Quote: The Giggle-o @ November 9 2009, 2:46 AM GMTI feel your pain Tim, I feel your pain.
It is a burden, this gift for bringing joy and laughter to others. Where's my joy, where's my laughter, eh...? 
*puts on Life Of Riley DVD *
Tears of a clown...help wanted please. Page 2
*googles Life of Riley* Oh right, don't do it Tim, put it down, anything but Caroline Quentin. She hasn't got an appendix, you know.
Ah, you see, all funny people still have their appendix. Actually, Dara O'Briain doesn't. And nor does Ian Hislop... 
I'll get back to you on this one. 
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 9 2009, 2:59 AM GMTAh, you see, all funny people still have their appendix. Actually, Dara O'Briain doesn't. And nor does Ian Hislop...
Dara O'Briain was adopted I think, some people I know, said they met his adoptive parents. They were a bit funny though, not BCG funny, so it mightn't be true. I'm about as useful as an inflatable dartboard really.
Quote: The Giggle-o @ November 9 2009, 3:01 AM GMTThey were a bit funny though, not BCG funny
I can't work out whether or not to feel sorry for them... 
Ronnie Corbett is very short, whereas John Cleese is very tall. Dudley Moore had a club foot, whilst Galton & Simpson first met when they were suffering from TB. From all this, we can extrapolate the conclusion that Coming Of Age causes labial abscesses in hairdressers with bipolar disorders.
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 9 2009, 3:03 AM GMTI can't work out whether or not to feel sorry for them...
No one needs your sympathy, Tim.
Quote: Mike T @ November 9 2009, 2:47 AM GMTbeing the joker is the most tedious thing in the history of history
WRONG.
Indeed, as Brucie himself said...
"I'm the Joker of the pack
Which makes me such a lucky Jack
Here there are, they're so appealing
Come on Dollys, do your dealing!"
*wipes tear from eye* 
I was a very unhappy teenager....I was hopelessly closeted, and that unhappiness was manifesting itself in a very unhealthy eating habit. So that's a big indication of how sexuality affects the rest of your life, even though it doesn't define you.
Anyway, I always had a dark but respectful sense of humour, and once I came out, it actually helped my humour blossom (if that's the correct word for it) and through this experience I learned that you are funny because you are, indeed, funny. I think a good sense of humour is second nature for those who are TRULY amusing, funny, hysterical et al.
Hmmmmm....you know...lack of innate humour explains the last 10 years of American films I suppose 
Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ November 9 2009, 1:37 AM GMTI would also like to hear the opinions of anyone interested in giving their views on the relationship between comedy and mental health. Anything you would like to discuss would be helpful.
This thread - https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/15241 - touched on the relationship between comedy and mental health.
I was previously unaware of BDD. In a nutshell, does it mean you're irrationally unhappy with your appearance? So much so that you'll stay indoors? Is it a common complaint?
Comedy is a strange beast, in chimpanzee a smile and a laugh is a way of intimidating it's rivals. Comedy for me has always been away of making light of dark experiences, in some cases very dark. It's an expression of a bright creative mind rebelling and fighting that which it finds hard to cope with.
Also check out your average comedy course/meet up there's not a lot of happy people there. And the smiles never really reach all the way upto the eyes.
Quote: sootyj @ November 9 2009, 7:22 AM GMTin chimpanzee a smile and a laugh is a way of intimidating it's rivals.
I don't find Leevil intimidating...
Quote: sootyj @ November 9 2009, 7:22 AM GMTAlso check out your average comedy course... there's not a lot of happy people there.
Probably still thinking about the course fee... 
Quote: sootyj @ November 9 2009, 7:22 AM GMTAnd the smiles never really reach all the way upto the eyes.
Alcohol/cocaine/ketamine...
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 9 2009, 9:24 AM GMTI
Alcohol/cocaine/ketamine...
ah....I see now what happened. Someone switched the signs on the Comedy Group to Alcoholic Clowns Anonymous...ACA
pity
I think mental demons may affect the type of humour, but not having a sense of humour per se.
Personally I find people don't want to know me when I'm down and anxious, so I tend to cover it up with jolliness and laughing at my problems. Sometimes this helps, sometimes it just makes things harder for me.
I manage to sort myself without help anyway and part of this therapy does sometimes include watching lots of comedy.
Dr Tim - If someone is a bit down, a bit depressed,tired and worn down by continual illness, or something of that nature and taking a cocktail of seven or eight different drugs, which can't help the body's natural systems whatever they are - is theres some kind of vitamin injection people take to givethem a natural boost or have I just imagined that?