Laugh Lab and the World's Funniest Joke
Created | Updated Oct 11, 2002
Laugh Lab was an Internet experiment started by the Psychology department of the University of Hertfordshire designed to research laughter and, more specifically, the joke which causes it. Beginning in September of 2001, it involved anyone who happened to find the website submitting jokes and/or rating jokes sent in by others. In March of 2002, the funniest from the previous seven months were revealed, and anyone coming to the website voted on which of them was the funniest of all time. In September of 2002, the funniest joke in the world was released on the public.
Many interesting facts about jokes and people's reaction to them were found. For example, of all the jokes made about animals, ducks seemed to be most abundant and, more importantly, funniest.
Irish, British, Australians, and New Zealanders preferred puns and wordplay jokes. Americans and Canadians liked insults and other jokes showing superiority. Most European countries like surrealistic jokes (such as talking animals), but Germans didn't have much of a preference. Laugh Lab suggests that this is why Germans ranked so many jokes funnier than the others.
Finally, September of 2002, the funniest joke submitted was revealed:
A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?"
Many interesting facts about jokes and people's reaction to them were found. For example, of all the jokes made about animals, ducks seemed to be most abundant and, more importantly, funniest.
Irish, British, Australians, and New Zealanders preferred puns and wordplay jokes. Americans and Canadians liked insults and other jokes showing superiority. Most European countries like surrealistic jokes (such as talking animals), but Germans didn't have much of a preference. Laugh Lab suggests that this is why Germans ranked so many jokes funnier than the others.
Finally, September of 2002, the funniest joke submitted was revealed:
A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?"
