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Because he felt crummy.
What did one snowman say to the other snowman?
Smells like carrots.
Why does Snoop Dogg carry an umbrella?
Fo' drizzle.
Terrible jokes? Or a sign of a brain disorder? Actually, sometimes it's hard to tell.
Witzelsucht (the Germans just have the best words for everything, don't they?) is a brain dysfunction that causes all sorts of compulsive silliness: bad jokes, corny puns, wacky behavior. It's also sometimes called the "joking disease," and as Taiwanese researchers phrased it in a 2005 report, it's a "tendency to tell inappropriate and poor jokes." We've covered all sorts of strange disorders of the mind in earlier Body Odd posts: one disorder makes you believe your loved ones are strangers, another convinces you that your hand has taken on a life of its own. Now, we give you a brain disorder that actually causes a poor sense of humor.
It's a symptom of an injury to the right frontal lobe, which could be caused by brain trauma or a stroke, tumor, infection or a degenerative disease. "Patients who have disease of the left frontal lobe often are sad, anxious and depressed," explains Dr. Kenneth Heilman, a neurologist at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Fla. "In contrast ... patients with right-hemisphere disease often (appear) indifferent or euphoric and have inappropriate jocularity."
Heilman says he sees several cases of Witzelsucht each year. "One of the most dramatic cases (that I've seen) appeared to be attracted to my reflex hammer," Heilman says. "After I checked his deep tendon reflexes and put my hammer down, he picked up the hammer and started to check my reflexes, while giggling."
A 2005 case study describes a 57-year-old woman who suddenly morphed into a more gregarious version of herself. "She had become the life of the party and would laugh, joke, and sing all the time. The patient had decreased self-care and hygiene and wore the same clothes every day," according to the report. Her doctors believed dementia that damaged the front temporal lobes of her brain was to blame for her change in personality.
The Taiwanese case study mentioned earlier describes a 56-year-old man's symptoms, and introduces an interesting conundrum found in some Witzelsucht sufferers. Although they're constantly making others laugh, some patients don't seem to get the joke themselves. "On some occasions, he showed no smiles or laughter to the jokes ... which made everyone laugh loudly, while on other occasions, he was not able to appreciate jokes from the others," according to the report.
When it's possible, doctors attempt to treat the underlying disease or injury that's causing the Witzelsucht symptoms. Some physicians may prescribe mood stabilizers such as antipsychotic medications, but often they'll attempt to use behavioral strategies to rein in the giggles. But as Heilman explains, the jokiness "can be annoying to family and caregivers, (but) it is usually not a terrible problem."
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Leave a Comment:
Sounds like it should be named 'Michael Scott Disease'.
OMG. that's the 1st thing that came to mind. Michael Scott!
Way too common of a name to Google: Who's Michael Scott...?
They're talking about Steve Carell's character on the American version of "The Office." :)
(By the way, I totally agree, Randall K! That's hilarious.)
Or Conan Syndrome
Cripes! I'm so embarrassed - and out of touch...thanks.
Wow...I believe this disease may be more prevalent than we think. I'm pretty sure I've come into contact with a LOT of people who suffer from it...and most of them were here on Newsvine.
Sounds more like "making excuses for the non funny" who need to feel better about their terrible "senses of humor"!
I've met people like this and I don't think it's a disease at all! Simply a means to camaflague an insulting degenerate who enjoys berating other people and taking a swipe to make ot seem funny!
Probably to avoid a well deserved punch in the face!!!!:)
Do you know someone who doesn't fit the 100% "normal" mold of what a human being should be? Well guess what! They have a disease! ...Not. People need to stop taking every slight deviation from the norm and labeling it as a problem. Ever think that it's just a different type of personality?
Why don't they come up with a disease for nasty rude people I encounter everyday.
Who is 'they'?
Define "the norm".
So what is this?
Now if you're a happy joking person you need mood altering drugs to "cure" it?
I guess we don't have enough miserable nasty-spirited people in the world. Can't have that.
