Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with funny

Seeking funny novels about Chicago, Wicker Park, and if possible the Cub

BWA — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:09:30 -0800

Seeking funny novels about Chicago, Wicker Park, and if possible the Cubs. Prefer to avoid genre fiction and the self-published. Philip Roth's Great American Novel comes up of course.

HAHAHA remember that time when...?

dinosaurprincess — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:25:51 -0800

How do I look out for and tell funny personal stories? I have always really admired people's ability to tell funny anecdotes... I have tried telling the same story as someone else but somehow their timing and delivery always seems better! I surprise myself and tell really good ones sometimes so maybe it is a psychological thing, but I would like to feel confident in my ability to amuse people with stories and I am willing to practise so that I can do this well. Do you have any tips on how to tell funny stories, or how to sift through your memories for good stories? Thank you!

Help me find a funny music video on Youtube.

DeltaForce — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:28:35 -0800

Help me find a funny music video on Youtube. I believe it was some kind of symphonic metal and included a very elaborate story including a man on a horse and a maiden. This was about four years ago that I saw this video. Basically this musician made this video (in all seriousness) that was about some guy on a horse that I think was white. He performed some kind of magical rituals, and there was a red-headed lady in medieval dress. It was not supposed to be funny, but was incredibly ridiculous.

The production quality was very good and I remember it had quite a bit of views.

They Are All Melons

Cogito — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:10:34 -0800

After seeing this hilarious summary of mistranslated subtitles for Chinese versions of Harry Potter films, I thought it would make a good gift for a friend. However, I'm having a hard time finding a place to purchase the amusingly subtitled versions. Does anyone have any experience with actual DVDs with content like this? I'd like to avoid buying a bunch of Chinese versions only to find the English subtitles are correct. I realize these likely come from bootleg releases, but I feel like I've given enough of my money to the HP franchise to offset a transgression for the sake of a humorous gift.

In summary, where can I buy these?

Help me find this site!!!!!!

flexiverse — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:14:52 -0800

A funny Website where people post real life true stories and events in their life??????????????? There was one really funny site with basic design I can't remember it, people posted small real life funny stories about events and incidents in thief life.
Really funny, it was very basic simple design mostly blue and white background....

Please help me find this site....

Not to be found in Hot Topic

Ndwright — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 17:44:44 -0800

Where to find awesome, funny, geeky t-shirts that most people haven't seen, along the lines of this, this, this, and this. I'm primarily looking for small-scale vendors, diamonds in the rough. They don't have to be from webcomics per se, but they do have to be relatively unknown, so no "Walmart t-shirt with Brian from Family Guy saying 'I'm allergic to stupid people, a-choo'" type stuff.

Hipness is not a factor, they can be incredibly dorky so long as they meet the above criteria of funny, geeky, and awesome.

Funniest debate live tweeters?

bondcliff — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:52:35 -0800

Who are the funniest people to follow on Twitter during the presidential debate? During the last two debates (VP and the last Pres) I really enjoyed Patton Oswalt's Twitter updates. Paul and Storm also served up hilarious commentary.

Who else is worth following tonight? I lean liberal so I'd prefer people with a similar bent but non-partisan is fine as are conservatives as long as they offer funny, somewhat-intelligent stuff rather than just the crap your Crazy Republican Uncle says on Facebook.

I'm specifically looking for people to follow who will be live-tweeting the debate, not just Your Favorite Funny Person On Twitter.

Funny is key. Unless they're doing bong hits tonight between 9:00 and 11:00 I don't want to know what Ann Coulter or Joe Biden are tweeting.

Our neural pathways have become accustomed to your sensory input patterns.

Sara C. — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:19:09 -0800

What does a "robot voice" sound like in languages other than English? Is it similar to the iconic Siri-style voice (or the voice in Radiohead's "Fitter Happier", for the non-iphone folks)? Is it something else?

Is this even a thing in other languages? Is it considered inherently funny in other languages, as it is in English?

For that matter, what does Siri sound like in other languages? Is there an easy way to find out without completely restoring my phone?

I tried to say non-English sentences in my best robot voice, to mixed success.

Question inspired by my recent iPhone upgrade, as well as last week's episode of Parks And Recreation, which includes a scene wherein Aubrey Plaza and Adam Scott riff in funny robot voices.

I would love examples via youtube, sound clips, etc. if possible, but I'll take your word for it.

Short funny stuff.

guster4lovers — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:09:27 -0800

I need some great short texts (video clips, short stories, poems, comics, cartoons, pictures) that are funny. Ideally, I want a range of humour here: from Jackass to Shakespeare, from xkcd to Twain...pretty much anything someone finds funny at any level. Should be appropriate for mature 17-18 year olds. The idea is that I can show/read the text with a group of 30 students and have them do a short analysis (in writing or discussion) of what makes it funny.

This school is fairly liberal, so feel free to suggest something that might be "on the line" and I'll try and post updates to gauge what is "over the line" here.

I'd love everyone to link to the text/picture if possible.

Thanks everyone!

