Why is it so funny when people fall down? (940 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 0.3 on 16 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by punkerrjess (View user info) at 2005-12-14 14:37:36 EST
I've been thinking about this for a week or so. Other than being really immature and being amused at simple things, I really can't pinpoint why I think it's so funny when people fall down.
A few examples:
The fiancé and I were watching MXC (Most Extreme Elimination Challenge) last week.
Now, the first time we saw this show, a guy was going to run across rocks over a pond - I think the game is called Sinkers and Floaters - but before he did, he decided to stop on the grass and do a back flip. Why? I don't know, but I am glad he did. He ended up completing about ¾ of the flip before he landed on his neck and kneed himself in the forehead.
So the other night when we were watching, there was another guy about to run across the rocks. Coincidence? Perhaps. Only this guy was different in that as soon as he got to the top of the crest, before he could even begin to run, he tripped and fell face first into the dirt. This was hilarious to me, and even thinking about it now, I giggle (not too loudly, though; I don't want to draw any extra attention to the fact I'm not working).
Then the other night, we were watching America's Funniest Videos. (I just realized we watch a lot of lame TV.) There was a clip of three brothers all dressed up for Halloween. One was Batman, one was Robin, and the youngest was Peter Pan. Guess who thought the costumes were real? Peter Pan climbed up onto the coffee table, walked to the edge, and jumped off like he really believed he could fly. After he belly-flopped on the carpet, they ended the clip.
So I've been thinking about why people falling down is so funny, and a gem came out of my memory.
About two years ago, I was sitting outside of the library café at school. I was talking to my friend Dan on the phone and just watching the people walk by. I heard the familiar sound of skateboard wheels on concrete, and I turned to see the skateboarder. He wasn't doing any special tricks or anything, just skating to get around campus, so I went back to listening to Dan trying to convince me to go to Thailand with him.
The guy on the skateboard passed me, and I just watched him go. He got about five feet away when his back wheel went over a little grate in the sidewalk. His skateboard stopped, but he kept going. You know that sound when someone hits the pavement; it's kind of a "thwack" sound, it's all you can hear for a while, and it makes you laugh every time you think about it.
So of course, I start laughing, leaving Dan totally confused on the phone. I had to explain it to him, and he just said I was evil for laughing and not making sure the guy was okay.
Why is it so funny when people fall down? I don't know. But I will always laugh.
User Reviews
Submitted by sinna (user info) at 2005-12-15 08:00:53 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
It's not. Every week on You've Been Framed' you just get half an hour of people falling over. It's just tedious.
Submitted by crazyaardvark (user info) at 2005-12-14 23:06:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
If you like falling over, try and find episodes of the Japanese gameshow Takeshi's Castle on the net. Lots of amusing carnage.
Those crazy Japanese.
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-12-14 20:51:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't see why this has such a low rating... it didn't suck at all. It, in fact, made me laugh loud enough to make The Gimp hobble over to see what was so damned funny. And then he laughed. Why? Because we both remember those MXC episodes, and we've had the "Why is that so funny?" coversation more than once.
Submitted by Hookhand (user info) at 2005-12-14 17:35:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I <3 MXC
Submitted by jagmcmanus (user info) at 2005-12-14 17:28:55 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
The fiancé and I were watching MXC (Most Extreme Elimination Challenge) last week.
auto -2 for admitting you watch this. did you drink a pepsi max at the same time? EXTREME
Submitted by DrSeussman (user info) at 2005-12-14 17:26:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What do stupid or angry people and slinky's have in common?
Both fun to push down the stairs!
Submitted by punkerrjess (user info) at 2005-12-14 16:15:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by alfakyle (user info) at 2005-12-14 16:08:25 (#)
Ranking: -1
MXC is not lame.
---------------
You're right, it's not.
America's Funniest Home Videos is, though.
Submitted by alfakyle (user info) at 2005-12-14 16:08:25 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
MXC is not lame.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-12-14 15:57:47 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
HA HA HA HA HA!!! RAD, perfect timing.
And as per the norm, a punkerjess post sucks. Imagine that.
Submitted by MrSparkle847 (user info) at 2005-12-14 15:47:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Is it?
I do like MXC, though.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-12-14 15:42:21 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
rad- you have one helluva memory.
Or, you're the one that keeps giving Shlongy hits, in spite of two fresh posts in four months.
PS. That's not me.
(Mine isn't even THAT big)
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-12-14 15:36:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
everyone has a bigger one than you there, sport.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/55142
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-12-14 15:24:07 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
That makes two of us...as soon as you prove that you DON'T have a bigger dick than I do.
Submitted by MistressFist (user info) at 2005-12-14 15:18:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-12-14 15:09:49 (#)
Ranking: -2
I do auto +2 when I see;
1) "My beave"
2) "My batch receptacle"
3) "My red joystick".
=========================================
Shlongy, I long for the day when you chow down on my beave, and insert your red joystick into my ever-eager batch receptacle.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-12-14 15:09:49 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Auto -2 for using the expression "The fiance".
I also -2 the dumbasses who use;
1) "the wife"
2) "My ol' lady"
2b) "My old man"
3) "The old ball and chain"
4) Steve
I do auto +2 when I see;
1) "My beave"
2) "My batch receptacle"
3) "My red joystick".
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2005-12-14 14:44:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It just is. Don't question the Zen nature of this phenomenon or the world will cease to exist.
I guess I'll go read your post now.