Your opinions...Funny or Smart

My experience is that it takes alot of smarts to be funny.
Making someone smile is like giving them a lift, a little anti-deperessant without a pill.
I have learned that looking for the humor in a situation is often the only way to survive.
Mostly I laugh at myself, and in doing so also forgive myself for not being as bright as I thought I was.
;)

Sugrarweed

I'm with you. If I can't laugh at myself who can?? Without me holding it against them that is

Hmm, I'll go with smart. Humor can certainly encourage someone for the short term, but overall I tend to think intelligence (and a little kindness) enables a person to make a larger, lasting difference.

-Paul-

AngelSong..I see your point...sort of... you say funny doesn't promise much of a future...hmmmm....let's see:

Richard Pryor
Eddie Murphy
Ellen DeGeneres
Jerry Seinfeld
Jim Carey
Steve Martin
Robin Williams
Bill Murray
Chevy Chase
Dan Akroyd
John Lithgow

ahhhh...you're right....no future there! ;) LOL

Edited to say that the Bible says laughter doeth the heart good like a medicine...and it says this about knowledge in Ecclesiastes 1:18 "for with much wisdom comes much anger; the more knowledge the more pain". Also.....I'd rather have WISDOM than intelligence. There are many out there with intelligence that have not an even an ounce of wisdom.....now there's a discussion.....

This message was edited Jun 21, 2006 5:54 PM

You have a point there, noobiegardener, but the things that matter the most (wisdom, kindness, compassion, integrity, etc.) are changeable things, unlike overall intelligence or natural funniness. So they make for a quite different type of discussion really...

I would say that as far as promise of future, I personally, would have to agree with AngelSong in that I think probably a far higher percentage of 'smart' people use their gift to build a good career than 'funny' people.

-Paul-

Well, Paul...I may have to disagree. I have found that most comedians are extremely intelligent. It's just that they choose to use humor to point out social and political problems and make light of them to show people how ridiculous they really can be. They also make light of hard situations in life to teach us all how to laugh. Sometimes, especially in really BAD times, a person needs a good laugh to lift their spirits. Most people don't seem to understand that most comedians are very much intellectual people. And most know more about what's going on in the world than the every day "intelligent" person on the street.

I'm not disputing that a person can be both intelligent and funny, but it seems to me that the very fact that those comedians use their intelligence in that way suggests that intelligence is the more versatile gift. Also, I think it's safe to say that there are more people who use their intelligence to make a good living than there are comedians that make a good living.

-Paul-

considering the fact that true intelligence is becoming more rare as the days go by, I wouldn't necessarily say that intelligent people outnumber comedians! LOL

Just because a person doesn't show intelligence doesn't mean they don't have it. :P

Ah, true, but let us not forget that smart does not necessarily indicate intelligent.

;-)

This message was edited Jun 21, 2006 6:35 PM

Well the word 'smart' is pretty open to interpretation when used without clear definition. In this case I assumed it essentially did mean intelligent, but it could refer to various other, less desirable qualities.

I would have to put Robin Williams in the genius catagory myself.
;)

Well, I think that 'smart' is smart no matter how one looks at it. Whereas 'funny' is a subjective thing. In the list of funny people given above, there are a good number that do not make me laugh. And in fact I would turn them off with a swift click of the remote. (Can you remember life before remote??)

I enjoy a good laugh now and then, and ALWAYS enjoy making people smile and feel good. But if I had to choose...I'd choose smart too, Paul.

I remember Red Skelton as a child, and he would make me laugh so hard it hurt.

I am not quite sure which one I would pick....sometimes I use funny over reality for protection. And as for smart....I have been called smart...but it has a three letter word after it and refers to a wild donkey! But that was my Mom, she always does know best.

Nancy, I am not going to be able to sleep tonight thinking this over in my head!

Debbie

Isn't it great that we can all have our own *opinion*?!? *hint hint hint* There isn't a right or wrong answer, or a right or wrong reason.

I still say I'd personally rather be smart than funny. There are a lot more doctors, lawyers, and acoutants in the world than celebrity comedians.

yeah, but who seems happier? the docs lawyers and accountants i know....all seem stressed to the max.

