Cynical Humour, Thoughts?

[mitchell271]

I spend a lot of time on the internet, as do a lot of my fellow Escapists (I think). I'm a computer science student, and I have to do a lot of research online. But I also get distracted easily. So what do I end up doing? I mess around on forums, read random news articles and watch funny videos on YouTube of course. In all that time, I've noticed something recently: the internet really likes cynical humour.

For example, Zero Punctuation is probably the most popular web series on this site, ADoseOfBuckley on YouTube has a continually growing audience and other really negative people have huge followings everywhere! Hell, even I've thrown my hat in the mix on my blog ([a href="http://justmoremusic.blogspot.ca/"]it's a music review if you want to read it[/a]) and even in real life. Most recently, someone asked on my university's anonymous, "Spotted" Facebook page about a maid service to which I replied

Yeah, it's called, "Left hand, right hand". All it costs is a packet of sponges, some basic cleaning supplies and a broom. It requires a lot more work than some other maid services, but I think it's a lot cheaper. I use it, as do most of my friends. I highly recommend it!

So far, it has a lot more likes than the original post and there haven't been any helpful comments on it.

What does everyone here think about this kind of humour? Is it annoying, is there too much of it, is it hilarious? I personally love it! I'm normally a pretty optimistic person, but I love this style.

 

[sextus the crazy]

As George Carlin said,
"I am a personal optimist but a skeptic about all else. What may sound to some like anger is really nothing more than sympathetic contempt... And please don't confuse my point of view with cynicism; the real cynics are the ones who tell you everything's gonna be all right."

OT: Yeah, Cynical humor is pretty cool, although I don't think it's as popular as you think it is. Most people on average prefer positive and happy things, and thus more light-hearted, optimistic humor (or at least humor that isn't terribly challenging) is more popular.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Depends...nothing inherently wrong with it, but it can blur over into being "edgy". Which generally boils down to being a tosser for the sake of being a tosser, but with a vague sorta defence for it.

 

[Rylot]

While cynical humor can be funny I think it has its place. While I think that your comment was pretty funny, but as you pointed out no one has been in the least bit helpful to someone legitimately trying to find a service.

It seem like to me that a lot of the cynicism you see on the net comes from people starting to mature in to adults and realizing how cruel and uncaring the world can be, and how all their dreams might not come true like they were told as children.

Having a cynical or dark sense of humor is fine, but if you're cynical towards everything in life, you're probably gonna die alone and miserable.

Edit: Also now that I think about it, a lot of the darker and more cynical nature of humor on the internet comes from anonymity and not having to worry about any real life consequences for offensive things you say.

 

[kurokotetsu]

Edit: Also now that I think about it, a lot of the darker and more cynical nature of humor on the internet comes from anonymity and not having to worry about any real life consequences for offensive things you say.

Could be but I'm pretty cynical and lots of dark jokes in real life too. I literaly laugh out loud in silly death scenes in front of whole movie audiences. So it is not only that.

I love cynical humour. I find it funny most time, even about things I love. I don't now, snark is probably one of the ebst things in human life. "Life is a piece of shit/ When you look at it/ Life's a laugh/ Death's a joke/ It's true" living by those words, day by day. SO be cynical my firend. The Universe is dark and uncaring, so laugh away.

 

[Realitycrash]

I don't mind dark or cynical humor. The problem with it, however, is that if you are going to use it online then you have to be very, very careful not to offend people. I'm fine with pretty much any form of humor (rape, dead babies, castration, racism, terrorism, you name it), but I also understand that others are not. So what flies between my and my friend will most certainly NOT fly with the general public, and using these sort of jokes as 'dark and cynical humor' online will not be considered 'funny' by most, it will be considered rage-inducing filth.
You are not alone in the world, it doesn't revolve around you, and if you can't make statements that you feel are okay without considering the feelings of others, then you shouldn't be making statements at all.

 

[SKBPinkie]

All it comes down to is execution.

The content may be downright depressing, but if you're not witty or subtle about it, it's just a bitter rant, IMO.

 

[ERaptor]

Well, it depends. I certainly like Yahtzee's style. Also, a lot of my friends tend to call me a cynic as well. Now that i think about it, its actually weird that i like Cynical humour so much. You'd think that it should be depressing and not funny. But i think it really comes down to how its executed. I hear a lot of people calling themselves cynical when they really are just overly negative in all things and like to whine about everything.

 

[Vegosiux]

I like cynical humor myself, as long as it's not pretentious. But that goes for any kind of humor, really...

Having a cynical or dark sense of humor is fine, but if you're cynical towards everything in life, you're probably gonna die alone and miserable.

I dare say this is kind of put backwards. I mean yeah, it is a vicious circle of sorts, but usually it isn't cynicism that comes first.