Joke...

is a short story or series of words spoken or communicated with the intent of being laughed at or found humorous by either listener/reader or performer/writer. A practical joke differs in that the humor is not verbal, but mainly physical (e.g. throwing a custard pie in the direction of somebody's face, squeezing toothpaste on someone's lips when he/she is sleeping, etc).

Jokes are performed either in a staged situation, such as a comedy in front of an audience, or informally for the entertainment of participants and onlookers. The desired response is generally laughter, although loud groans are also a common response to some forms of jokes, such as puns and some lame ass stories... (which are obviously fictional in many sense..)

Laughter is an effect that arises if a tense expectation is transformed into nothing

"An Indian at an Englishman's table in Surat saw a bottle of ale being opened, and all the beer, turned to froth, rushed out. The Indian, by repeated exclamations, showed his great amazement. - Well, what's so amazing in that? asked the Englishman. - Oh, but I'm not amazed at its coming out, replied the Indian, but how you managed to get it all in. - This makes us laugh, and it gives us a hearty pleasure. This is not because, say, we think we are smarter than this ignorant man, nor are we laughing at anything else here that it is our liking and that we noticed through our understanding. It is rather that we had a tense expectation that suddenly vanished..."

To me, laughter has a specific function related to the human brain (oh, duh, everything's related to the brain). Jokes and laughter are mechanisms for the brain to learn nonsense (that's what i believe). For that reason, that's why jokes are usually not as funny when you hear them repeatedly. Our brains work like computer, it recognize patterns and give it a match to it everytime something related appeared upon our eyes/senses. When a familiar connection is disrupted and an alternative unexpected new link is made in the brain via a different route than expected, then laughter occurs as the new connection is made. This theory explains a lot about jokes (ok, that sounds like.. simple?)

Why jokes are only funny the first time they are told: once they are told the pattern is already there, so there can be no new connections, and so no laughter.

Why jokes have an elaborate and often repetitive set up: The repetition establishes the familiar pattern in the brain. A common method used in jokes is to tell almost the same story twice and then deliver the punch line the third time the story is told. The first two tellings of the story evoke a familiar pattern in the brain, thus priming the brain for the punch line.

Why jokes often rely on stereotypes: the use of a stereotype links to familiar expected behavior, thus saving time in the set-up.

Why jokes are variants on well-known stories (eg the genie and a lamp): This again saves time in the set up and establishes a familiar pattern.

Jokes often depend on the humor of the unexpected, the mildly taboo (which can include the distasteful or socially improper), or playing off stereotypes and other cultural beliefs. Many jokes fit into more than one category.

Jokes are meant to be stress reliever, pleasure invoker, laughter inducer, even when sometimes involved the embarassment of a certain victim.. Oh well, i can continue writing bout it until the next morning, there's just so much in my mind that i would like to share.. but due to time constrain and everything, i have to go now, and just one last point...

Showing off your wealth by burning your friends (not yours!!) original dvd games and attempted to cover it up by saying you're drunk ain't no fCking joke!!!

*sob...