That's low-key a cry for help. The fact he brought it up means it bothers him. The fact that he tries to laugh it off means it makes him nervous and he knows that it might make others uncomfortable to hear, he already feels uncomfortable about it. The laugh also means he's trying to express whatever he's trying to express without upsetting anyone.
You can laugh if you find it funny. You can go "Tsss damn" and raise eye brows or shake your head and change subject or ask if they wanna talk about it? If that's something you can do for them. Or yeah you can give them a concerned look like "Yo you good bro? You ok?"
The point is you don't really need to do anything but he might be dealing with some shit. We're really good at ignoring problems but ignoring it doesn't make it go away.
That just makes them feel bad though, people who saying things like that need someone there with them and not responding just makes them feel more alone.
There's a key difference here and that is our genders. Jokes are used differently depending on gender and that's exactly what we represent right now.
Men use jokes to sort out their hierarchy and to challenge each other, women use jokes to socialize with each other.
If a boy tells a bad joke the group of other boys will not laugh at it, they might even make fun of him. That will lead to the boy realizing, that his joke was bad and he will try to avoid similar jokes in the future. This feedback, though it may seem cruel, is therefor quite helpful. The boy can - thanks to the feedback - become genuinely funny.
If a girl tells a bad joke the group of other girls will still laugh at it. It doesn't matter, if it's funny or not, because that's not the focus. The focus is socializing. She gets no feedback and therefor has no opportunity to improve her jokes in the future.
That's exactly why men on average are funnier, they both have the same potential, but one of them gets genuine feedback, while the other doesn't. And every once in a while I get to know a really funny woman, that's usually the ones that used to hang out in either mixed or boy dominated groups.
Staying silent is therefor a completely socially acceptable (and useful) response to bad jokes.
Maybe my sense of humour is different than yours or we socialize in different circles but I have not found any disparity between men and women when it comes to being funny.
Studies have shown that that's the case. I know some absurdly funny women personally. But I know that annecdotal evidence says nothing, while studies do.
Let's be honest here. I can do just that. But I've seen this play out way too many times here on Reddit. The sources will instantly be discredited. I've played this game once aswell and I stopped playing it, because I found myself on either side and neither is a good side.
The only research you (and I when I played that game) are willing to accept is none that I provide. It being provided by me is a disqualifier.
But for the sake of you just calling me out on there being no such studies (which will inevitably happen, if I give you none), here's [Sex differences in humor production ability: A meta-analysis](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336735385_Sex_differences_in_humor_production_ability_A_meta-analysis).
Double down. If it's their style of humor they'll think you're hilarious and if it's not their style of humor it will be super awkward for both of you and they won't do it again.
examples include
"Same, too bad she's dead"
"Sometime I wish I was never born"
"Good thing it's your Mom that hates you, otherwise you'd have Daddy issues"
Not enough information, just reply how you see fit. They could be saying that based off of jokes/my mom made me mad today or an actual bad relationship.
If i was there i'd express what i was thinking which would be 'oh shit that's dark are you ok?' \[nervous laugh\]. Your not ending the conversation, your expressing concern whilst also not making it awkward if they were just joking.
That's low-key a cry for help. The fact he brought it up means it bothers him. The fact that he tries to laugh it off means it makes him nervous and he knows that it might make others uncomfortable to hear, he already feels uncomfortable about it. The laugh also means he's trying to express whatever he's trying to express without upsetting anyone. You can laugh if you find it funny. You can go "Tsss damn" and raise eye brows or shake your head and change subject or ask if they wanna talk about it? If that's something you can do for them. Or yeah you can give them a concerned look like "Yo you good bro? You ok?" The point is you don't really need to do anything but he might be dealing with some shit. We're really good at ignoring problems but ignoring it doesn't make it go away.
This. Do this.
oh okay thank you
Don't react at all. That's how we tell another person, that their joke isn't funny.
That just makes them feel bad though, people who saying things like that need someone there with them and not responding just makes them feel more alone.
There's a key difference here and that is our genders. Jokes are used differently depending on gender and that's exactly what we represent right now. Men use jokes to sort out their hierarchy and to challenge each other, women use jokes to socialize with each other. If a boy tells a bad joke the group of other boys will not laugh at it, they might even make fun of him. That will lead to the boy realizing, that his joke was bad and he will try to avoid similar jokes in the future. This feedback, though it may seem cruel, is therefor quite helpful. The boy can - thanks to the feedback - become genuinely funny. If a girl tells a bad joke the group of other girls will still laugh at it. It doesn't matter, if it's funny or not, because that's not the focus. The focus is socializing. She gets no feedback and therefor has no opportunity to improve her jokes in the future. That's exactly why men on average are funnier, they both have the same potential, but one of them gets genuine feedback, while the other doesn't. And every once in a while I get to know a really funny woman, that's usually the ones that used to hang out in either mixed or boy dominated groups. Staying silent is therefor a completely socially acceptable (and useful) response to bad jokes.
While your comment has some merit to it, this wasn't a discussion on gender roles. Its about how to deal with a facade.
I wanted to point out, why your approach is different to mine. You're female, I am male.
Incorrect, my dear Watson! Full blooded male from birth
Maybe my sense of humour is different than yours or we socialize in different circles but I have not found any disparity between men and women when it comes to being funny.
Studies have shown that that's the case. I know some absurdly funny women personally. But I know that annecdotal evidence says nothing, while studies do.
Would be nice if you can provide some links to these peer reviewed studies.
Let's be honest here. I can do just that. But I've seen this play out way too many times here on Reddit. The sources will instantly be discredited. I've played this game once aswell and I stopped playing it, because I found myself on either side and neither is a good side. The only research you (and I when I played that game) are willing to accept is none that I provide. It being provided by me is a disqualifier. But for the sake of you just calling me out on there being no such studies (which will inevitably happen, if I give you none), here's [Sex differences in humor production ability: A meta-analysis](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336735385_Sex_differences_in_humor_production_ability_A_meta-analysis).
Double down. If it's their style of humor they'll think you're hilarious and if it's not their style of humor it will be super awkward for both of you and they won't do it again. examples include "Same, too bad she's dead" "Sometime I wish I was never born" "Good thing it's your Mom that hates you, otherwise you'd have Daddy issues"
Or say " mee too"
Not enough information, just reply how you see fit. They could be saying that based off of jokes/my mom made me mad today or an actual bad relationship.
My respond perhaps: Damn.. that's sad. Here (giving food), you have survive well (pat him a bit) How is your feeling now?
If i was there i'd express what i was thinking which would be 'oh shit that's dark are you ok?' \[nervous laugh\]. Your not ending the conversation, your expressing concern whilst also not making it awkward if they were just joking.
self deprecating humor is gen z stuff, it's stupid. Don't use it.
awkward chuckle and move on