Courtesy Laugh

Do you ever lol when something isn’t funny? Think about it, do you laugh out loud even though you don’t think what they said was funny.  Unfortunately, most normal people do it all the time, and in fact we’re supposed to do it all the time as well.  I call it a “courtesy laugh” and it pops up in the real world all the time.

Authority - Let’s say you’re networking to someone of authority.  You’re some pee-wee and they’re clearly accomplished.  You’re trying to make small talk and come off as a coherent individual, and you’re probably sucking up to them a little bit too.  So if they say something, that’s supposed to be funny.  We give it the ole double ha.  We’re just trying to communicate that we understand you said something you think is funny, and that we have a high enough social IQ to know when to laugh.  Hopefully your courtesy laugh was properly timed and you continue to hit it off with someone who can hire you or promote you one day.

Small talk - Another great time to use the courtesy laugh is when you’re zoning off during small talk.  You can be at a party, a bar, or just catching up with people.  But clearly you’re not that interested in the conversation, but there’s literally nothing else to do, so you act interested.  You’re thinking of something else but continue to be a good listener.  To not get caught zoning off and being a jerk, if they say something that’s supposed to be funny, you give them a polite courtesy laugh, so you don’t come off as an upper class prick.

Elderly - You can also use the courtesy laugh around the hard of hearing elderly.  A courtesy laugh is the simplest thing to say.  They don’t have to read your lips or ask you to say it again.  So if there’s a time when you’re suppose to laugh, go ahead and belt out another courtesy laugh, and play along with them.  Also, don’t ever try to do an add-on joke with the elderly.  You know, where you play off their joke you’re your own very related funny comment.  You’ll be forced to say it multiple times, and your joke will get less funny each time you repeat it, and finally will only be met with their own courtesy laugh, quite a depressing return.

Flirting - The final and most important time to use the courtesy laugh is when you’re flirting with a cute girl.  Everything a cute girl says is significantly funnier because you’re trying to make her feel good.  Hopefully, she’ll come away thinking, what a sweet and funny guy.  So when a cute girl says something remotely funny, or when she’s expecting a laugh, we’ll definitely be them giving a courtesy laugh.

If you don’t believe me, or don’t think you do this, I challenge you to NOT laugh at things that aren’t funny.  Don’t do any courtesy laughs for a day or two.  You’ll quickly see how awkward the conversation gets, and how there is no filler to let the conversation flow.

So continue to use the courtesy laugh to show off your social IQ, to zone out during small-talk, to speak with the elderly, and to flirt with that cute girl.