WrongPlanet.net
WP Members: > 70,000

Aspie Affection

New Today: 5
New Yesterday: 30

The Courtesy Laugh
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wrong Planet Autism Forum Index -> Social Skills and Making Friends     
MrBackward
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker


Joined: May 01, 2012
Age: 22
Posts: 67
Location: Victoria, Australia

PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:11 am    Post subject: The Courtesy Laugh Reply with quote

The Courtesy Laugh
So is it just me or does anyone else find this incredibly infuriating!
I seem to be able to spot a courtesy laugh a mile away and when I see someone giving one to me I feel like jamming my pencil up their nose.
So explain to me if you feel the same way or if you feel obligated to give someone a courtesy laugh when you dont find something funny. What is the social protocol of when you should or should not give a courtesy laugh? Do courtesy laughs bother any NT's out there?
_________________
Trust thoses that seek truth, doubt those that find it
Never expect a speedy response
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
VIDEODROME
Phoenix
Phoenix


Joined: Nov 21, 2008
Age: 36
Posts: 1700

PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If excessive humor is occurring that I don't understand I try to leave the area.

Seriously, I've seen people in work situations(like warehouses I'm delivering to) talking about seemingly average things on their lunch break and laughing their ass off hard.

I don't get it and I just want to get the hell away from them.

But being honest to the OP I might try to make a fake smile and nod if I'm stuck or trying to act like I know what's going on.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
edgewaters
hibernating
Phoenix


Joined: Aug 17, 2006
Age: 40
Posts: 2426
Location: Ontario

PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just flash a grin I've mastered. Seems to semi-work.

I can't do a fake laugh. At best a little "hehehe".
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Stargazer43
Scruffy-looking Nerf Herder
Phoenix


Joined: Nov 07, 2011
Posts: 1328

PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 7:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pretty much every laugh I give is a courtesy laugh lol. Even if I find something funny I don't really laugh unless I force myself to. I used to not do it but I find most people seem to appreciate it if you laugh when they try to be funny, so I try my best.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
BMctav
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl


Joined: Jan 14, 2012
Posts: 144

PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:29 am    Post subject: Re: The Courtesy Laugh Reply with quote

MrBackward wrote:
Do courtesy laughs bother any NT's out there?


Courtesy laughs are just one of those weird, awkward moments that make you a bit uncomfortable at the time. I suppose it's just one of the downsides of communicating with people, everyone makes social slip ups, even NTs!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MrBackward
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker


Joined: May 01, 2012
Age: 22
Posts: 67
Location: Victoria, Australia

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2012 10:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So i tried faking a grin to my brother and he said that i looked like I wanted to stab him, guess I will have to practice that (not the stabbing).
I suppose that while I learn? to better imitate the social behaviours of others I can take Videodromes advice and walk away. As for revieving courtesy laughs guess I will have to pay less attention to it and resist jamming my pencil up their nose.
_________________
Trust thoses that seek truth, doubt those that find it
Never expect a speedy response
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
HisDivineMajesty
Carolingian Emperor Extraordinaire
Phoenix


Joined: Feb 01, 2012
Posts: 1364
Location: Planet Earth

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2012 10:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only person I know whose laugh is always true is my dentist - she endangers me by laughing while she's poking around my mouth with scary-looking tools.
My father is probably the person who laughs worst while not finding something funny at all. It's easy to guess when he's laughing while he's not amused.

My fake laugh is reasonable. It takes a lot to make me laugh in the first place, so they can't tell the difference.
But yes, I wish we lived in a society less centered on socially-acceptable behaviour, so we could do away with false gestures.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MisterSpock
Sea Gull
Sea Gull


Joined: Jan 18, 2012
Age: 22
Posts: 245
Location: Manchester-ish, England

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2012 3:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think I can spot it, but I don't then ask if it was fake. I don't like it, but sometime I need to do it to humour interviewers, older relatives, etc.
_________________
Read, comment, learn, enjoy:
http://the-aspie-way.blogspot.com/

I do not recognise the DSM-V classifications or it's authority.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
UnLoser
Phoenix
Phoenix


Joined: Mar 29, 2012
Posts: 623

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2012 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some people have bad fake laughs that I can see right through, others are good at it and it's hard to tell if they're faking. Me, I do the courtesy laugh all the time. I know it feels crappy when you make a joke and no one laughs, so...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Innerpeace
Blue Jay
Blue Jay


Joined: May 10, 2012
Age: 30
Posts: 86
Location: North of the river, London.

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 6:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I try 'courtesy laughing' sometimes but I do a pretty bad job of it and I would not be suprised if others can tell it is not real. Increasingly, I feel more confident to not laugh if someone says something they intend to be funny but that does not amuse me. Sometimes I crack a smile and just try to be present.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wrong Planet Autism Forum Index -> Social Skills and Making Friends   

 
Read more Articles on Wrong Planet



Wrong Planet is a Registered Trademark.
Copyright 2004-2013, Wrong Planet, LLC and Alex Plank. Alex does public speaking for Autism.

Advertise on Wrong Planet

Alex Hotchalk / Glam 

Alex Plank  Aspie Affection 

Terms of Service - You must read this as a user of Wrong Planet | Privacy Policy

Subscribe: RSS Feed  Wrong Planet News  Wrong Planet Forums




fine art