Thursday
Jul012010
Funny or not Funny
July 1, 2010 * * * * * Posted by: Petra 
This picture has been in my local V&V directory for some time now. I want to use it in a post, but I haven’t found the words yet. I want to show it because I think you might think it is funny and maybe it is typically Dutch, although I am not sure of that. It was taken in my hometown at the market.
Is it funny?
I guess humor can be very local. Holland is only a small country, but 11 years ago I moved from the west to the south (only an hour drive) and I found that my humor wasn’t the same as southern humor, my (big city) kind of harsh humor wasn’t very much appreciated by the southerners, and I thought their humor was dull and boring. Sort of like Eddie Murphy meets Mary Poppins.
Now that is just in Holland, so how about the whole (virtual) world? I guess TV, film, internet and maybe books apply some global sense of humor, or it at least gives us an insight in the sense of humor of another culture, even though at first we might think we are from the same culture. My post about Fawlty Towers showed that British humor (at least this sitcom) is not very well known in the US. Maybe it is not broadcast in the US because the broadcasters think/know (?) this kind of humor is not appreciated by Americans in general. Over here we get a lot of foreign tv series, and we know the British sitcoms are funny in a different way than the American sitcoms are, just like British crime series differ from the American ones and both are different from the Dutch, German or Scandinavian ones. We like them all, but all in a different way.
Why talk about this?
Well, I find it very hard to be funny (i.e. what I think is funny) on the internet. Once in a while I forget that my sense of humor might be different and in an inattentive moment I forget it, and I press enter and it is on the net and I realize ooooohhhh I shouldn’t have done that, I meant no harm, I was just being funny, duuuh. And now what, what to do… radio silence… trying to repair all the virtual damage done… and keeping a low profile for a while … hoping it will be forgotten… and after worrying my head of I think: let go of it, leave it, tough luck, it will pass … hopefully.
English not being my first language makes it even harder. I know the words (or Google them), but do the words portray the feeling that I want to give them, does it express what I am trying to say? And is what I am trying to say generally understood in the same way that I intend it to be, or is it obscure or inappropriate in a different culture?
And after reading and editing this post for the zillionth time I am thinking: just press enter, let go of it, this is it, I did the best I could, see what happens…
Reader Comments (13)
Yes - it's a funny scene..and a funny picture. Have never seen legs (fake ones..of course)kicking up like that with buildings in the background.
And - I tend to think that different parts of the country and world see and experience things differently..thus 'humor' becomes a rather personal and subjective thing.
Very brave of you to press enter and to simply let it go out into the universe and see where it lands.
Love the image!!!
Love the picture :-) a street version of the ladies of Moulin Rouge *lol*
YES, it's funny, Petra! I don't care what anyone else says but if someone doesn't see the humor in your image, it's their loss (since humor is good medicine). One of the reasons I fell in love with Astrid is because of her humor...and she's Dutch. I'm not sure what that says about me...and America...but I do get the humor here and love it. The internet IS a drawback in such things...if you only have words to express what you're feeling. Sometimes you can't put the feelings down in the way you want to be absolutely sure is understood. But then, that even happens when you're in the same room with someone. As we often say, "I guess you had to be there!" You can be downright proud of your handling of your second language. If ever I write Dutch as well as you write English, I will be in heaven!
Oh I understand this all too well.....what I've discovered is that what we write on blogs or even in email sometimes comes across much different than our intent. Somehow emotions don't always translate well.
This photograph made me laugh out loud - not just because of the line of high kicks, but also because of the man in front who is clearly enjoying the joke :) Humour can be hit and miss when you're writing for so many different people and using a second language at that. I have great admiration for you not only because you can use a second language so well but (whether you check it a gazillion times) you also have the courage to send it "out there". Bravo!!
The photo is hysterical! I love the expression on the man's face the most, although it seems unrelated to the legs, which actually just makes it even funnier.
A sense of humor is such an individual thing...and then regional as well. But as long as no one gets hurt, I think it is all good. I am amazed at how well you get all the nuances of the language, and that is no joke (Yuk Yuk) :)
It's the Rockettes! Or their legs, at least!! Too fun! Yes, the written word doesn't always translate as well as we wish, and sometimes when we are trying to be funny or sarcastic or tease it comes off completely different and then we have to try to make amends. Happened to me about a month ago. Oh well. You do quite well, Petra. Press enter and let it go! :)
HA...I read the last line out loud to Ginnie and guess what she said.....That are just the same words you would say...(you as in Astrid)
I love those legs in the air and I can tell you I have also a strange kind of humour, people sometimes look at me and say....we always knew you are weird....
But than I would say, tell me something new.
When I was 17, that is almost 40 years ago, my dad happened to have to spend time in a mental hospital, maniac depressed, he died 10 years later of some medical mistake, it made me very very very cynical, and I sometimes make jokes about mental hospitals, my best friend say I am totally entitled to do so.
Humor is so personal, and yes it can shock, I 'learned' to kind of wait until I make a killer joke, with whom I am.
The men at work, some are roughnecks, spend time in jail, but are like teddy bears with me, I am one of them, I share their humour and the only other woman on the floor hates me for it.....(she is not part of it and worked there already for 20 years)
I got over that (that she hates me), I am who I am, punt uit.
Humor has never been one of my strengths. I can easily laugh with others, but can never be funny myself.
Cute photo! I can see why you wanted to share it with us; not a sight we see very often. And, the man's expression is wonderful!
You do SO well expressing yourself in English. Bravo! And I certainly understand what you mean about "just press enter and let go of it." I think we've ALL been there before. ;)
so funny...and i know just what you mean about the british sense of humour and it not always being 'got' by others; and i'm sure the dutch sense of humour is the same. i have to tell you a funny story, sort of on the same theme: recently, at the safari company i work for, a client wrote to say "i read that my luggage allowance on the small planes is only 15kg, but i have so much stuff, i mean i'm really bringing the kitchen sink with me!!" (is this a typical english term???). anyhow, the tanzanian girl in my office handling the booking came to me with a very worried expression; i don't know what to do, she said, this lady client is bringing her kitchen sink with her, should i warn the air charter company flying her and make sure it will fit ok in the plane?. i laughed and laughed.
I think it's hilarious! And it's so European! You know what makes it for me? That man in with the big grin on his face!
Ach, de Westermarkt! Toch?
How I sometimes miss those markets!! The Wednesday market on de Besterd most of all. We don't have those here!! Let alone the 'op de markt is je gulden een daalder waard' mentaliteit!!
Humour is such a subjective thing, so personal, so something you need to feel! It can't be thought! I can see it in you picture, definitely!! And I often try to be funny in my writings, here at V&V as well. But struggle, just like you do, with finding the right words.
So I completely relate to your post and picture I might add. I know that market all to well!!!
I have bombed on the virtual stage many a time, and the sound of the computer fans seem lonely also. I do not think you bombed on the shot, but I do not think it is funny either. I love the shot (except for the little black thing on the left edge, crop maybe?) I would call it hart warming. I love urban shots of every day experience which I am sure you know has allot of history in photography. I imagine this fellow is one of those lucky guys who can not loose his smile, his pose suggests he is not even looking at the legs but possibly at someone in the next booth. None-the-less the smile is on my face for seeing it, I will save the laugh for the mirror.