Ways of becoming witty?
- Thread starter FolkLikePanda
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I think watching and listening to comedy just as important as reading it, if not more. Firstly, I think the purest form of comedy is standup, and pretty much all good comedians do it. Watching standup DVDs (many helpfully uploaded onto YouTube) is one of the best ways to watch funny guys in action. Secondly, the way you tell a joke is almost as important as the joke itself. I know guys that can tell great jokes and have noone laugh, while others can tell pretty lame jokes and at a decent laugh.lacktheknack said:
I don't think that its something you are born with. Even though its not something where you can read a book called How to Be Funny and start your standup career the next day, there are plenty of recurring themes or tropes in comedy which can be learned, practiced and internalised.
The reason I say "read comedy" is you can look it over again and easily compare to other witty parts and see what they have in common.the Dept of Science said:
Watching comedians is a start, but you can have all the best jokes in the world in your head, it means nought if you can't deliver them (one of the many reasons antisocial types might be witty on msn or in games but fail to be the same in rl)
Be as sociable as possible, talk as much as possible, train that tongue of yours to become more articulate and quick, so it can keep up with your mind.
(whilst witty doesnt mean you have to the sociable type, i get the impression your shy and /or inarticulate, so you need to remedy this)
It also helps to lose your inhibitions and be able to laugh at yourself and leave your ego at the door for the times your jokes will fail.
It's not easy becoming witty, but people are NOT born that way, they aquire the skills to be witty.
Be as sociable as possible, talk as much as possible, train that tongue of yours to become more articulate and quick, so it can keep up with your mind.
(whilst witty doesnt mean you have to the sociable type, i get the impression your shy and /or inarticulate, so you need to remedy this)
It also helps to lose your inhibitions and be able to laugh at yourself and leave your ego at the door for the times your jokes will fail.
It's not easy becoming witty, but people are NOT born that way, they aquire the skills to be witty.
Wit is not straight jokes.
Wit is the ability to bounce off of some one comically.
You are not made.
You are born.
Wit is the ability to bounce off of some one comically.
You are not made.
You are born.
Here you go. The last example of how to be witty is, of course, always the best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxXW6tfl2Y0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxXW6tfl2Y0
Whilst not replying to you persay, I gotta adress this notion "witty people are born witty", that is complete boulderdash, even if you stick to the school of thought that we are born with predertermined personalities rather then born as a blank slate, our life and experiences shape us.EBHughsThe1st said:
Wit can be lost or gained same as any other trait, regardless of your starting personality, locking yourself in a mental prison and saying you cant is the best way to confirm to your own stereotype.
If any of you saying this were in boarding school... I'd guarantee you'd all have picked up at least some basic wit on account of it being a comfortable environment to lose your inhibitions and discover skills and traits you didnt think you'd had.
A good command of the english language (if you're english) often seems to be linked to wit. Also, if you feel like you're trying really hard to be funny then it probably won't come off. Most of the time people laugh at what I say is just an offhand comment that was only meant for the people sat nearest me.
Also, you will never be as witty as Blackadder because those writers have sat for days/weeks on end thinking of all those responses, a slight advantage.
Also, you will never be as witty as Blackadder because those writers have sat for days/weeks on end thinking of all those responses, a slight advantage.
Become more intelligent and charming. I suggest reading a book.
Honestly, it's hard for me to be witty whilst talking in real life as compared to when I'm writing, and that gets really frustrating. I don't know why, but I can't think on the spot as well as when I'm talking to someone via IMing. I'm still funny and amazingly good looking and charming, but I just don't have the same speed and clarity of mind.
Honestly, it's hard for me to be witty whilst talking in real life as compared to when I'm writing, and that gets really frustrating. I don't know why, but I can't think on the spot as well as when I'm talking to someone via IMing. I'm still funny and amazingly good looking and charming, but I just don't have the same speed and clarity of mind.
Urbane humour consists of puns and plays on words.FolkLikePanda said:
Facetiousness consists of jokes designed to make you laugh. Most humour falls under this category.
Banter consists of snappy comebacks. The most common form today is the out-insulting game.
Wit involves playing off the situation. Not necessarily funny, but clever.
The kind of banter you see in films is only possible under the influence of script writers. People are never that clever. Even Winston Churchill, the prodigy of banter, only has a few quotes to his name out of the undoubtable hundreds of possible opportunities.
In my opinion, the best way to become humorous is to watch comedy, read books, and get into arguments. The former two give you quick-draw comebacks to use, as well as expanding your vocabulary, the latter is simply practice. Try playing the game outlined above.
Just listen to a conversation, don't participate, and wait for your oppurtunity.
Pretend your ambushing the conversation, that helps me, at least.
An example: Some people were talking at my table, some friends and some not, and one kid (1) kept calling another kid (2) ugly. After a few minutes, 2 turned on 1 and said that he wasn't ugly, and that 1 should shut the fuck up.
1 said, "Not ugly? Have you ever looked in a mirror?"
Me, in the background, "No, because everytime he does he sees you behind him, jerking off."
Now, that example wasn't particularily witty, but that's why I chose it, because it didn't have to be. I was a total non-participant in the conversation, and I said that less than a second after 1 said the mirror comment.
Pretend your ambushing the conversation, that helps me, at least.
An example: Some people were talking at my table, some friends and some not, and one kid (1) kept calling another kid (2) ugly. After a few minutes, 2 turned on 1 and said that he wasn't ugly, and that 1 should shut the fuck up.
1 said, "Not ugly? Have you ever looked in a mirror?"
Me, in the background, "No, because everytime he does he sees you behind him, jerking off."
Now, that example wasn't particularily witty, but that's why I chose it, because it didn't have to be. I was a total non-participant in the conversation, and I said that less than a second after 1 said the mirror comment.
You have it, or you don't. Wit isn't something you can gain.
If you're not witty, do something else rather than worry about if other people care whether or not you're witty. Other people are stupid anyway.
If you're not witty, do something else rather than worry about if other people care whether or not you're witty. Other people are stupid anyway.
Wit is a spontaneous thing, some people are just naturally good at it. But I was surprised once when somebody said something incredibly witty and I totally didn't expect it from them.
It just happens when it happens, you can't force it (I've been desperately trying to find something witty to say here, but failed)
It just happens when it happens, you can't force it (I've been desperately trying to find something witty to say here, but failed)
