Trying to unharsh my mellow
March 4, 2011 12:51 AM Subscribe
Which websites put a smile on your face when you're feeling down?
Throughout my work day I like to take short "brain breaks" by surfing websites that give a quick dose of humor and let me zone out and stop thinking for a few minutes. My old standbys, sites in the vein of Regretsy and lamebook, are starting to leave me feeling bleh. I've been feeling pretty down lately and the snarky brand of humor seems to make me feel worse.
I'd like to find websites or blogs that are funny in an uplifting way and can be browsed in small chunks. What are your favorite quick fix picker-uppers?
Throughout my work day I like to take short "brain breaks" by surfing websites that give a quick dose of humor and let me zone out and stop thinking for a few minutes. My old standbys, sites in the vein of Regretsy and lamebook, are starting to leave me feeling bleh. I've been feeling pretty down lately and the snarky brand of humor seems to make me feel worse.
I'd like to find websites or blogs that are funny in an uplifting way and can be browsed in small chunks. What are your favorite quick fix picker-uppers?
I like http://damnyouautocorrect.com/ lately, but it's more "laugh out loud, fall off chair and make everyone around you very suspicious" rather than "puts a smile on your face".
posted by lollusc at 1:07 AM on March 4, 2011 [14 favorites]
posted by lollusc at 1:07 AM on March 4, 2011 [14 favorites]
Strindberg and Helium always crack me up. My SO and I converse in helium voices when things are shitty. It really does help.
posted by Namlit at 1:16 AM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Namlit at 1:16 AM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Okay, this isn't really a funny one, but zooborns.com has become my favorite happy-making site lately.
posted by heliotrope at 1:19 AM on March 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by heliotrope at 1:19 AM on March 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com
sometimes www.lamebook.com is funny
posted by bearette at 1:52 AM on March 4, 2011
sometimes www.lamebook.com is funny
posted by bearette at 1:52 AM on March 4, 2011
oh! sorry for the lamebook recommendation, need to read more carefully :/
posted by bearette at 1:53 AM on March 4, 2011
posted by bearette at 1:53 AM on March 4, 2011
Best answer: The Featured Creatue (previously) is a pretty great photoblog full of striking and unusual animals; this entry made my day earlier this week.
Speaking of animals, True American Dog (also previously) is a deliriously silly blog featuring nonsensical headlines backed up by finely-crafted photoshoppery.
posted by Rhaomi at 2:25 AM on March 4, 2011
Speaking of animals, True American Dog (also previously) is a deliriously silly blog featuring nonsensical headlines backed up by finely-crafted photoshoppery.
posted by Rhaomi at 2:25 AM on March 4, 2011
http://dontevenreply.com/ the funniest site I have ever seen.
posted by jazzman at 5:06 AM on March 4, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by jazzman at 5:06 AM on March 4, 2011 [6 favorites]
Old Jews Telling Jokes always works for me. ("Laugh loud. We don't hear so good.")
posted by booth at 5:11 AM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by booth at 5:11 AM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is pretty specific, but the photo section of Woof! gets me going.
posted by BostonTerrier at 5:13 AM on March 4, 2011
posted by BostonTerrier at 5:13 AM on March 4, 2011
It probably depends on your sense of humor, but the hairpin does it for me every time. I know what you're talking about with snark leaving you feeling notsogood, and this site does the opposite of that.
posted by lagreen at 5:33 AM on March 4, 2011
posted by lagreen at 5:33 AM on March 4, 2011
Best answer: Occasionally melancholy, but usually sweet and/or funny:
Open Letters to People or Entities Who Are Unlikely to Respond.
posted by Glinn at 5:34 AM on March 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
Open Letters to People or Entities Who Are Unlikely to Respond.
posted by Glinn at 5:34 AM on March 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
I really like my daily dose of Twisted Sifter. It's a pretty low-volume, snark-free blog that focuses on amazing photos, architecture, innovative artists, good web cartoons, etc. that is enjoyable without being a person who is really "into" photography or architecture or art. Plus, every Friday morning they (he? she? it? I kind of get the sense it's a single person behind the blog, using the "editorial we") post the Friday Shirk Report, with 20 silly photos/animated gifs, 10 worthwhile articles, and 5 videos.
Except for the shirk report, it's not really "funny," but I do find that it has a nice "Wow!" factor that may serve your need for a mental pick-me-up as well.
posted by drlith at 5:41 AM on March 4, 2011
Except for the shirk report, it's not really "funny," but I do find that it has a nice "Wow!" factor that may serve your need for a mental pick-me-up as well.
posted by drlith at 5:41 AM on March 4, 2011
nsfw: www.oglaf.com
For example: http://www.oglaf.com/freshhorses/2/
and seriously, nsfw.
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 5:58 AM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
For example: http://www.oglaf.com/freshhorses/2/
and seriously, nsfw.