Come on folks! They are not saying that a bad sense of humor is a mental disorder in and of itself. I was afraid that was what they were saying, too, until I actually read the article. What it is really saying is that people who suffer an injury to a particular part of the brain come to display what is for them a new, characteristically bad sense of humor. It indicates that that part of the brain is somehow related to humor or perception or interpersonal abilities or whatever. When damaged, it impairs an individuals ability to comprehend, show or regulate humor. It is an interesting observation and could lead to a better understanding of how the brain and personality work.
How can you say a bad sense of humor isn't a mental disorder? I make bad jokes all the time,not even expecting anyone to giggle.
Its like keeping a straight face during election time. I wish I had Tourrets and was able to attend a rally or two.
Given some of the bad ones I've heard (and yes, ones that I've said) at Open Mic Night, this doesn't surprise me in the least.
sounds like a more severe version of my personality. I tend to make 'corny' jokes and act like a goofball sometimes. I also often find things funny that others don't or come up with jokes that are more intellectual so no one sees the humor. Sometimes people tell me a joke and instead of seeing the humor I see flaws in the "plot" of the joke and point them out. However I'm rarely (if ever) innapropriate about my timing or situation. I don't act foolish at work or make jokes during serious situations though I am the first in such situations to get past the drama and try to cheer others up with a little joking. The more I think about it the more I suspect i have a mild version of this. But probably not since except for the 'examining flaws in jokes' I'm very purposeful and know what I'm doing. The flaws thing I tend to do before I realize it but only when there are flaws.
it should be called "everybody's father" disease or "my teachers'" disease.
Of course, you heard about the guy who submitted ten puns to a contest hoping at least one would win? Unfortunately, no pun in ten did!
(Sorry; just had to...lack of brain injury notwithstanding! Though there was that time...)
LOVE. IT.
YES I HAVE HEARD. I tell that pun whenever I get the chance!
I have another, but it's a little long...
Anyway. This woman and her husband decide to open a bed and breakfast. The wife can make a mean eggs benedict as the specialty for the guests. Her husband LOVES it and so he eats it every morning with the guests. When he goes to his next dentist check-up, his dentist says his teeth are not in good shape. He asks what the man is doing differently, eating differently, etc. The guy says he eats this eggs benedict all the time now that his wife makes it for their guests! The dentist says its the hollandaise sauce that is doing him in and to stop eating it! The man protests, no way. Isn't there something else I can do? So the dentist says well, we could put a protective plate on your teeth...but it'll be visible since it has to be chrome. But why chrome? The man asks.
Because there's no plate like chrome for the hollandaise!
Yes..I really just typed that whole joke out.
That is not a pun, it is a spoonerism.
According to Thomas Szasz, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Syracuse, New York, mental disorders are a myth and do not exist. Thomas Szasz is strongly against involuntary commitment and forced psychiatric treatment. Szasz also believes that the insanity defense should be abolished.
Medicalizing behaviour is getting out of control and becoming ridiculous. This is a perfect example.
The brain is complex; it controls almost every aspect of who we are and how we act, and yet there is so much we don't know about it. It's foolish and arrogant for anyone to think they know exactly how it works and what our brains are (or aren't) capable of.
He says that, does he? Just proves that a bunch of degrees does not mean someone knows what they are talking about. I would ask if he's ever walked onto a psych ward, but I guess that's a stupid question. I wonder if he means that all are just a part of "normal." Should we then let terribly depressed people stay depressed and not help them? Should we not help people lost in terror in psychosis? Should we let families of bipolar people suffer from their rages and/or spending sprees or even psychotic episodes or force the sufferers themselves to endure their black pits of despair? Should we let all suicides go forward even if the person would change their mind if only they could get through this temporary crisis? I've either known people in these situations or known of people in these situations. They appreciated being helped; they believed they had a disorder.
.... that it's just all in their head.
