The British Sense of Humour
The British sense of humour is largely built around irony.
i·ro·ny (r-n, r-)
n. pl. i·ro·nies
1.
a. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
b. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.
c. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect. See Synonyms at wit1.
2.
a. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs: "Hyde noted the irony of Ireland's copying the nation she most hated" (Richard Kain).
b. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity. See Usage Note at ironic.
3. Dramatic irony.
4. Socratic irony.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/irony
How do you find British humour? How safe is the British sense of humour here in Qatar and does it cause you offence? Is irony the preserve of the British only, or do other nationalities get it?
One last question; Have you watched and enjoyed any British comedy shows? If so which ones?
Thanks for reminding me. I'm taking Mrs Expat for a Candlelight donner.
Shameless is amazing....so funny! Never really got into Benidorm though!!
Little Britain is 'totes hilare' too :) (wonder if anyone understands)
My all time favourite is.....Chewin' the fat! Think only my fellow Scots will know about this programme! :D :D
Nope sorry snessy
Brit: won't you need your shell suit for your trip to Liverpool this weekend?
TB: have you heard of Stella? (not Artois) A show based in Wales with Ruth Jones. Pretty comical :-)
"shell suit" I read about those in history Brit ;)
I can lend you my shell suit if you wanna visit ..
"TB: You're way to classy"
You heard it here folks ;)
TB: You're way to classy to know about Benidorm, the likes
of Brit hang out there, it's chavtastic.
Sighhhhhh...
I think its a party place in Spain...
Shameless!!! Rocks!!!
Never heard of Benidorm though.
Most people on here won't have heard of them, but Benidorm and Shameless are brilliant...
Reminds me of the time Snessy went went in to a pet shop in Souq Waqif.
She said, "Can I buy a goldfish?"
The guy said, "Do you want an aquarium?"
Snessy said, "I don't really care what star sign it is."
I'm not that old Polka ;)
How come no one mentions Are you being served?
Glad to be there for you Snessy ;)
TB: You make me laugh, and I don't mean "at you"! ;-)
wish I could quote some RR - but none of it is printable, certainly not on this website.
jjj75: LOL! :P talk to the hand!
BE - probably not but he is Aussie and no one was more "odd, or offensive, cruel," to quote - so in your face DC.
Rodney Rude - Brings back memories. Didn't realise he was still going ..
DC - have you never seen Wilfred or heard of Rodney Rude, he is just about as far out there as any comedian can go (apart from Roy Chubby Brown that is).
I've just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to the Gold Coast. I'll tell you what, never again.
as far as I know the origin of Aussies either aborigin or convicts from the UK .... ;-)
So you called the likes of Fawlty Towers, Blackadder and Only Fools and Horses 'sickening'?
Oh dear you poor little lambs. I had no idea you Aussies were so sensitive.
redtreble: Well. Your humour is more "anything goes" many of the stuff your comedians say is considered too odd, or offensive, cruel, there’s just a lot of stuff No stand-up comedian or sitcom producers from over here would ever get away with that. Type of sickening humor is foreign to our cultured and well mannered folks ;P
And a lot of the puns and witty stuff goes completely over our heads o_O!
Down under humour on the other hand is simple to understand, and is less stinky
@Doha Chap - You're criticising British Humour and Cooking? This coming from someone who hails from a country that gave the world er....that guy from the Fosters Adverts and er....sorry I'm struggling a bit now. Help me out here?
I like Ali-G. cracks me up :P
Eww he disgusts me so much
i would tell you wht i think of him
in many unpleasant words, but im
not gonna waist my time :P
DC - you have obviously never seen Borat.
jjj75.... Thanks anyway.
true jjj75, THe US office is worked up and out, not humored nor watered down.
i may be wrong , but this is my experience im refering to.
prove me wrong.
JJJ75: it's just that modern slang didn't travel with the invadors. :P
The Brits humor is almost as good as their cooking.
Side note: what's thsi got 2 do with Qatar? :P
Obvious answer is the way the UK Office is compared to American version, very watered down.
Fawlty Towers!
outnumbered !
jjj... can you kindly give insights.. thanks.
Faulty Towers, Some mothers do have 'em, Mind your Language... all time favs :-)
Highlander - not the same at all!!
Is British Sense of Humour same as American Sense of Humour? Please bear with my innocence...
I know one about the "Sperm Count"
IT CROWD ROCKS!!!!!!!!
Although I will vote for Borat - possibly one of the funniest films I have ever seen and I believe the lawsuits are still ongoing.
Here we go...
the man asked if I'd like to rent Batman Forever - I said 'No...just for 2 hours!!!!!!' "
the way you told here, I will go for mathematics instead.
i like the MIGHTY BOOZE.... :p
(some of them took it literally or seriously) :(
TB, Why did you ask this question now?
I don't think it is very well understood in the Arab world...well from what I have experienced. Or maybe I'm just not that funny :P