We’re all funny in our own ways.
That’s what I like to tell myself every time I tell a terrible joke that turns into a complete disaster, anyway.
Your sense of humor may differ from that of the person next to you, and that’s completely okay.
What’s more, some people like to crack language-based jokes while others are more into situational comedy or memes, which means there’s a vast array of humorous interactions to choose from.
Still, though.
Some of us simply have a sharper wit and sense of humor than others.
And these are the 6 signs you’re part of the VIP club.
1) You’re a quick thinker
When I was a teenager, I used to do theatre.
While I greatly enjoyed playwriting and a bit of acting here and there, there was one thing that absolutely made my skin crawl.
Improv.
Improv was – and still is – terrifying to me because it requires an incredibly sharp wit and quick thinking.
You’re basically placed in a situation where you have to be as funny as possible without having anything prepared.
It’s a nightmare.
If you have a sharper wit and sense of humor than the average person, however, you’re probably someone who quite enjoys improv.
You don’t get nervous and fidgety when the spotlight is on you; you don’t wish you were anywhere else but here.
On the contrary, you quite like to test your wit and dabble in a bit of comedy because you’re ultimately pretty good at it.
If placed in a random situation, you know how to make it funnier; if offered a bit of banter, you can repay the person with a quick retort; if someone invites you to “tell a joke,” you know just the right thing to say that’s actually going to make people laugh.
This is why quick thinking is the number one sign you’re a funny person.
It’s an absolute must if you want to keep the banter going at a good speed or come up with a way to make people cackle.
2) You have an advanced vocabulary – and you know how to use it
Who doesn’t love dad jokes?
Lots of people, probably.
But you’ve got to admit that a good pun or a clever turn of phrase goes a long way.
And while quick thinking is a necessity to make this work, an advanced vocabulary is a bit of a cherry on top.
It isn’t a requirement – a few simple words suffice if you know how and when to use them in the context of your situation – but it definitely makes everything easier for you, especially if you’re trying to charm academics or intellectuals.
In such cases, a rather obscure word used in a comedic manner may be just what you need to make the whole room laugh.
3) You understand cultural references to a tee
Humor comes in many shapes and forms, and cultural references are absolutely one of them.
Take my mum, for example.
I definitely take after her when it comes to my terrible improv skills, but if there’s one thing she’s great at, it’s got to be her use of subtle cultural references in the right context.
We could be simply going on about our day, and she’ll suddenly whip out a reference that perfectly fits the current situation from a random movie we watched together years ago.
Of course, the issue with this kind of humor is that some people may not have a clue what you’re talking about.
This is why the perfect use of references and memes isn’t just about the parallels you can draw between real life and art; it’s also about your ability to read the room and recognize whether the joke will land or not.
I love cultural references not only because they can be incredibly clever and humorous if used right but also because they are the sort of humor that bonds us to other people by displaying our shared background and understanding.
As psychologist Jim Taylor Ph.D. says, “Popular culture is grounded in expressions of shared experiences that are much more fundamental to our society, including the values and beliefs that have shaped it, for example, integrity, community, compassion, courage, sacrifice, respect, hard work, and justice.”
4) You’re the master of (harmless) sarcasm
Look, I’m not saying you need to be an expert in the art of slightly bitter and snickering humor (aka, sarcasm) in order to be funny.
But it definitely helps.
I say this as someone who tends to take too long when it comes to grasping jokes and distinguishing between sarcasm and fact: if you don’t get sarcasm, you don’t come across as exactly sharp-witted.
In fact, my inability to comprehend sarcasm on time has caused me to be categorized as “a bit daft” more times than I can count.
(Of course, I don’t think I’m actually daft. Still, though.)
If you struggle with sarcasm, don’t beat yourself up.
It’s really difficult to get it right, mostly because sarcasm can very easily turn into cruelty if you’re not careful.
As experts Linda and Charlie Bloom explain, “Sarcasm can be used with playful intent, but it’s important to try to access the other’s sensitivity to it by checking out their response to it and even asking them how they felt about it. Some people come from families where the use of sarcasm was commonplace; and they are used to being spoken to and speaking that way. They do not comprehend how they hurt others with their cutting tongue.”
It’s all about balance.
5) You can easily read people
Speaking of the ability to recognize whether people can “take” your sarcasm and respond to it positively, a fundamental part of humor is the precision with which you can read others.
Enter… a mysterious spell that will automatically let you see inside other people’s heads, aka, empathy!
The more empathetic you are, the higher chance there is that your jokes will always toe the line between “funny” and “insensitive” with expert care.
What’s more, you’re better able to tell what other people’s sense of humor is like and whether it’s similar to yours, and you can adjust your approach based on that intuitive knowledge.
6) You don’t take yourself too seriously
Finally (and most importantly), a huge sign you have a sharper wit and sense of humor than the average person is that you can crack jokes at your own expense.
Furthermore, it’s incredibly difficult to offend you because you 1) don’t take other people’s opinions too personally, 2) approach life in a very light-hearted way and 3) don’t take yourself all that seriously because you understand that it’s just not that deep.
When two people who have a healthy sense of self-esteem and aren’t afraid to make fun of themselves or look silly meet…
That’s when amazing situational comedy and banter are born.