Job Discussion Forums

[geaaronson]

I am always amazed by cultural differences in the use of humor and what some peoples find amusing and others don�t.
In the 50�s in law jokes were the mainstay on American TV.
Growing up in semi rural New England, Down East humor was the most pronounced. It was somewhat self effacing and provincial in character, ie. the endless jokes about my village being so small if you take eight steps you will have traversed two towns, etc. etc.
In the deep South and among southern blacks, jokes about your mama and those about someone�s butts, and those about mama�s butts become the butt of many a joke.
Here in Mexico, gender issues are the rage, especially at the expense of homosexuality. People find it endlessly funny that a man would act less than manly or dress up as a woman.
Any comments? Are there other topics that evoke the humor here in Mexico?

[Isla Guapa]

I can�t think of any examples, but surely politicians of all stripes are grist for all sorts of black humor, something very popular here.

[TheLongWayHome]

[jaimem-g]

Classic

That reference to the classroom reminds me of adults dressing and acting like schoolchildren. I'm thinking of TV shows like "El Chavo del 8" and "Cero en Conducta"

or how about jokes about insects - piojos, cucarachas, moscas and sancudos.
(I noticed the name of your location, Long Way )

[AdrianG4]

[jaimem-g]

You're bringing back bad memories to this FORMER middle school sub!

[mejms]

[notamiss]

Heard in the market yesterday, at the fruit stand, patter by guy offering slice of mango on the end of a knife:

�Pruebe el mango, es rico, es saludable, tiene mucha vitamina, el mango no engorda. Ud. s�, se�ora, pero el mango no.�

[Samantha]

hehe...Mexicans have the best sense of humour.

[mejms]

Mexican humor really is good. Mexicans on the whole are anything but dry.

[Isla Guapa]

[wildchild]

this one is purdy obvious, and prolly happens quite a lot:

we were at a molote stand... and a family was there eating. the novio asked the waitress about his gordita, and his cu�ada said, "well, she's sitting right next to you."

at that moment, they all saw me standing there, staring at them, with my eyes huge and my face turning red , until we all busted out in laughter. we musta laughed for like 5 min... it was great (or at least i thought so....)

[jaimem-g]

I'm a big fan of old Cantinflas movies and a lot of his comebacks and one-liners were just like the ones you all are describing from everyday life. Maybe that's why Mexicans still love him.

[Phil_K]

Love Cantiflas, his movies seem to be on one channel or other every weekend.

Useless fact: My mother-in-law lives in an apartment built on the site of the house where Cantinflas was born.

[TheLongWayHome]

Just caught the end of 'una pelicula de huevos' - excellent introduction to Mexican humour.