I know, it's a cliche. Comparing cultures all the time. The practices, beliefs, customes etc. However, we don't talk much about differences in senses of humor among different cultures. Why is that?
I personally believe that sense of humor is actually one of the most important aspects of a culture that should not go amiss in our conversations.
It seems to me that we are a bit too careful about humor. We get offended easily on humor for all the wrong reasons. Some of the main reasons could be taking a comment too personally, suspecting the intentions of others as being disrespectful if they make a joke, and inability to laugh at one's own blunders and human errors (Generally speaking, of course).
I think the main difference between our and Western sense humor lies in the level of objectivity given to the matter. Our approach is a bit too subjective. That's why we take it so personally so easily. Secondly, we don't forget a joke done on us so easily. We take it longer with us than probably it should be.
On the other hand, humor seems a bit too objective in Western culture on times. The easiness in letting it go can make things stereotyped very easily and eventually offensive and disrespectfull. This is most evident when the humor involves among people from different cultural backgrounds (And no, I am not talking about Arab camel jokes). It's just the tendency of how different things are looked upon among different cultures.
I personally believe that sense of humor is actually one of the most important aspects of a culture that should not go amiss in our conversations.
It seems to me that we are a bit too careful about humor. We get offended easily on humor for all the wrong reasons. Some of the main reasons could be taking a comment too personally, suspecting the intentions of others as being disrespectful if they make a joke, and inability to laugh at one's own blunders and human errors (Generally speaking, of course).
I think the main difference between our and Western sense humor lies in the level of objectivity given to the matter. Our approach is a bit too subjective. That's why we take it so personally so easily. Secondly, we don't forget a joke done on us so easily. We take it longer with us than probably it should be.
On the other hand, humor seems a bit too objective in Western culture on times. The easiness in letting it go can make things stereotyped very easily and eventually offensive and disrespectfull. This is most evident when the humor involves among people from different cultural backgrounds (And no, I am not talking about Arab camel jokes). It's just the tendency of how different things are looked upon among different cultures.
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