Is this funny?
They have no Theory of Mind.
I ask because, while this is an extreme example (see if you can make the connections), I quite often toss out things in conversation that I think are funny but draw blank stares. I have a very out of the box way of linking things together. Like this is funny to me because if a zombie has no theory of mind it doesn't know that people have a mind, hence it doesn't know people have brains hence it never looks for brains in people hence it starves because, as we all know, zombies need to eat brains.
Yeah. I know. Pretty oblique.
I don't find it funny, but I don't find it insulting either. I do find it gross and nonsensical though. The gross part should be obvious. The nonsensical part comes from my AS thinking that Theory of Mind has nothing to do with being aware of whether others have brains. Of course I'm aware they do. And I'm even aware they have their own thoughts.
Lack of Theory of Mind isn't about not being aware of it at all. It's about very often assuming that others think the same things about certain things that we do. It''s about frequently forgetting that others aren't seeing the same things that to us are obvious, and that applies to us whether we are dealing with NT's or each other.
The reason the joke makes no sense to me (before it's explained), is my own literal thinking.
Jokes that have to be explained are almost never funny. Considering that even you felt you should explain it should give you a clue that it isn't.
Nothing wrong with thinking it though, and I'm not meaning to attack your sense of humor. My kids make up jokes all the time, almost all of which make no sense to me. I tell them the same thing. If you have to explain it, it's not a very good joke.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Just trying to offer a little insight.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
You are right about explaining jokes but that misses the point. The point was not the joke. The point was oblique thinking. That some found it funny is as interesting to me as the responses of those that did not.
I'm not sure why you would find it gross, unless you find the entire concept of zombies gross.
As for the Theory of Mind not implying the existence of a brain, I'm surprised how many have tried to split that hair. It is not that big a leap. Theory of Mind is what informs me that another entity has intention. Intention implies a mind. A mind REQUIRES a physical brain. With a faulty Theory of Mind, I can easily conclude that you have no intention and therefore you lack a mind and hence lack a physical brain.
They have no Theory of Mind.
I ask because, while this is an extreme example (see if you can make the connections), I quite often toss out things in conversation that I think are funny but draw blank stares. I have a very out of the box way of linking things together. Like this is funny to me because if a zombie has no theory of mind it doesn't know that people have a mind, hence it doesn't know people have brains hence it never looks for brains in people hence it starves because, as we all know, zombies need to eat brains.
Yeah. I know. Pretty oblique.
I don't find it funny, but I don't find it insulting either. I do find it gross and nonsensical though. The gross part should be obvious. The nonsensical part comes from my AS thinking that Theory of Mind has nothing to do with being aware of whether others have brains. Of course I'm aware they do. And I'm even aware they have their own thoughts.
Lack of Theory of Mind isn't about not being aware of it at all. It's about very often assuming that others think the same things about certain things that we do. It''s about frequently forgetting that others aren't seeing the same things that to us are obvious, and that applies to us whether we are dealing with NT's or each other.
The reason the joke makes no sense to me (before it's explained), is my own literal thinking.
Jokes that have to be explained are almost never funny. Considering that even you felt you should explain it should give you a clue that it isn't.
Nothing wrong with thinking it though, and I'm not meaning to attack your sense of humor. My kids make up jokes all the time, almost all of which make no sense to me. I tell them the same thing. If you have to explain it, it's not a very good joke.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Just trying to offer a little insight.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
AAAAGGGHHHHH!!
A reasonably good joke destroyed by analysis. If you pick apart the joke it stops being funny. But I don't think that detracts from the joke itself. The best joke in the world stops being funny if it gets analyzed too much. The hunour is in the incongruity which only works if you don't look at it too closely. That's why I didn't read the OP's explanation. I didn't want a perfectly good joke destroyed by an explanation. Now the joke is doubly dead because I analyzed the analysis, thus compunding the humour murder.
(Now you know why I keep posting on WP even though I'm NT. I'm just BAPishly nitpicky enough to kill a dying joke by analysing its analysis.)
They have no Theory of Mind.
I ask because, while this is an extreme example (see if you can make the connections), I quite often toss out things in conversation that I think are funny but draw blank stares. I have a very out of the box way of linking things together. Like this is funny to me because if a zombie has no theory of mind it doesn't know that people have a mind, hence it doesn't know people have brains hence it never looks for brains in people hence it starves because, as we all know, zombies need to eat brains.
Yeah. I know. Pretty oblique.
I don't find it funny, but I don't find it insulting either. I do find it gross and nonsensical though. The gross part should be obvious. The nonsensical part comes from my AS thinking that Theory of Mind has nothing to do with being aware of whether others have brains. Of course I'm aware they do. And I'm even aware they have their own thoughts.
