“Fred was at the bank yesterday when a little old lady asked him if he could help check her balance. So he pushed her over.” Whimsy columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS says humour varies greatly from person to person, based on individual experiences, beliefs and sensitivities. 

Humour is a phenomenon that serves as a universal connector between humans, often transcending cultural and linguistic barriers. 

At its essence, humour is a complex interplay of elements that provoke amusement, laughter or a sense of the absurd. 

Humour often involves an element of surprise. By subverting expectations or poking fun at societal norms, humour provides a temporary escape from the seriousness of everyday life.

However, humour can be subjective, varying greatly from person to person, based on individual experiences, beliefs and sensitivities. 

What one finds funny, another might find offensive – or in poor taste. Ultimately, humour serves to celebrate the quirks and absurdities of life. Humour often depends on an unexpected outcome. Whether you find something funny or not depends largely on your own background and life experiences and, as I will explore in a future Whimsy column, what country you come from.

One fundamental aspect of humour is incongruity, where unexpected or contradictory elements are juxtaposed, creating a cognitive dissonance. This may be evident in puns, wordplay, or absurd situations.

Here are some examples:

Albert went to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Anonymous, my eye; he knew everyone there.

Recently I’ve been concerned about my mental health. In desperation I asked myself if I’m crazy. “We all said no”.

After covid, Peter’s “going out” clothes had obviously missed him. When he put them on, they hugged him so tightly, he could scarcely breathe. (This is reminiscent of “Chocolate makes your clothes shrink”.)

A genie offered to grant John one wish, so he said: “I just want to be Happy”. Now he’s living in a little cottage with six dwarves and working in a mine.

Wally took his four-year-old daughter to the office on “take your child to work day”. After they walked into the office, she started to cry. As concerned staff gathered around, he asked her what’s the matter? She said: “Daddy, where are all the clowns you said you worked with?”

I’m trying to sell my racing geese. Perhaps you’d like a quick gander?

I was going to lease a limo, but it didn’t come with a driver, and I didn’t want to spend all that money with nothing to chauffeur it.

He said he just needed a job that put food on the table. So I suggested he become a waiter.

I was in an accident, and it hurt when I touched my elbow, my knee and my face. Turns out I’ve injured my hand.

Police have confirmed that the man who fell from the terrace at the 18th floor nightclub wasn’t a bouncer.

A priest, a rabbit and a vicar walk into a bar. The bartender asks the rabbit “What’ll you have?” The rabbit replies “I dunno; I’m only here because of autocorrect.”

I phoned my wife earlier and asked her if she’d like me to pick up Fish and Chips on my way home. She clearly wasn’t happy. She still regrets letting me name the twins.

A mate of mine recently admitted to being addicted to brake fluid. When I quizzed him on it, he reckoned he could stop any time.

At the cemetery yesterday I noticed four gravediggers staggering about with a coffin. Three hours later and they’re still staggering about with it. I thought to myself, clearly, they’ve lost the plot.

My daughter asked me for a pet spider for her birthday, so I went to our local pet shop and they’re $70 each! Blow this, I thought, I can get one cheaper on the web.

Statistically, six out of seven dwarves are not Happy.

Fred was at the bank yesterday when a little old lady asked him if he could help check her balance. So he pushed her over.

I start a new job in Seoul next week. I thought it was a good Korea move.

On holiday recently in Thailand I saw a sign that said “English-speaking Doctor” – I thought: “What a good idea; we should have them in Australia.”

Hector once dated a girl who was a twin. People always asked him how he could tell them apart. It was simple. Alison painted her nails red, and Bob had a beard.

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist