---
title: The worlds funniest joke
date: "2002-10-04T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 1112
description: I explore the nature of humor by revisiting Isaac Asimov’s short story "Jokester." I reflect on why humans find dark subjects like adultery and murder funny, drawing on the search for the world's funniest joke.
keywords: [isaac asimov, jokester, humor theory, dark comedy, psychology of humor]
---

[The world's funniest joke](http://www.plastic.com/article.html?sid=02/10/03/18065651). The joke deals with a man getting shot. And when I think about it, I can't phrase is better than Asimov did in **Jokester**.

> "The point is," said Meyerhof, "that I have pictured a husband being humiliated by his wife; a marriage that is such a failure that the wife is convinced that her husband lacks any virtue. Yet you laugh at that. If you were the husband, would you find it funny?".
>
> He waited a moment in thought, then said, "Try this one, Trask: Abner was seated at his wife's sickbed, weeping uncontrollably, when his wife, mustering the dregs of her strength, drew herself up to one elbow.'
>
> " 'Abner,' she whispered, 'Abner, I cannot go to my Maker without confessing my misdeed.'
>
> " 'Not now,' muttered the stricken husband. 'Not now, my dear. Lie back and rest.'
>
> " 'I cannot,' she cried. 'I must tell, or my soul will never know peace. I have been unfaithful to you, Abner. In this very house, not one month ago'
>
> " 'Hush, dear,' soothed Abner. 'I know all about it. Why else have I poisoned you?' "
>
> Trask tried desperately to maintain equanimity but did not entirely succeed. He suppressed a chuckle imperfectly.
>
> Meyerhof said, "So that's funny, too. Adultery. Murder. All funny."

And these are the "clean" jokes. **Why** is humour funny?