New scientific research

A study at Washington State University casts new light on why audiences can turn so hostile against a comedian dying on stage.

Researcher Nancy Bell found that that people who tell bad jokes can provoke huge levels of antagonism. She said: ‘These were basically attacks intended to result in the social exclusion or humiliation of the speaker, punctuated on occasion with profanity, a nasty glare or even a solid punch to the arm,’

She employed a team of students to slip the joke ‘What did the big chimney say to the little chimney? Nothing, chimneys can't talk’ into normal conversations and then record the results. In all, 44 per cent of the reactions were classified as ‘impolite’.

‘The predominant verbal reaction to failed humour in our study was oriented exclusively toward attacking the speaker,’ she said.

Reasons given was that the forced humour of a joke disrupts the natural flow of conversation. And if it’s not funny, it violates social rules, so reprimanding the teller can discourage similar behaviour in the future.

Also, a stupid joke insults the listener by suggesting they might actually find it funny. ‘Being selected as an appropriate audience for a stupid joke suggests that there is something amiss with the hearer's sense of humour,’ Bell said.

She also found that ‘the younger you are and the closer you are in age to your failed humorist, the more likely you are to attack’.

Published: 22 Aug 2008