All of my doctors are pretty happy. They sure don't seem grouchy to me .... I have a pretty mental-intensive job as a chemist, having to make serious decisions every day that could easily impact the general public .... and I'm pretty happy.

I'm not either one, but I'd have to pick smart. A smart person is more self reliant. When you can go beyond simple figuring, you can do anything. I can't imagine sending a rocket to outer space, but people are smart enough to figure it out. I don't have to be that smart, but a lot smarter would be nice.

Oh - I go w/ funny!!!!!!!!!! Just this week I had the absolute joy of going on an event in Seattle that gave my face and belly muscles a total workout with all the grins and hoots and laughs. It was food for my soul! Given how much pleasure that gave me to the extreme, I love it when I bring smiles, grins, and laughs to others w/ my own antics - verbal or kinesthetic.

I also have been blessed w/ the smarts - and I know what that brings - and how important it is to not get too far "out there" with impressing folks w/ that. Smarts do provide survival skills; but they don't do much for human interactive skills.

So - if I could only chose one of the two attributes I already enjoy - I would take "funny". In reading what I have written, I guess I would have to say that the people connection is most important to me. What is wild about THAT is that I am solo, and pretty much a hermit! HOW STRANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're making our choices knowing how humorous or smart we already are, and no one said we would lose that. I have a good sense of humor so I still choose smart!

Well this certainly has been an interesting discussion. I love a good debate, and I love even more the fact that we can disagree without being disagreeable. ;o)

After reading all these posts, I'd like to say isn't it great we don't have to choose in real life and that people can be funny and smart (assuming smart means clever rather than educated, or dressed well, or currently feeling the pain of a slap).

I'm not convinced that intelligent or funny people are in any way more successful than one another. People are successful because they work hard and manage to recognise and grasp the passing moments of opportunity that come by.

amen baa...all to often success is measure by monetary gain. ask any of us single moms, who have raised wonderful children, who know right from wrong, that have learned to give rather than take, have extreme pride in their work and a job well done, hold their heads high no matter the situation....and we feel success way beyond the thickness of anyones wallet. my blessings are counted each and every day.


ohhhh and i must add, never could have done it without a sense of humor...ohhh my...for sure.

This message was edited Jun 22, 2006 11:31 AM

I would rather be smart. Someone else can be funny and make me laugh.

That's very smart to think of that!

LOL! Now you made me laugh. Just kidding, I know you are smart and funny.

Paul you always seem to make perfect sense. =)

I still agree with Angel...it's an easier road if you are smart....it can be a rewarding road if you are funny and can get people to notice this about you but less people can make a career from it.

Funny without smart, how could that be done ? Even slapstick comedy requires intelligent thought or it merely becomes pathetic clumsyness. So it seems to me that all humor requires some smarts. And really funny people without smarts would be sad. Jerry Lewis acting unsmart and clumsy is funny But not many people would laugh at that same clumsyness if they thought he was really lacking smarts any more than they would laugh at a mentally challanged person who was clumsy.

Smart without funny is possible since it is possible to have a sense of humor and joy without having the ability to make others laugh.

So if I had to opt for only one it would be to be smart enough to appreciate the funny people.

Yee-Haw... so glad to see we still debate... even while I'm gone for nearly 5 days out of state on vacation.

Smart! Smart! Smart! That's my story and I'm sticking to it! I'm going to be smart, and my friends can call me funny. They do, anyways. I don't think I've ever had a friend say, "You're not much fun to be around." In fact, the exact opposite.

The discussion wasn't "can't be one without the other", it was simply "pick if you had to choose".

You're right, Angel Song. I think we will all agree that a person can be both, and that's great!

But it was a hypothetical, one-or-the-other question. Thought provoking.

I'd rather be smart, then I could learn how to be funny.
:-)

i want it all!! paul your right what is really important. i told my husband i'm not as stupid as you think i just keep my intelligence to myself..and my funny to...

Good one Hope!

I'll remember that line. It's a good one.

I'd rather be funny. Life is short.

Not my life!

Interesting response.
How long is long, how short is short?

If I can stay active and at home, I'm shootin for 105!

Ah, the big if....
I used to plan on 112. Changed my mind.