The world’s funniest joke
The LaughLab research, carried out by psychologist Dr. Richard Wiseman,
from the University of Hertfordshire, attracted more than 40,000 jokes
and almost two million ratings.
And here it is…
Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He
doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy
takes out his phone and calls the emergency services.He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says:
"Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a
silence, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK,
now what?"
This joke was found to cross cultures and appealed to all ages.
The magazine New Scientist asks, "so what is a joke, exactly? Most theories agree that one condition is
essential: there must be some kind of incongruity between two elements
within the joke, which can be resolved in a playful or unexpected way." To learn more about the complexity of humor and how the brain reacts to it check out the article here>. After all, laughter is the best medicine.