funny/humorous for who? (not photography related!)

michael_anthony · Jul 19, 2007

'I bought a book by a woman who claims her dog is immortal.
I couldn't put it down.' Frank Skinner

As there is quite an international group here in these forum, do all native english speakers find this funny? and why?
any non-native english speakers find this humorous?

Personally, I haven't found the humour in this quotation, though it is purported to be there.

cybrid · Jul 19, 2007

Just a guess, but....

If the dog is immortal, and the story is about the dog, then the book would never end, so you could never put it down.

michael_anthony · Jul 19, 2007

maybe.. but if he bought a book it has a last page, no? and when read, the book would be put down afterwards. Quite confusing to me, still.

Owen · Jul 19, 2007

I believe since the Dog was immortal, he couldn't put it down (the Dog, put to sleep when it's time came).

Owen

rriveros · Jul 19, 2007

Owen is right:

to put down a dog means to kill (euthanize) it.

If the dog is immortal, then it can not be killed.

Just a play on words.

Brian · Jul 19, 2007

Yep, and that rates on my funny-o-meter as a 1.5 (1 low 10 high)

rriveros said:
Owen is right:

to put down a dog means to kill (euthanize) it.

If the dog is immortal, then it can not be killed.

Just a play on words.

--
Brian

cybrid · Jul 19, 2007

The logic is flawed.

It's not his dog. It's the womans dog. It does not say if he is the vet or not. Only that he bought a book from the woman.

Why would he be putting it down?

Anyway...Way down on the humor meter.

michael_anthony · Jul 19, 2007

OK, makes sense now that put down means to end the life of an animal (out of mercy so as to end unnecessary suffering, if I understood correctly).

Not too sure that many people would find this funny, but F.Skinner did so I assume he's a comedian. My tastes are different, anyway.

Not politically correct (what humour is, though):

'I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do.
And for those who like country music, denigrate means 'put down'.'
Bob Newhart

English is definitely rich in meanings of phrasal verbs!

Tom Huck · Jul 19, 2007

Putting the dog down refers to having a vet put the dog down, or mercy kill it. Or euthenize it (if that is the right spelling) Not all that humorous I think.
--

Please speak slowly and distinctly. I have a wife, and a computer. I dont need any more confusion in my life.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I wanted to be a nude photographer, but when I went outside naked everyone pointed and laughed, so I gave it up.

elboertie2 · Jul 20, 2007

English is my second language and I just like the play on words to create double meanings.

Not all people share the same sense of humour, but I can tell you this, that those who have a healthy self-esteem appreciates good wit.

Jacques

--

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'A camera is a device that helps one appreciate the world without it.' - Jacques

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Brian said:
I hate to admit it, but your signature looks better in colour.

View DPR with wider columns: http://friend.smugmug.com/gallery/3106909 .

elboertie2 · Jul 20, 2007

michael_anthony said:
'I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do.
And for those who like country music, denigrate means 'put down'.'
Bob Newhart

This is a great quotation and very funny.

michael_anthony said:
English is definitely rich in meanings of phrasal verbs!

So true, so true.

Jacques
--

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'A camera is a device that helps one appreciate the world without it.' - Jacques

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Brian said:
I hate to admit it, but your signature looks better in colour.

View DPR with wider columns: http://friend.smugmug.com/gallery/3106909 .

Manjade · Jul 20, 2007

sarcasm and play on words
always brings a smile to my lips

to put a book down (to stop reading it)
to put a dog down (to kill it by injection)

just a play on words (and the object book/dog)

amusing
not hilarious

CharlieDIY · Jul 20, 2007

michael_anthony said:
maybe.. but if he bought a book it has a last page, no? and when
read, the book would be put down afterwards. Quite confusing to me,
still.

It's not funny. Not even interesting. Native English speaker, with a BA in English lit.

--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

Pedagydusz · Jul 20, 2007

... and my language is not English!
Another one:
"This coffe tastes like mud!"
"It should. It was ground this morning!"
--
Antonio

http://ferrer.smugmug.com/

michael_anthony · Jul 20, 2007

from tom huck's post:

"I wanted to be a nude photographer, but when I went outside naked everyone pointed and laughed, so I gave it up. "

and from pedagydusz's post:

"This coffe tastes like mud!"
"It should. It was ground this morning!"

Thanks for the walk down chuckle-memory lane!

elboertie2 · Jul 20, 2007

True, that is funny.

Also this one:

Q: 'When is a door not a door?'
A: 'When it's a jar'

Jacques
--

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'A camera is a device that helps one appreciate the world without it.' - Jacques

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Brian said:
I hate to admit it, but your signature looks better in colour.

View DPR with wider columns: http://friend.smugmug.com/gallery/3106909 .

jezsik · Jul 20, 2007

"Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

"I got a garage door opener. It can't close. Just open."

"I stayed up all night playing poker with tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died."

"I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place."

Steven Wright is a warped genius.

Mofongo · Jul 20, 2007

Last night as I lay awake in bed looking at the stars in the sky I had a thought...

What happened to the ceiling?

Bob

--
If caskets had bumper stickers:

'My child is an honor student...orphan'

'Lose weight quick...ask me how'

'If you can read this you're a groundhog'

http://www.pbase.com/mofongo

Ray Maines · Jul 20, 2007

Did you hear about the dyslectic, agnostic, insomniac who stayed awake all night wondering if there was a dog?
--

elboertie2 · Jul 20, 2007

--

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'A camera is a device that helps one appreciate the world without it.' - Jacques

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brian said:
I hate to admit it, but your signature looks better in colour.

View DPR with wider columns: http://friend.smugmug.com/gallery/3106909 .

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