Benign Violation Duck Quack

from the "you took the words right out of my mouth" files

Here’s something I came across, directly relevant to a couple of posts long-time readers of P,T,WM might recognize.

Wendy Zukerman of the “Science Vs” podcast embarked on her avowed “Hero’s Journey” in quest for the Funniest Joke in the World, with her quest’s companion, Latif Nasser of “Radiolab.”

Listen Here: Radiolab/Science Vs: Funniest Joke in the World

They discovered, as I did in my entry below, LaughLab’s Richard Wiseman and his giggleometer, along with other silliness, contagious laughter, and serious (unfunny) humor theory, plus knick-knacks my own pursuit hadn’t turned up before, such as the fact that “k” sounds make for more comical words — consequently, quacks are funnier than moos.¹

The Funniest Joke in the World

Wiseman himself agreed that the discussed Hunter’s Joke despite its global title to “Funniest” isn’t all that funny; but perhaps it earns its claim due to being the “least hateable” — worldwide breadth of “pretty good joke” acceptability, a kind of universality. I think there’s more to it than that, in recognition of its archetypal bite: the Funniest Joke in the World is a Killing Joke.

You’ll also want to revisit the The Funniest Religious Joke in the World follow-up, part of my entry here:

Spiral Infinity Ephemera

1. & both are funnier than lion roars. This assessment is in relation to the thoroughly tested joke involving two cows, two ducks, or two lions, with ducks coming out ahead:

"Quack" - "I was going to say that"
reckoned much funnier than
"Moo" -     "    "    "    "     "

while
"Roar" -     "    "     "    "   "
is hardly funny at all