairs and for some reason that's making me feel like a motivational speaker, so once again, idk. So if someone has a better way to resolve this ramble, FEEL FREE TO and REPLY! I love reply, I dream about them all night long!

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

Of course side comments are great.

Actually, I played a police officer in a comedy for the school play earlier this year. So I can act in a comedy/humor, I just can't write them.

Here's another semitopic thingy:

Can everyone be funny?

Is it something you're are born with?

Can you learn how to be funny?

Just throwing it out there. I don't think someone can be born with humor, but I suppose they can be born with the ability to make funny faces, which helps in the humor department.

I'd add more but I have to go... think about it :D

I don't know, some people are naturally funny, and then there are those who have to work at it. I think it also depends on the type of humor. Some people know a lot about one subject, but hardly anything about another. Something else, that is kinda weird, is that I think I'm funnier when I'm with my brother, we're like a double act. Although he manages to remain as funny as ever without my input, so I guess I'm trying to say, I don't know what I'm trying to say. Someone please help me unconfuse myself. If I haven't already confused you. THIS FORUM IS TOO PHILOSOPHICAL FOR ME!!!!

I'm funny when I slip up and say sometime I don't mean to say, such as reversing words or letters

I know what you mean. Some people, (myself included) can be funny around people they know, but are shy around people they don't.

oh yeah, two years as of today. off topic but oh well

Congratulations!

Something else just came to my mind as being funny. ... But I don't really know how to explain it. ... I guess it'd be like, ... writing a character to be like another very famous character and then after developing your character a while and not letting the audience in on it, you tell them about it. Okay, that was a REALLY bad explanation!! So here's an example,

John Sheppard of Stargate: Atlantis (I'm a huge fan of the show!) is alwaysfalling in love with some alien girl only to have her turn out to be, like, to cool for him or whatever and then he never sees her again (it's happened like a million times!). So finally on one of the episodes he introduced himself to a girl and one of the other character's (McKay) said something like, "Shut up, Kirk." therefore relating him to Captain Kirk who all y'all Trekkies out there know and love to share some similar characteristics with John. Does that make any sense? I hope it does, cause when McKay said that I totally lost it!

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

Yeah, except captain Kirk actually got the girls.

Girls? Most of them were robots or highly destructive aliens who wear practically nothing. At least the girls that John Sheppard flirted with were actually women.

But we aren't here to slam TV show or their character we are here to become better writers, so does anybody have any ideas?

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

I just thought of something else that's funny. What about like when a wimpy looking character, like some little old lady, beats some huge guy up. Or when a really wimpy little kid ends up being the dork who does something really scaring, but then again that might do better in a television show or movie.

But I refuse to believe that there are no more ideas left! So even if you can't understand and just need something explained to you, REPLY ... please.

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

Wow! You used bold letters! No one uses bold... except me.

Okay, I guess the wimpy thing is kinda like irony.

Here's something that happened to me. Me, Double AA, Ms. Crittic, and Bob Evens were all in a car talking about a Halo spoof called, "There's something about Halo" only we were calling it TASH cuz that's kinda what it looks like abreviated. So anywise, we were talking and my yonger brother, who had no idea what TASH meant, says something like, "we should talk about that Halo thing too" and we all broke out laughing while he had no idea what was so funny. Did that make sense? Here, I'll put it in a example:

Person1: I'm bored. Person2: I know, let's go and "harmlessly sneak into" a certain desert shop.

Person1: Ooh! Yes! Let's do that.

Person3: Yeah! And we should also break into the ice-cream store.

Person 1 and 2 slap person 3.

There. That's the best I can do.

You don't have the patent on bold letters ya know.

And yeah, that is something that I wouldn't have thought of, but could pretty easily be worked into any plot. But I don't recommend randomly having your characters break into a ice cream shop (partially because I would probably stop reading at mention of thievery (if I can't use it for my C2, I don't have time to read it)) and partially because then the ice cream fairies and pixies who makes the desserts will attack them and eat them.

The End.

Yah, cuz those ice-cream fairies just love the taste of human. That almost sounds like one of those humor/horror stories. I should write one of those some day. I could include all my experimental characters in it.

GO DIFO!

Suppose me daring you to it would make you write that, would it? ... O well.

But I think the situation that you described before is basically just an inside joke, no outside could get it (unless it was explained). Does that definition make sense? I hope so, and I CAN'T BELIEVE that I didn't think of inside jokes! I mean, sometimes they could take a little too much time and care to work into a plot, but you simplified it a TON! I'm gonna have to try and remember this the next time I have time to work on my novel.

So if anyone has any other ideas or would even just like to comment on how incredibly STUPID and RANDOM this thing has gotten, feel free.

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

PS: There is nothing wrong with humor/horror, I DARE you to try it, R.E.D.! Ha! So there!

we are ALL STUPID and RANDOM in our own retospects. Take my German class for instance. We are watching a movie and several of my classmates keep making these comments.

"Being weird is normal and being normal is weird." The.Wizard.Pen.Dragon (that's my motto, perhaps it explains somethings.).

As for the comments, I have always (okay not always) enjoyed cracking jokes during a movie. Like this one that I almost always do during Spiderman (And yes, I did come up with this one myself I would not just memorise a bunch of junk and call in my own.). This scene takes place when Norman Osborn is first finding his alternate personality, The Green Goblin.

Norman Osborn: Where are you?!

Green Goblin: Follow the cold shiver going down your spine.

Me: He's in his butt?

I hope that that was kinda humorous and that someone can anaylize it and figure out how we can use it better! Cause that's the whole point of this forum, right?

Write on!

Pen.Dragon

That's funny. I literally Laughed out loud.

But are those the kind of comments that you were talking about or were you complaining about them? Cause I know what it's like when the person/people who won't shut up aren't as good at making humorous comments as I am *tries to sound cool* (I once had to sit through all of Mary Poppins listening to my bff's brother talking about how he would gore a bull with an umbrella, oh boy ...).

Please Reply,

Pen.Dragon

I am very guilty of making funny comments durring a movie. But mine are actualy FUNNY!

My dad on the other hand enjoys pointing out mistakes.

"That car wouldn't blow up. Where is all this falling stuff comming from and why isn't it piling up at the bottom?"

Bad examples but that's all I could think of at the moment.

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