What's so funny about "dirty" words?

well, “roasts” in particular are designed to be rude, offensive events.

but i concur: a lot of humor today revolves around shock, rather than intelligent writing. so they’re not so much “funny” as “shocking”.

8 yr olds who learn the word “fuck” giggle when they say it because they think it’s “cool”. some people don’t move past that.

I saw “Funny People” yesterday and I had pretty much the same question. The main characters spoke pretty much without dirty words in normal life, but as soon as they got on stage, every other words was “fuck” or “shit.” It’s like they get inarticulate and just let the id take over. Maybe it works because the audience is usually in a club of some kind, and they are all drunk.

I’m not one who laughs just because a comedian sprinkles their spiel with swear words. In fact, the words tend to distract me, because they add little or nothing to the act. Also, I fail to see what is funny about farting. I mean, it was funny when I was nine years old, but not now. Even then, it was funny because it was a faux pas, not because it was particularly inherently funny. Then again, I’m a trumpet player. We use that sound to make sound. Serious business for us.

I don’t know if people laugh because of the shock of someone on stage, in the public, saying that. We all say those words in private (well, pretty much all). I mean, what if someone got up on stage, and stood staring at the audience for a while. The silence lengthens. Then they shout out “SHIT!” More silence. (Does the audience titter nervously?)

Then they shout, “SHIT!” [pause] ............... “FUCK!”

Between each utterance, is a silence. Maybe a waggle of the eyebrows, like Groucho Marx. The comedian is staring at the audience. Trying to get eye contact.

Each time, they add another one of George Carlin’s seven forbidden words. At the end, they change up the order. Make it into a chant. Urge the audience to join in, like a call and response thing.

Now that might be funny. With the right comedian. Good stage presence. Absolute confidence. A reputation. I dunno.

i meant to add: i find a lot of the shows where they blank out the swears funnier with the bleeps as opposed to “as is”. i loved chappelle’s show on comedy central, but when i got the dvds, it wasn’t the same, since it was “uncensored”. more is less.

I found this interesting.

When I watched the Series premier of Arrested Development as it was aired it had beeps for the swear words.

You can watch a slightly extended version on the dvd that does not bleep them. It was no where near as funny. Not even close.

It is when you are a kid. I remember being very young and sitting with a friend repeating what we thought were curse words. Bucking Basket seemed hysterical at the time.

That is about the speed of the roast. I find Joan Rivers vile and annoying.

I think they’re only funny when George Carlin uses them.

@Bri_L

It’s funny, because it’s the exact opposite for me. Family Guy is 10x funnier when they don’t beep the swear words out (you can only get that on DVD). Nothing like hearing Brian say “What the fuck?!” when he sees Peter smoking crack.

Maybe it’s because I’m essentially 100% desensitized to swear words and they no longer “shock” or “offend” me and I just find it annoying when a big loud electronic beep interrupts the show.

I don’t think swear words by themselves are funny and a comedian or a TV show is going to have to do more than that to make me laugh, but I don’t find swear words particularly offensive or shocking. Bruno was shocking. The word “fuck” is not.

@DominicX – See that had the exact opposite effect on me. It isn’t like it wasn’t still funny to me. It just lost something. The words themselves don’t shock me at all.

But I think it’s the fact that the show is set up to be in an environment where they are not supposed to be able to do or say certain things. That is a huge part of why I like it. Like the Fricken FCC song. For me part of why it’s funny is that it is on a network that gets pissy about that stuff so they do everything they can do dance around and get away with it.

@Bri_L

Oh believe me, the Freakin’ FCC song is one the best moments in Family Guy and it makes me laugh every time I see it. Something doesn’t need to have swearing to be funny, but even my mom thought Brian swearing in that crack scene was hilarious. If they did it all the time, it wouldn’t be funny, but it’s out of character for Brian and supposed to show his shock at what Peter was doing and I know that’s what was originally intended; it’s nice to hear it without that annoying bleep sound.

@DominicX – I can totally see what you mean. I could just see that. Or Stewie just turning and dropping a passive “fuck you Brian, I mean really.”

Very good point.

One word folks. . .

Twat.

@Blondesjon Twat did you say? I cunt hear you. I think I have an ear infuction. Never mind, I’ll finger it out myself!

I think because they are considered a taboo of sorts. The same as sex or pornography people are intrigued by these things, and since they are out of the ordi art they provide a different form of entertainment, that differed from the conventions of life. Hope I helped!

@Yetanotheruser – that was classic!

booger

@Bri_L would you believe I remembered that from way back in high school?

@Yetanotheruser – I never heard that before! My use of that phrase was just ironic I guess. hehe.

The associations stored in our brains.