rollo10

as a dual citizen and having lived in France for 20 years, the short answer is, Non, their humor is not nearly as accessible as in other countries. Sarcasm, mockery, and cynism pass as humor - and sarcasm being the lowest form of wit, it was never attractive to me. You can find humor in comedians and actors for the past and now, Jacques Tati for instance - the French are not crazy about Jerry Lewis, that's a myth. My advise be yourself and laugh. And yes, it is essential to say, bonjour Monsieur, Madame before asking a question. Civilities pass before anything and are essential. Afterwards, you can ask anything ... Maybe even laugh with someone.

willit

Rollo, interesting post, but had you waited another 7 weeks, you could have posted on the 10th anniversary of the last time anybody added to this thread.

Whathello

We only laugh when we burn ourselves.

nytraveler

Well IMHO thinking Jerry Lewis is funny is to me a sure sign of a total lack of sense of humor. But I'm not sure the french really like him - I thin it's a fiction.

As for a silly sense of humor I saw 2 marx brothers films at a festival on the e left bank. They were shown in English with french subtitles - so 2 sets of laugh at every joke. And the french were laughing as much as those speaking english. And there's little sillier than the Marx brothers.

I think there are humorless people in every country - and also different types of humor.

suze

This thread is a decade old.

Whathello

'This thread is a decade old.'

I think we are all some decades old.

chartley

Who knew that Flanner used to post under the name CotswoldScouser?

PalenQ

For Heavens sake - yes they do but they do not IME show it overtly to strangers like Americans often do - kind of like saying hi in the street to strangers - never or rarely done in France but common in the more gregarious U.S.

Now let's see if our French friends have a sense of humour:

Why do French tanks only have reverse gears on them? (One my French raised son is fond of saying)

Did you hear about the French military strategy of the 'pre-emptive surrender'?

What are the first thing French soldiers are taught in basic training 'how to say 'I surrender in German and English'!

et--

https://www.google.com/search?q=funn...w=1920&bih=955

and yes French women do wear tissue paper pants!

Michael

TEST D'EMBAUCHE DANS LA GENDARMERIE
Un homme veut s'engager dans la Gendarmerie Nationale
> > > L'adjudant-chef qui le reçoit lui dit :
" Vos qualifications semblent bonnes, mais il reste un test d'aptitude que vous devez passer avant de pouvoir être accepté."
> > > Il pose un pistolet automatique sur le bureau et lui dit :
" Prenez ce pistolet,sortez et tuez six vendeurs de drogue, six extrêmistes musulmans et un lapin."

> > > " Pourquoi le lapin ? "
" Bonne réponse ", dit le gradé, " Vous commencez demain ".

Whathello

Monica goes to the pharmacy.
She buys condoms.
Pharmacist asks : do you pay cash or plastic
'no it is to be put on the Bill'

(old joke).

chartley

Americans seem to like jokes about the French military, although for some reason there aren't the same jokes about the Italians, which would similarly have a grain of truth.

When Iraq was invaded in 2003, the joke in Britain was that this was the first time the Americans had joined in a war from the beginning.

To get back to them original question, the French do have a sense of humour. The French language, both written and spoken, is full of puns and plays on words. American English, especially in newspapers, in quite ponderous in comparison.

bilboburgler

To be fair chartley, the American war of Independence had the Brits in first, then the French and only at the end did America turn up.

The only way I know the Americans have a sense of humour is when they elect a President

Ah the old ones are the best ones

vincenzo32951

I think it's humorous that the first and most common responses to the OP involve attitudes about Americans.

StCirq

Good one, Michael!

Americans say hi to strangers in the street? Not anywhere I lived.

All our French friends and neighbors have excellent senses of humor. The vendors in the markets make jokes all the time. So do the cashiers at the supermarket and hardware store and wine stores...all stores. They don't do goofy smiles for no reason, but they certainly have great senses of humor.

PalenQ

How does a Frenchman change a light bulb?

He takes out the burnt out bulb and then just put a new one in the socket, holds it steady and lets the world revolve around him.

IMDonehere

'This thread is a decade old.'

Some people don't get a joke right away.