Maybe I think you're cute and funny

Pet peeve: People who laugh at their own jokes.

I've thought about what really makes people funny to me. The secret to a well-told joke or funny comment is the fact that you don't laugh too much about it yourself or at least delay your laughter until everyone else laughs.

General example: Sometimes people will be talking in a group, and someone makes (or attempts to make) a comment that has the potential to be funny. Three mistakes are possible to be made here. These mistakes can be made separately or in conjunction with one another. Mistake 1: They laugh too soon--meaning before anyone else. Mistake 2: They are the only one to actually laugh. Mistake 3: They keep laughing when others have moved on from the joke.

This isn't to say that you should be stone-faced when you try to say something funny because that could be equally disastrous. Basically, it's all about these little things called social cues.

Basic Formula: Say something you think is funny+wait for your crowd's response+respond to your crowd's response+calm down before everyone else= successful funny person.

Remember, sometimes you may say something that no one will find funny. Chalk it up to a tough crowd and move on with the conversation; don't make it worse by laughing at it. Real humor may not be this methodical or cut and dry, but this is a baby step to honing those skills.

I hope this helps someone, so that I will have one less pet peeve to deal with.

Cheerio!