I've been asked to write something funny. Now that brings up questions that merit well-informed answers: What is funny? What is not? I've found, however, after extensive thumbing through reference books, there are so many ways to define funny, and so many synonyms, it takes a mental breakdown and painstaking examination to arrive even close to a semi-perfect conclusion, or at least an understanding . . . maybe . . . of the definition. I've found that funny wears many faces and claims many names. So what exactly drives the funny bone crazy?


Dipping deep into this subject to expand my knowledge, I found that a comedy is a ‘medieval narrative that ends happily . . . a drama of light and amusing character and typically with a happy ending . . . the comic element . . . a humorous entertainment.' A comic (not to be confused with a clown) I assume would be the source of the funny stuff, if indeed it were what is truly funny. To be clear, a clown by one definition is ‘specifically: a grotesquely dressed comedy performer in a circus.' I am going to be presumptuous here and assume that in modern times this definition is not restricted to the circus. I have a neighbor who fits this description by another definition.


Another approach to the definition is amusing, that is ‘to divert the attention of so as to deceive . . . to occupy the attention of . . . to entertain or occupy in a light, playful, or pleasant manner . . . to appeal to the sense of humor of'. This might also define a shill in a con game at a carnival, which is not funny most of the time, especially if I lose my honey and my money.


Ha! Maybe I am getting closer. A diversion of attention by a comic before a happy ending may be the key to the definition. What's funny should always have a happy ending, right?


So that leaves out —


  • Ridiculing, which is ‘the act of exposing to laughter' (I assume that means exposing someone else to laughter, and not me?);


  • Or belittling, which is ‘to speak slightingly of to cause (a person or thing) to seem little or less', and sounds a lot like my high school gym teacher;


  • Or how about sarcasm, a word derived from the Greek/Latin/Other Old Languages, and means ‘to tear the flesh, bite the lips in rage, or sneer'. My-Oh-My, that's tough-love funny. But in Modern English it means ‘a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain'. I guess I can questionably say that that isn't funny, unless I am the star guest at a Roast.


These situations do not have a happy ending for the recipient of the belittling or the ridicule or sarcasm . . . so I believe to them it's not funny. But to the rest of us . . . it's a chortle and guffaw.


A few other words boldly popped up as my eyes continued to follow my fingers that flipped through the reference shelves:


  • Wit has one meaning that is close: ‘astuteness of perception or judgment . . . the ability to relate seemingly disparate things so as to illuminate or amuse a talent for banter or persiflage . . . a witty utterance or exchange . . . clever or apt humor'.


  • Irony also comes close to a definition: ‘the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning . . . usually a humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony'. Now this all sounded pretty good, not saying what I mean, until the word sardonic was thrown in, and that is downright unkind.


  • Sardonic is: ‘disdainfully or skeptically humorous . . . derisively mocking', in other words, scorning or doubting another. This doesn't sound funny at the receiving end.


There are a few more words to quickly consider while rounding out this examination.


  • Flippant (flip) means ‘lacking proper respect or seriousness' . . . the word just sounds funny.


  • Kid (i.e., just kidding, I kid you not), means ‘to deceive as a joke . . . to make fun . . . to engage in good-humored fooling or horseplay . . . often used with the word around.'


  • Jest means ‘an utterance (as a jeer or quip) intended to be taken as mockery or humor . . . a ludicrous circumstance or incident . . . a frivolous mood or manner . . . gaiety and merriment.'


I believe with the above three words I am again getting closer to finding out what's funny, but not yet arriving at a final answer.


It's a tough task for sure . . . trying to find out what's funny. After all this probing and examination, I can unequivocally state and positively clear things up by saying that the definition of what's funny is: everything is funny and nothing is funny and it all depends upon your sense of humor and point of view and state of mind and time of day and condition of the weather and which way your head is cocked. What's not funny is trying to find out what is funny.