Boasting humor or Self-Hating humor?
I recently asked a friend this question:
“Why is it that when people tear themselves down in a rediculous way,
making a joke, most of the people listening tend to kind of react or
say “OH, don’t say that.” etc. Yet, when someone puffs themselves up,
bragging in such a rediculous manner that it is obviously supposed to
be funny, people really laugh and feel comfortable with that joke.
Why
do the two extremes, both meant in fun, bring such different reactions?
Why do we respond better to the bragadoucious funny man than the
self-depreciating funny man? 
Interesting huh? Maybe it’s another one of those “mysteries”. 
“
This was her response:
“As to your comment…I think I have an explanation. You see,
when somebody jokes in a “boasting” way or whatever, the hearer laughs
because his/her attitude is like “yeah, whatever”. She can completely
disregard the comment and laugh at the humor. BUT, when the joking
comment is one that tears down the joker or belittles him, the hearer
can’t just take the joke as a joke. Rather, out of fondness and a
merciful heart, they READ INTO the joke and therefore are unable to
take it as a joke but try to figure out if something REALLY IS wrong
with the joker. Make sense? 
“
I like her thoughts, but I’d be interested in yours. What do you think?
About The Author
Preacher Dad
Jarod has been a pastor, construction worker, restaurant manager, ministry administrator, children's story teller, author....in no particular order. At heart he is passionate about the Truth, and has been called to proclaim that Truth from an early age. He is committed to his wife and eight children, and seeks to have a lasting impact upon the future by discipling his family. He blogs at PreacherDad.com on parenting, preparing, and cultural impact.
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I dont think the responses are too terribly different. Both complement the joker. If someone is bragging and we play along with the joke, they feel complemented. If someone is tearing themselves down and we contradict them, than we’re still complimenting them.
but that’s not necessarily the norm.
course then there are the people who puff themselves up and are met with people like me who contradict them
Do you want my thoughts too???
Yeah, low self esteem is particularly prevalent in our society and it’s effects are fairly dangerous. I’d rather err on the side of being overly cautious in trying to build up the self deprecating joker.
man of the year? yeah, whatever.
Yes, it is the “Eagle Springs Ann”. HAAHAH…….Funny. Thanks for you post. I have become one of those people who work late every night and have no social life. So I am embarrassed to admit that I have become a xanga addict and read random people’s blogs, sad, but true. I cannot remember how I ran across yours…. Probable form the crossings.
Yes, we still have the theme “Abiding in Christ” in ELMS. I am getting ready for the fall class in two weeks… so I have a lot to do and prepare for. If you know any godly young women who are spiritual and emotional mature put the word out for us would ya! J God bless you !
Hmm….This is a very interesting question. Maybe a good reason that the Lord in James spends quite a few verses on the tongue!
I would say that most of us while not really intentionally doing so, seem to agree with a bragger. “If it makes him feel better to think that then whatever” is what we think instead of reminding him that even in jest, the Bible says “Let another’s lips praise you and not your own mouth.” On the side of the low self esteem – it hits closer to home and we are more sensitive to building someone up. Correcting a boastful person (even though he/she was only “joking”) might be considered reprimanding and then we would be the party pooper and “ruin” everyone’s fun. But if we affirm and remind others of who they are in Christ…well, we just went up a rung on the ladder, so to speak.
A very interesting question indeed…thanks for posting it!