It's OK, I have many XYZ-American friends

demagogue — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 14:18:40 -0800

I'm looking for racial comedy, in English, available on video, or less preferably mp3. It doesn't need to be the exclusive topic of the comedian, but it should play a part. No preference for a specific racial background, although East Asian would be interesting to see, since I haven't seen much of it before. Examples: Maz Jobrani, Canada's own Russell Peters, Chris Rock.

how to reply when someone says quit speeding

daveg02 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:39:25 -0800

how to reply when someone says quit speeding, in a way that sounds friendly and funny?

Need good ideas for a Group Reading

kenaldo — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:46:00 -0800

Looking for ideas of Books that would be relatively fast reads and entertaining for group readings. I got the opportunity to participate in a reading of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas this past weekend in Aspen in celebration of the Good Doctor's 75th. It was a blast and would love to recreate that without doing the same book, but that book is perfect. A friend recommended my favorite book Confederacy of Dunces, but I think that book works because of the Character of Ignatius which may be hard to pull off in an aloud reading. But anyways, any ideas?

That's funny. Why? Because it's funny. Sigh.

guster4lovers — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 13:48:00 -0800

I'm teaching a Language of Humour class to high school juniors and seniors. I need recommendations for things that are funny. And I need you to help me not fail. I'm changing schools, and my new school is a "top 50 in America" type of school, where most students take multiple AP classes and go off to Ivy League colleges, or at least UC's.

I was given a new class (i.e. it's never been taught before) that lasts one semester and is open to any 11th-12th grader for English credit. Basically, instead of taking English 11/12, the kids pick four semester English electives that each have a different topical focus.

The class is built around this description:
The focus of the course is to look at humourous texts and learn what makes them humourous. We will study novels (Confederacy of Dunces), novellas (Candide), short stories (Twain's "Notorious Jumping Frogs..."), political texts (America: The Book), personal essays (Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dave Barry Turns 40), and stand-up routines (Cosby, Wright, Pryor, Gaffney, Chris Rock, etc.). We will supplement these texts with excerpts from humourous films and visual texts, such as cartoons from the New Yorker.

In addition to studying what make something funny, we will examine the purpose and function of humor today and in the past. We will examine humour as a reaction to setbacks, humour as a tool of power, humour as inspiration, and humour as criticism. Because what makes something funny if often a matter of taste, we will examine how culture, age, intelligence, and religion affect our tastes in humour.

There are also four process essays (research, personal essay, analysis of humour essay, compare/contrast theme in several works) and multiple timed writings to fit into the course.

Now, I haven't read Confederacy of Dunces or Candide, and I've only read half of Dave Barry Turns 40 (and I didn't like it). I do have freedom to not use them.

Ready for my actual question(s)?

1. I'm not sure how to make this class more than "Look, this is funny!" - I am aware of Wordsworth's quote about how you "murder to dissect" and that's my worry. I'm not sure how to approach that.

2. Can you help me find the Best of the Web humourous essays/videos/clips, etc. to supplement my course? Bonus points if it is British, as my humour tends to be more Charlie Brooker than Bill Cosby, and more David Mitchell than Richard Pryor.

3. I know I want to start with a research paper, but I am also aware that researching a comedian is not as interesting as I want it to be, and research humour/sub-types of humour are probably too difficult for high school students, even exceptional ones. It would be a 6-8 page research paper FWIW.

4. Convince me that I should spend the small amount of prep time I have this summer reading Confederacy of Dunces or Candide, and/or re-reading Dave Barry Turns 40. Or help me find similar works I could use (although I won't be able to have class sets).

5. I need to find some academic (yet appropriate reading level) works that talk about humour in technical language. Similar to when I teach film criticism and have them learn language like "production choice," I think they need to have some vocabulary in the criticism of humour.

I am SUPER excited about this class. But I am (equally) scared. I have to be careful, as I'm new to the school and don't have tenure, that I walk the line of appropriateness while also making this class as fun as it really should be.

Thanks for your help, Mefi.

Making the impossible possible

CaptainCaseous — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:13:21 -0800

Help with a simultaneously math & non-math question: Finding the square root of a negative number was impossible until imaginary numbers came along. What are examples of other things that were impossible until we altered systems that have been created? I know this is pretty opened ended but it's for an essay about things that were previously thought to be impossible. I'm looking for:
1) things that were once thought impossible but then someone invented something that made it possible (got some but could use more).
2) things that were considered impossible but someone changed a system to make it so. Most of my examples are pretty serious (ie: Rosa Parks) and I can use some more silly & funny. Any help or ideas would be much appreciated, even if you don't think it's so hot - it may help with the direction of story. Thanks.

Goofy gift ideas, please?

DrGail — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:55:13 -0800

My nephew will be graduating next month from medical school in PA, then going off to a seven-year (!) neurosurgery residency in CA. In honor of the occasion, I plan to give him a check along with some sort of goofy and memorable gag gift but my brain is fried. Can you give me some ideas and (if applicable) links? About him: He's tall with an athletic build (I swear he must have been adopted!), a runner, has a girlfriend, loves goofy and quirky stuff, and will do or wear most anything on a dare.

