Why is it that we laugh at other peoples' pain?

Because we are shallow, insecure people.
And because it’s funny.

The Germans even have a word for it. Those wacky Germans!

I can’t do it. My husband and kids roll in laughter when they watch those Funniest Video shows, I can’t even watch. Seeing other people hurt or embarrassed is almost physically painful for me. I was always the one in school who would go and sit with the kids nobody picked for kickball. I’d run over to them and give them a job; to keep score or watch jackets. Then I’d apologize for leaving them when it was my turn to play.

I could analyze my behavior to death, but why bother? I am the way I am. It could be worse.

We laugh because sometimes it’s a nervous reaction…. and sometimes it’s just really funny (as long as the person isn’t seriously injured). I truly believe that if we can’t laugh at ourselves and our situations, then chances are we’re taking life just a little too seriously in general.

@KrystaElyse: I have no problems laughing at myself; just others.

@bythebay – I understand what you mean. There are certain situations where it might be ridiculously funny to me, but you just can’t help but feel bad for the person so I won’t laugh, especially if they aren’t laughing with you.

I hope poof sees this question because if anyone could answer it, she can. She delights in seeing me trip over things at my desk. (I’m off today) I trip over the cord to my chair massager, and she just about pees herself laughing. I don’t know if it’s the actual tripping that makes her laugh or the little oooff noise I make when I do it.

@KrystaElyse: Exactly!!

I laugh ALL the time when I get hurt. In 6th grade, we were playing soccer in gym class, and some girl accidentally kicked me in the ankle instead of kicking the ball. That wan’t the bad part. I flew up in the air about 5 feet and landed on my back. I was laughing so hard and everyone was like “Omigosh are you okay?” because they couldn’t tell if I was hysterically laughing or hysterically crying. I just kept nodding and laughing uncontrollably. It was really funny.

I don’t laugh when I see people get hurt, ever. If they do something stupid, trip and fall to the ground without getting hurt and they aren’t rolling around or screaming in pain, yeah, I’ll laugh then. But I hate watching clips of people who actually get hurt. I just don’t see how or why it’s funny.

because it didnt happen to us!

Here’s a pdf with a brief history of slapstick, since we’re on the subject of funny physical pain.

Thanks @mangeons for asking (and everybody else for their answers)! I never really thought about this until one memorable incident. Somehow I’d been talked into seeing “Final Destination”. Everybody in the theatre busted up laughing when that one guy got hit by a bus, and I could not for the life of me figure out why it was apparently so damned funny.

I’ve known guys who liked to send “funny” emails of the remains of a bear attack, footage of a rabbit getting hit by a racecar, etc. Without exception, these guys turned out to be not okay in the brainpan.

Now, with all that said, I’ll giggle like a maniac at a Mel Brooks movie. In fact, he himself has been quoted on this topic: “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.”