I watched my wife go from a happy healthy young woman to a closed up recluse as the onset of Catatonic schizophrenia took her mind. That Doc Thomas Szasz is a quack and should not be allowed near any patients!
I worked with a guy like this 25 years ago. He talked nonstop like a motormouth, and everything that came out of his mouth was inappropriate. It was a grocery store, and as he sacked groceries, the entire time he was like. "You're buying beer. That stuff will make your kidneys shrivel up and fall right out of your body. I'm a Mormon, I don't drink beer, it's against my religion. We don't believe in coffee either, you shouldn't drink that stuff it'll kill you. Of course my mom drank it one time and she didn't die so maybe I'm wrong." On and on and on. It was mostly jokey but he never laughed, eiter at himself or others. He had zero self-awareness, showed no emotion, could not answer direct questions, and seemed more like a robot who just happened to have words flying out of his mouth than a human being. Amazingly, he never got fired because he could sack groceries like nobody's business and was always willing to clean the bathrooms, the dumpster, etc - dirty jobs no one else would do. Wonder whatever happened to that weirdo?
Oh, wow, that's fascinating. Thanks for commenting!
I would be willing to bet that man had an entirely different disorder- probably asperger's, if not autism.
He was recently elected Senator from Utah on the Tea Party ticket.
Maybe it isn't a disease at all maybe it is a way for some people to manage stressful situations? Not everything is a disease and not everything needs to be treated with medication. Besides, isn't laughter the best medicine. Those who laugh a lot are theoretically less stressed than those who don't laugh at all.
The President has Aides. Presidential Aides.
Holy Whoppee Cushions, Batman! I always suspected the Joker was merely deranged!
Hugs and kisses,
Robin
Why is brain surgery always left out of brain damage? Most brain surgeries occur on the right side of the the brain (if there is a choice, because most people are right sided/handed) which also involves right frontal lobe. Surgery itself is an invasion of the brain, thus damaging.
Sorry, but those jokes are awesome.
Obviously you think that because your name is "Fo' drizzle" HAHAHAHAHA
They now want to give people a pill if they are somewhat happy. What do they want, a grey world where everyone does what their told, pay their taxes and never complain. Ever notice the number of comedians that come from Canada?
Speaking of which, we all knew sex would give you AIDS, but Clinton taught us you can get sex from aides.
Didn't Clinton think sex came from cigars? If that isn't a mental disorder..
This is a new one on me. The Germans also have a word for people who take great pleasure at other people's displeasure, as well. I'm sure there's a word for every form of causality in Germany, too. Is that in itself a disease that needs a word?
My opinion. People who laugh inappropriately have simply adapted in that way to deal with stress, just like how some people carry charms with them long after childhood has ended. The difference is like post traumatic stress disorder...sometimes the jokes never stop, and sometimes disconnected. I can think of worse ways to deal with post traumatic stress.
It is not always true that the Germans make good stuff (up).
that's what she said
Don't you get it? Lately it seems that no matter what we do as individuals is not our fault! Now even telling bad jokes is someone else's fault. I happen to like bad jokes. They make me groan and laugh at the same time.
You know, when you post things to an online forum, OTHERS can read it! My name is MICHAEL SCOTT, and I do not appreciate the insinuation that this bogus "Disease" be associated with my name! Its bad enough that I must endure "The Office" jokes on a daily basis, Now I have to put up with people ruining my name by suggesting that It serve as an alias for a Joke Disease. I am HIGHLY offended, and would apprectiate it if this madness would stop!
I didn't know Michael could spell...let alone read. Steve must read to him before nap time.
LOL...this is pretty much my personality! The goofiness...not the lack of hygiene thing. I have been goofy all my life and I love it! I can be serious, when neccessary, but it isn't as much fun. Times when I am required to "appear"sophisticated, all the jokes are still in my brain!
What do you call a cows ?........................................................................A cattle log!
Typo on that last post, it would be unfunny the way it was posted above.
Here is the corrected version:
What do you call a cows diary?........................................................................A cattle log!