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 5:58 AM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I always enjoy cuteoverload.com for a smile. Especially this.
posted by jmd82 at 6:01 AM on March 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by jmd82 at 6:01 AM on March 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
www.dailypuppy.com or http://sisinmaru.blog17.fc2.com/
posted by Spamfactor at 6:26 AM on March 4, 2011
posted by Spamfactor at 6:26 AM on March 4, 2011
Axe Cop, a webcomic written by a 5 year old kid and drawn by his 30 year old brother. It is wonderfully bizarre.
posted by elizardbits at 6:37 AM on March 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 6:37 AM on March 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
Cute Overload always makes me smile with its hundreds of adorable animal pictures and funny captions gushing over their cuteness.
posted by datarose at 7:04 AM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by datarose at 7:04 AM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
ICQ & Email Pranks at Something Awful. Make sure to check out this one.
posted by MustardTent at 7:41 AM on March 4, 2011
posted by MustardTent at 7:41 AM on March 4, 2011
Many of the above are on my daily rotation. Also Regular Ordinary Swedish Meal Time for weekly laughs (suggestion: headphones). Also check out the Ross Noble Channel, though most of those clips are 10 minutes long rather than a short fast break.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:50 AM on March 4, 2011
posted by Lyn Never at 7:50 AM on March 4, 2011
I wish to dispute http://damnyouautocorrect.com being good for a quick break at work - it just made me laugh until I cried and now I really hope no one comes into my office until my face has dried :-)
posted by alicegoldie at 8:13 AM on March 4, 2011
posted by alicegoldie at 8:13 AM on March 4, 2011
Damn You Auto-Correct and Go Fug Yourself are my go-tos.
(on preview: yes, DYAC may result in embarrassing laughing-til-you-cry at work... and so may Hyperbole and a Half.)
posted by urbanlenny at 8:16 AM on March 4, 2011
(on preview: yes, DYAC may result in embarrassing laughing-til-you-cry at work... and so may Hyperbole and a Half.)
posted by urbanlenny at 8:16 AM on March 4, 2011
I adore webcomics and Nedroid is one of my absolute favorites. It is the opposite of snarky, and its cheerful, offbeat, sincere humor might be just the thing for you.
posted by rabbitbookworm at 9:02 AM on March 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by rabbitbookworm at 9:02 AM on March 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
It Made My Day's little moments of win always make me smile.
posted by platinum at 9:46 AM on March 4, 2011
posted by platinum at 9:46 AM on March 4, 2011
Whenever I have a friend who's down, I send them to Singing Horses. It's a one-off, but I have been there dozens of times, and I still clicked on them and laughed getting the link just now.
posted by thebrokedown at 11:43 AM on March 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 11:43 AM on March 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
I've been reading these and my roommate probably thinks Im insane because of the laughing that ensued..
Seconding Hyperbole and a Half. I've read through every post..
posted by cp311 at 1:21 PM on March 4, 2011
Seconding Hyperbole and a Half. I've read through every post..
posted by cp311 at 1:21 PM on March 4, 2011
Response by poster: You're all awesome!! Keep them coming, I'm working my way through all the responses one small chunk at a time!
posted by keep it under cover at 2:00 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by keep it under cover at 2:00 PM on March 4, 2011
Questionable Skills is my favorite. Ted McCagg is funny!
posted by nadise at 2:01 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by nadise at 2:01 PM on March 4, 2011
McSweeneys lists are filled with "I just peed myself" goodness.
posted by c lion at 2:21 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by c lion at 2:21 PM on March 4, 2011
Best answer: I can't believe nobody has mentioned Icanhascheezburger
Also XKCD
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:08 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also XKCD
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:08 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cannot believe no one has mentioned Everything is Terrible yet.
posted by speicus at 6:57 PM on March 5, 2011
posted by speicus at 6:57 PM on March 5, 2011
Best answer: The Sleep Talkin' Man hasn't failed me yet.
posted by monkeys with typewriters at 6:27 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by monkeys with typewriters at 6:27 PM on March 6, 2011
It might be considered somewhat snarky, but I have been enjoying reading WTF, D&D!? at SomethingAwful when I need a brain break at work. It makes fun of silly old RPG stuff including the ridiculous art from the old Monster Manual.
If you have a fondness for D&D that would make people poking fun at it upset you, it is not for you. But if you have a passing knowledge of RPGs/Magic, it is silly without feeling like it's really at anyone's expense.
posted by that girl at 12:09 AM on March 7, 2011
If you have a fondness for D&D that would make people poking fun at it upset you, it is not for you. But if you have a passing knowledge of RPGs/Magic, it is silly without feeling like it's really at anyone's expense.
posted by that girl at 12:09 AM on March 7, 2011
CAPTCHArt is funny, albeit sort of an acquired taste. Also a big fan of Fake Science.
posted by Rickalicioso at 8:32 PM on March 7, 2011
posted by Rickalicioso at 8:32 PM on March 7, 2011
Response by poster: So many great answers, thank you all! It was really hard to choose which answers to mark as best... I've marked the ones that a) put a smile on my face and b) are completely new to me, but they've all been amusing and uplifting. :)
posted by keep it under cover at 2:41 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by keep it under cover at 2:41 PM on March 11, 2011
I was keeping a list of sites like this too, but at some point I realized that looking at any site as a break was easy, but I didn't feel any better after it. I've started to take breaks to get up and go outside for a few minutes, get a cup of tea, stretch, or talk to a coworker. After 5-10 minutes, I feel energized and refreshed. Try it out.
posted by squasher at 5:14 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by squasher at 5:14 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bayani at 12:55 AM on March 4, 2011 [3 favorites]