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Universal comedy centers on things you would be frightened or embarrassed to have happen to you. When you see someone else looking ridiculous, you flood with relief and laughter, because it's not happening to you!

Physical comedy (slap-stick): People falling down, bumping into each other, knocking things over, having their skirt or pants fall down, having a wig fall off, stepping into wet cement or animal feces, getting soup spilled over them, etc.

Bodily functions and reactions: Showing exaggerated fear. Appearing to be extremely drunk. Inappropriate belching or farting. All mentions of urinating or defecating or of urine or feces.

Sex: Practically any reference to intercourse, masturbation, male inadequacy or husbands being fooled.

Anxiety: Many variations of sneaking around and nearly getting caught by an angry husband, wife, girl's father, bully, etc. People hiding in closets, climbing out windows. Two people just missing each other as they step in and out of different rooms.

Ridicule: (These have always had appeal but in civilized societies they are no longer acceptable.) Jokes about how dumb people in other ethnic groups are. Exaggerating the accent or habits of immigrants or minorities. Making fun of people for being too short, too fat, too old or for having a disability.

Another view:

I'm not sure if the above is just a standard definition or the contributor's opinion. The above list are types of things that don't amuse me. I know quite a number of people that view them as I do, lame, without effort, and predictable. Does that negate the definition of 'universal'? Or, perhaps 'universal' means 'mostly'.

I do admit that when I was younger, perhaps in my teens, those situations would make me laugh, and I do still find the humor in Charlie Caplin, Lucy, Carol Burnett, and the like. But the personality of the actor has a lot to do with why it's funny, not just the pratfall.

I seek out humor that challenges the wit and takes you by surprise.

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Q: Are there any forms of comedy that are virtually universal?
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