aries27 Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Pure curiousity...what makes the ordinary Thai laugh? What kind of jokes, gestures, situations, etc. tickles the funny bone of Thais? Am asking this as someone who also comes from a Southeast Asian nation which I know has its peculiar humor. Correct me if I am wrong but compared to the Western humor, I have observed that Asians are more visually entertained or humored (than by stand-up jokes or dry wit?). That they like slapstick, funny or exaggerated gestures and even find some minor physical deformity as something to be laughed at? Sometimes, just having a funny or an "ugly" face can be a passport to being a comedian (never mind if he can't deliver a line)? At least in the PH it happens. Sarcasm is also not easily understood. Am I right? But I also noted the funny commercials in Thailand, ok BTS/Skytrain variety which really cut across cultures I think. Visually entertaining and intelligent too. But is this the regular, common Thai humor one can also encounters in the farms or off-city areas? Case in point, my father understands what Jay Leno is saying but he doesn't understand why it is funny. So just curious if native Thai humor falls in the "Asian category" mods, don't know if I posted in the right forum... was thinking about Farang Pub again but I still have two OPs running there... Please move where appropriate! Thanks for all your replies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavannagh Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 (edited) ase in point, my father understands what Jay Leno is saying but he doesn't understand why it is funny. My Thai GF, also never understands Jay Leno's humor...and neither do I for that matter (I am Australian) just not funny IMO. We always laugh more at Conan O'brien....more 'tongue-in-cheek' and edgy humor. Sarcasm. I love it when used in the right context...she hates it completely. I think you are right in regards to visual humor. I'll give you an example of a 'visual' joke that my GF couldn't stop laughing at: Why did the boy fall of his bike?.... Someone threw a microwave at him. Edited April 21, 2008 by Cavannagh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxexile Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Why did the boy fall of his bike?....Someone threw a microwave at him. boinnnnnnnnnnnnnng! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aries27 Posted April 21, 2008 Author Share Posted April 21, 2008 yes, conan is funny too. how about jon stewart and especially stephen colbert? SNL? sorry mostly american comedies over here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobalt60 Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I notice that Mr Bean goes down well, a personal pet hate of mine, just dont find it/him funny at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Moving to general Forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aries27 Posted April 21, 2008 Author Share Posted April 21, 2008 thanks SBK... cobalt60, mr. bean is funny. can you say his antics is more asian than british? ageless audience too. kids from 7 to 87. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHdiver Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Beny Hill is very funny for Thais Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuestHouse Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Most of the humor among the Thais I have worked has been vulgar (relating to sex, sexuality and bodily functions) either directly vulgar jokes and jibes or 'word play' on vulgar topics. However, another source of jokes and humorous jibs are feau pas drawing on the myriad opportunities to transgress cultural rules. This and the word play can be quite a sophisticated level of humor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaMaximaCulpa Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I also do not much like Mr. Bean, apart from a few selected episodes. But check out Rowan Atkinson as Black Adder, and you might find him more enjoyable. But for most locals, it would not be much fun, since it is very difficult to translate this kind of humour. Benny Hill any idiot can watch, and possibly enjoy, but it is a very low level humour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tw25rw Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 My attempts to read Thai aloud go down well.. As do my joking translations, ie Chiang Mai = No Elephants.. As did the time I knocked a beer off the bedside table onto my side of the bed (she refused to swap places...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ping Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Yes you don't need to know any jokes to make Thais laugh. Unless you are well practised in the language, attempts to speak Thai (beyond the usual expressions) will often bring tears of laughter to their eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinkelbell Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I hardly find a Thai who has any sense of humour. Among my Thai friends or relatives, they call me ' sen-tuern' ( shallow sense) because I always easily laugh at the jokes I heard or cartoons comic I was reading, etc. But I find it's appalling to see them laughing their head off at someone's misfortune or mis-step like that poor soul steps on banana peel and land on the dog's poop. I never find this tragedy, funny at all. If the taxi driver or a hired hand laughing at this tragedy, I understand because of their low social class or little education, but these friends are college graduated. I expect them to act better or act more sensible than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RY12 Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 (edited) I've noticed too some pretty primitive humor, like people dressed up as clowns and just doing physical humor, and it's intended for an adult aduience (like those awful shows they run on thai buses). I think it might seem entertaining to Thais and not westerners because westerner's already have a highly stimulative environment, an Isaan farmer living out in the wilds for months on end would be entertained by anything. But I've noticed too a highly sophisticated, playful wit in Isaan people and in the Khmer, who seem to have more liberal socities than the uptight, conservative Bangkokians (and other East Asians). Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the majority of comedians in thai cinema from Isaan? You ain't gonna find much comic creativity stemming from the hi-so chinese-thais in bkk... Edited April 21, 2008 by RY12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDon Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 My wife gets Aussie humor, she loves Hughesy, Ahn Doh, Will Anderson etc. I dont get alot of british jokes, Benny Hill was really funny though, that Irish guy Jimoen is not funny at all, he just looks funny and the sound of his voice is funny. His jokes are rubbish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opengoal Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Keystone Cops, Charlie Chaplin and midgets being abused on tv does not require any thought (ideal for most thais). Most Thai people are not capable of understanding cerebal humour. Case in point look at the drivel on tv its targeted at its viewing audience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RusticCharm Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thai people do seem to find the misfortune of others funny, espedcially if it involves some form of bodily injury. Heck! They even have physically-handicapped in their TV comedy troupes for everyone to laugh at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girlx Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I notice that Mr Bean goes down well, a personal pet hate of mine, just dont find it/him funny at all. I also do not find him the least bit funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmart Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 A fat katoey slipping on a banana skin whilst fleeing an angry mob of old women. c/w corny sound effects *booiiiiiiiiiiiing*. etc. Sub- "Benny Hill" outtakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananaman Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I notice that Mr Bean goes down well, a personal pet hate of mine, just dont find it/him funny at all. You're right, most seem to love it and I think that in itself speak volumes. I put Seinfeld on of an evening and my Thai missus can understand the English just fine but sits there utterly lost as to why I'm chortling away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunandy Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 My wife finds The Sopranos funny, no idea why, something to do with fat farangs shooting each other and swearing a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thais enjoy silly humor, which is great for me, because I am not very funny, but most silly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tourleadersi Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 My wife loved Team America. She has also watched 'The Office' (UK version), Little Britain, Black Adder and the National Lampoons movies (Naked Gun, Christmas, European etc Vacation) and loved them all. We will be walking along and she will come out with lines from various films/sitcoms which always cracks me up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fauxie Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 My missus watches Peep Show, The Day Today, 15 Storeys High and the like with me and finds it all very funny, though Brass Eye is a bit weird for her. I guess that she's been to the UK makes a difference and the fact that she's been exposed to more than just what's found on UBC. She still laughs at the slapstick and play on words that typical Thais seem to love too though. In the end laughter is good, for whatever reason, and it's a waste of time and energy to get snobby about comedy. For one person it might be Chris Morris that does it and for another a fat, old katoey being bashed on the head. It's all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aries27 Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 what about "The Man Show"? i do enjoy it because it gives non-men an idea about how men can get so shallow when sex and sexy girls are involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niloc Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 A Thai joke that always goes down well is to call an elephant, 'sip et', ask any Thai to say 'eleven' and you will invariably get 'elephant'... Niloc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 They love Monty Python. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 The one that gets the biggest laughs from me is "meuwan, pom seu yaa see meun baht" they say "yaa arai" I say "yamaha" - try it. Sorry but I'm not allowed to write Thai in General section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetchariot Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 The one that gets the biggest laughs from me is "meuwan, pom seu yaa see meun baht" they say "yaa arai" I say "yamaha" - try it. Sorry but I'm not allowed to write Thai in General section. A translation would be useful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooseCannon Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 My wife loves 'Fawlty Towers' - lost track of the number of times she has watched it. Sometimes she even calls me Basil. RusticCharm & OpenGoal - take a look at America's Funniest Home Videos & all it's offshoots. These are top rating shows in a lot of western countries so it's not saying much about the superior 'cerebal' humour of westerners. Personally, I don't think seeing kids fall off pushbikes & people getting hit by <insert fast moving object> is very funny. It's probably better not to judge a nation's 'sense of humour' by what you see on tv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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