Just smart enough to be into Monty Python

[Xooxe]

I had to suffer a barbecue with two guys passing snarky comment on everything as that old paedophile from Family Guy, I think. You could see that they wanted to believe it was an in-joke, but really they were terrified of any kind of spontaneous interaction. It really disturbed me.

I don't know whether that's a more extreme example of what you're talking about, or something else entirely.

[AFK]

Yes, it is elitist.

In this fucked up world, I think it's a great thing that anyone can find solace and joy in humor even if it doesn't measure up to someone else's standards. 

Besides, we already know that puns are the pinnacle of humor.  Those are just an acquired taste that not everyone can quite get. 

[Scribbly]

I had to suffer a barbecue with two guys passing snarky comment on everything as that old paedophile from Family Guy, I think. You could see that they wanted to believe it was an in-joke, but really they were terrified of any kind of spontaneous interaction. It really disturbed me.

I don't know whether that's a more extreme example of what you're talking about, or something else entirely.

The idea that there are people out there like that genuinely sent a shiver down my spine. 

[Faust]

Yes, it is elitist.

In this fucked up world, I think it's a great thing that anyone can find solace and joy in humor even if it doesn't measure up to someone else's standards. 

Besides, we already know that puns are the pinnacle of humor.  Those are just an acquired taste that not everyone can quite get. 

Passing judgement on Ad Nausium is never elitist.

[Pæs]

Yes, it is elitist.

In this fucked up world, I think it's a great thing that anyone can find solace and joy in humor even if it doesn't measure up to someone else's standards. 

Yeah, I think it's elitist and I think "good on them for enjoying themselves".

But I also think "I would have a hard time not getting upset at repeated Monty Python jokes, as I would have a hard time not getting upset by the people Xooxe describes". I never know whether to discourage my own elitism or just let it be.

Of course by upset I mean "righteously indignant and snarky".

[P3nT4gR4m]

I had to suffer a barbecue with two guys passing snarky comment on everything as that old paedophile from Family Guy, I think. You could see that they wanted to believe it was an in-joke, but really they were terrified of any kind of spontaneous interaction. It really disturbed me.

I don't know whether that's a more extreme example of what you're talking about, or something else entirely.

The idea that there are people out there like that genuinely sent a shiver down my spine. 

Really? In my experience most of them are like that. Okay so it's not always as obvious as quoting family guy or python but endlessly spewing out rehashed News of the World social commentary? Enthusing about Paris Hilton's new handbag? Cookie cutter statements about the weather? Same fucking shit as far as I'm concerned - a level of conversation that requires little more than basic motor function.

[Scribbly]

I had to suffer a barbecue with two guys passing snarky comment on everything as that old paedophile from Family Guy, I think. You could see that they wanted to believe it was an in-joke, but really they were terrified of any kind of spontaneous interaction. It really disturbed me.

I don't know whether that's a more extreme example of what you're talking about, or something else entirely.

The idea that there are people out there like that genuinely sent a shiver down my spine. 

Really? In my experience most of them are like that. Okay so it's not always as obvious as quoting family guy or python but endlessly spewing out rehashed News of the World social commentary? Enthusing about Paris Hilton's new handbag? Cookie cutter statements about the weather? Same fucking shit as far as I'm concerned - a level of conversation that requires little more than basic motor function.

Most people are not terrified of spontaneous interaction.

Most people are in fact willing to talk to you, and may even have interesting things to say if you listen. Things which do not come off a script.

[AFK]

Yes, it is elitist.

In this fucked up world, I think it's a great thing that anyone can find solace and joy in humor even if it doesn't measure up to someone else's standards. 

Yeah, I think it's elitist and I think "good on them for enjoying themselves".

But I also think "I would have a hard time not getting upset at repeated Monty Python jokes, as I would have a hard time not getting upset by the people Xooxe describes". I never know whether to discourage my own elitism or just let it be.

Of course by upset I mean "righteously indignant and snarky".

Of course, it is one thing to be annoyed by someone who is being annoying.  If someone is constantly barraging you with Monty Python jokes, or any jokes, when you just want to be left alone, or aren't really in the mood to hear jokes, I get that and competely agree.

But where I part ways is the general idea that someone who is really into Monty Python, or any kind of humor, is by their very nature something less than others because of that interest in that kind of humor. 

Humor is something that should be championed, not judged.  We all have different bars in our BIP that draw us to different kind of humor.  I thin that diversity is an asset, not a negative. 

[Luna]

My major objection to Monty Python humor (and, FWIW, I think some of their stuff is hysterical) is that it gets stale when it's overused... and it's easy to overuse.  Almost ANY humor stops being funny when you hear it too often.  (One certain man, for example, was going to have both arms amputated at the elbows and fed to him if he didn't knock off the "HUGE tracts of land" bit.)

[LMNO]

1. I'd rather hear rehashed MP than someone stuck in Beavis and Butthead mode. heh-heh-heh.  He said "mode".

2. It depends how deep the MP people get into the series or movie.  It's easy to do the dead parrot sketch or Black Knight, but how many people can pull off the Cheese Shop?  Or the Cannibal Undertaker?  Or better yet, someone who can do the Second Armoured Division's "close order swanning about"?  I have more respect for people who can unearth the obscure sketches. 

3. The fish slapping dance will never get old.

[Cain]

I think the main annoyance is that they are stealing someone elses ability to be funny, and hoping it rubs off on them.

Make your own funny!

[P3nT4gR4m]

It's almost as if they pride themselves in the ability to recite some meaningless bollix by rote. Dude, if that shit impressed me I'd be in church right now. 

[rong]

I am serious. and stop calling me "shirley"

all joking aside - i think there is something way deep down in the brain that feels comforted to know that other brains share a fundamental thought process.  i would also argue that understanding humor is pretty close to the kernel.  (i suddenly wish i knew more about computer science - but i think my analogy is at least sort of right).

with that said, i think faust is right about the furries thing.

i think quoting monty python jokes (or any genre of humor for that matter) is similar to a conversation about, say, beer.
"i enjoy beer"
    "i, too, enjoy beer"
"i prefer grolsch - but don't tell anybody i mainly just like to say 'grolsch' "
    "i had an oatmeal stout last month that i rather liked"
etc

as for the pinnacle of humor - i like puns but what i really love is the zucker brothers combination of absurdism and what i've taken to calling literalism.  literalism being taking things out of context while maintaining their literal truth.  

[Luna]

1. I'd rather hear rehashed MP than someone stuck in Beavis and Butthead mode. heh-heh-heh.  He said "mode".

Oh, god, yes.  That shit will make want to kick an idiot in the taint.

And moving from bit to bit, especially the obscure stuff, is a hell of a lot funnier than sticking with the same gag, over and over.

[AFK]

Another take on this, I think, is that there is a chance to engage.  So you have some knucklehead rattling off a bunch of stale MP jokes, so, maybe a tactic is to redirect the conversation.  So why does this guy like MP so much?  What does he/she think the jokes mean?  Why does he/she think they are funny?  Why do they relate to the jokes?

Perhaps there is more to this person than we realize, but they are just waiting for someone to help them go to a deeper level.