Save on popular items from Amazon.

Wednesday

Self-defecating humor: Is this a matter of humility or hygiene?




“My friend has a sense of self-defecating humor,” Barton said (in an online post).

Really?

Actually, that sounds kind of gross. It sounds tremendously gross – downright disgusting.

Still, I’m fairly sure Barton wasn’t talking about dung-tossing.

The actual expression is “self-deprecating humor,” and it means using self-critique, inward-pointed sarcasm, and the belittling of oneself. 

Self-deprecating humor smears the speaker, dropping jokes that may aim for a laugh while possibly making the actual person feel like … well, you know.

Maybe that’s not so far off the mark, after all.

But let’s face it. If a person has a tendency towards self-defecating humor, it’s a pretty fair bet someone’s gonna step in it, proverbially or for real. And it ain’t gonna be pretty.




Note: “Self-defecating humor” is also used to refer to jokes that miss the mark, fall flat like a worthless pile of discarded matter, and simply stink.

Image/s:
Adapted from 
vintage/public domain artwork
       
Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Features' Pets - National Pet Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Equestrian Examiner - Madison and More on Facebook.

No comments:

Post a Comment