On 6/20/07, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
That works with a literate audience. The people who don't realize that you're joking can take things to a completely different level. English humour doesn't always work with an American crowd.
on 6/20/07 11:09 PM, Gracenotes at wikigracenotes@gmail.com wrote:
I would almost like to protest your classification of American crowds as dense, but... eh... we are. It would not be entirely untrue to say that the key to humor here is not making the right material, but finding the right crowd for it.
On 6/21/07, Marc Riddell michaeldavid86@comcast.net wrote:
Gracenotes & Ray,
Since the material in question was posted here, how would you classify this List's audience?
Marc
on 6/21/07 3:18 PM, Gracenotes at wikigracenotes@gmail.com wrote:
I thought we were progressing into general discussion about American humor vs. British humour, rather than discussion about this list in particular. Wikipedia has, by far, the most thoughtful, intelligent, perspicuous, and witty people I have had the fortune to interact with. The mailing list, despite its mud (and -slinging), has by large not proved to be an exception. Now, while responsibility is imperative, the "internets are serious business" attitude can ruin a good project (this has been noted by people other than me as well, especially in MfDs of *gasp* humorous pages).
--Gracenotes
I second your emotion about the Wikipedia people.
And, perhaps there needs to be a banner at the top of each edit mode page of the encyclopedia that reads: LIGHTen up - you might be able to see things in a different way. :-)
And, it was none other than Aristotle who said: "The secret to humor is surprise."
Marc