[X group] do it [in Y manner]

nickhb — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:13:34 -0800

Give me your best ______ do it ______ jokes. Group members do it in a manner stereotypical of their group.

A few examples:
Lawyers do it in front of a jury of their peers.
Swimmers do it wet.
Magicians do it with their hands.

I'm sure the very funny MeFi community can come up with more!

Help me find this demo video

beautifulstuff — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:14:50 -0800

My Google-Fu has failed me. Help me remember the name of an iPhone restaurant app that produced a clever single take demo video in front of a large pool. I'm trying to remember the name of an iPhone Restaurant app that produced a clever demo video 6-12 months ago. The video was shot in a single take. The shot tracked right slowly in front of some tables set outside. In the background was a large swimming pool. Each table represented a different restaurant. At the first table, the narrator's date gets sick and rushes out. At the second table, his waiter leaves and dives into the pool. At the final table he is on a date with the waitress from the first table, and his waiter from the second tables climbs out of the pool and sits down with them.

The guy who shot the video had a great post about how he did it, but despite some serious searching I cannot find it again. Does anyone else remember this?

What are some radio shows/podcasts/TV shows by funny tough guys?

lunchbox — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:40:46 -0800

What are some radio shows/podcasts/TV shows by funny tough guys? (Repeat of this question, 5 years later.) I asked the above question 5 years ago and got some great replies. Since then, I've found some new ones:

- The Russell Brand Show
- Mr. Chi City's YouTube channel
- The Joe Rogan Experience

What other shows/people are new in this genre?

Does anyone else miss Brunching Shuttlecocks?

Gilbert — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:49:38 -0800

What sites do you visit when you want a laugh? Recommend to me your go-to humor web sites. I'm mostly thinking of humor writing, but any video content you find funny (or any sites that follow such) would be fine too. Who do you visit for a regular laugh?

My memory fails me

trillian — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:58:02 -0800

I'm trying to remember a web-video series that was mentioned on the blue a couple of times in the last year or two. All I can remember is that they were hosted by a woman (maybe light brown/blond hair...?) who was giving a funny/feminist take on various things in pop culture. Does that ring a bell with anyone? I think maybe one of the topics she talked about was yogurt commercials aimed at women. I know, not much to go on!

Introduce me to some funny narrators!

zoetrope — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:59:16 -0800

I am looking for some new books to read, and it occurs to me that some of my very favorite books have excellent, well-developed, funny narrators. I'm looking for the kind of book where you might forget the plot, but you'll never forget the person who told you the story. Examples of what I'm looking for: books with characters like Sally Jay Gorse from The Dud Avocado, Bertie Wooster from PG Wodehouse's books, Bridget Jones from her diaries, Sunshine from Robin McKinley's book of the same name, Daisy Fay from Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man, Adrian Mole, Tristram Shandy, Cassandra from I Capture the Castle, Pooter from Diary of a Nobody.

Books can be in diary format, but that's not required.

Lesser known amazing foreign phrases?

jitterbug perfume — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:39:10 -0800

I'm looking for obscure but beautiful or amazing sayings or phrases or words in languages or dialects other than American English. That's basically it. I'm looking for them to connote amazing wonder, fear, love, beauty, bittersweetness, excellent observation or excellent articulation of the un-articulatable - to be beautiful, funny, or wise. As I said, I would like them to be on the lesser known end of things. If you have a really good one, I can loosen up on the obscure thing - I just don't want a bunch of "Home is where the heart is"-level stuff.

Turn a picture into a painting... with some flare?

thankyoumuchly — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:16:35 -0800

I'm looking for a company that will take a plain photo of my dog, and create a painting from it, but add a little flare. I'd like my dog to be in a suit, maybe wearing glasses, in front of a book case. Here's an example: http://i.imgur.com/o8BSE.jpg I'd like this for my significant other for a valentine's Day gift, so the turn around would have to be somewhat quick if possible :)

Why, Chandler, your penis is protruding!-LAUGHTRACKLAUGHTRACKLAUGHTRACKLAUGHTRACK

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:36:36 -0800

Can you direct me to genuinely funny comedic soft-core or hard-core pornographies? Along the lines of naked sitcoms? Some pornography tries to be funny or ironic, and maybe even occasionally succeeds. That's not quite what I'm after.

Has there ever been produced a sitcom or movie that is genuinely funny, watchable in its own right thanks to a quality (or at least workmanlike) script, and incidentally naked or sexual?

I'm not talking about "Sex and the City", which (leaving aside whether it was "genuinely funny") had only 0 to 1 sexualizable scenes per episode. I'm talking about a show where characters spend at least a solid third of the time naked or fucking.

It has not yet been decided whether the point of this question is to settle a bet or to get off. (Probably the former, but hey, prove me wrong.)

For the purposes of this question let's put any and all sexual flavours in play.

(Anonymous answers can go to Chandler.protruding@gmail.com, and perhaps after enough have accumulated a moderator will be so kind as to post them here.)

VDAY COOKIES

misformiche — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:25:03 -0800

if you were a truthful, demanding, or bitter valentines day cookie what would you say? example:
"Well, thanks"
"Not tonight"
"____ me"

etc