Dean shiels

[Dr Fundlekrotch]

It’s not correct that there always has to be a victim in humour. Eric Morecambe (I think) got it right. All humour falls into one of two categories:
i) logic gone awry (Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.)

ii) a slipping of moral standards (why did the chicken cross the road? To escape from the pervert)

 If you think hard about it, every single joke you’ve ever heard sits in one of those categories. The best ones hit both. (Why did the pervert cross the road? Cos he had his knob stuck in the chicken.)

There is a peculiarly nasty British take on the slipping of moral standards side which seeks to humiliate or belittle a group or individual. They are reasonable if they are aimed at someone unpleasant or powerful. If the butt of the joke is weak or unable to answer back, they are effectively just bullying. But either way, there is far more to humour than just setting someone up to have a laugh at.

I don't know who said that first, BST but it was definitely used by Fry & Laurie in their "Comedy Masterclass" on Saturday Live (and "Weekend in Wallop")

[BillyStubbsTears]

Dr F

I’ve always had it in my head that it was Eric Morecambe for some reason, but it does sound more like the sort of thing that Stephen Fry would come up with. Whoever said it, it’s spot on. I’ve never ever come across a joke that doesn’t fit into one or other or both categories.

[GazLaz]

Nothing better than when a joke leads you down a long road and puts you exactly where it wants you then slaps you on the arse when you are expecting a slap round the face.

[Chris Black come back]

SENSE.