Lack of Theory of Mind isn't about not being aware of it at all. It's about very often assuming that others think the same things about certain things that we do. It''s about frequently forgetting that others aren't seeing the same things that to us are obvious, and that applies to us whether we are dealing with NT's or each other.
The reason the joke makes no sense to me (before it's explained), is my own literal thinking.
Jokes that have to be explained are almost never funny. Considering that even you felt you should explain it should give you a clue that it isn't.
Nothing wrong with thinking it though, and I'm not meaning to attack your sense of humor. My kids make up jokes all the time, almost all of which make no sense to me. I tell them the same thing. If you have to explain it, it's not a very good joke.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Just trying to offer a little insight.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
AAAAGGGHHHHH!!
A reasonably good joke destroyed by analysis. If you pick apart the joke it stops being funny. But I don't think that detracts from the joke itself. The best joke in the world stops being funny if it gets analyzed too much. The hunour is in the incongruity which only works if you don't look at it too closely. That's why I didn't read the OP's explanation. I didn't want a perfectly good joke destroyed by an explanation. Now the joke is doubly dead because I analyzed the analysis, thus compunding the humour murder.
(Now you know why I keep posting on WP even though I'm NT. I'm just BAPishly nitpicky enough to kill a dying joke by analysing its analysis.)
hahaha it's not destroyed, cheer up!the fact that mind doesn't equal brains makes it even more funny to me. it's "wtf funny"
They have no Theory of Mind.
I ask because, while this is an extreme example (see if you can make the connections), I quite often toss out things in conversation that I think are funny but draw blank stares. I have a very out of the box way of linking things together. Like this is funny to me because if a zombie has no theory of mind it doesn't know that people have a mind, hence it doesn't know people have brains hence it never looks for brains in people hence it starves because, as we all know, zombies need to eat brains.
Yeah. I know. Pretty oblique.
I don't find it funny, but I don't find it insulting either. I do find it gross and nonsensical though. The gross part should be obvious. The nonsensical part comes from my AS thinking that Theory of Mind has nothing to do with being aware of whether others have brains. Of course I'm aware they do. And I'm even aware they have their own thoughts.
Lack of Theory of Mind isn't about not being aware of it at all. It's about very often assuming that others think the same things about certain things that we do. It''s about frequently forgetting that others aren't seeing the same things that to us are obvious, and that applies to us whether we are dealing with NT's or each other.
The reason the joke makes no sense to me (before it's explained), is my own literal thinking.
Jokes that have to be explained are almost never funny. Considering that even you felt you should explain it should give you a clue that it isn't.
Nothing wrong with thinking it though, and I'm not meaning to attack your sense of humor. My kids make up jokes all the time, almost all of which make no sense to me. I tell them the same thing. If you have to explain it, it's not a very good joke.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Just trying to offer a little insight.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
AAAAGGGHHHHH!!
A reasonably good joke destroyed by analysis. If you pick apart the joke it stops being funny. But I don't think that detracts from the joke itself. The best joke in the world stops being funny if it gets analyzed too much. The hunour is in the incongruity which only works if you don't look at it too closely. That's why I didn't read the OP's explanation. I didn't want a perfectly good joke destroyed by an explanation. Now the joke is doubly dead because I analyzed the analysis, thus compunding the humour murder.
(Now you know why I keep posting on WP even though I'm NT. I'm just BAPishly nitpicky enough to kill a dying joke by analysing its analysis.)
Janissy, you missed the point of my post. It wasn't funny to me before the analysis. I wouldn't have even been able to analyze why without the explanation. My entire point is that it is the fact that it needed an explanation at all is the very reason I didn't find it funny. You are right, jokes are only funny if you don't have to look at them too closely. The problem is, I had to, even after the explanation, which is WHY it wasn't funny (to me).
I would apologize for the analysis driving you nuts if it weren't for the fact that you are voluntarily choosing to take part on a forum where most of us do just that. That is who I am sometimes, and I don't apologize for that.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
(NO offense taken or meant by the way.)
_________________
I'm not likely to be around much longer. As before when I first signed up here years ago, I'm finding that after a long hiatus, and after only a few days back on here, I'm spending way too much time here again already. So I'm requesting my account be locked, banned or whatever. It's just time. Until then, well, I dunno...
They have no Theory of Mind.
I ask because, while this is an extreme example (see if you can make the connections), I quite often toss out things in conversation that I think are funny but draw blank stares. I have a very out of the box way of linking things together. Like this is funny to me because if a zombie has no theory of mind it doesn't know that people have a mind, hence it doesn't know people have brains hence it never looks for brains in people hence it starves because, as we all know, zombies need to eat brains.
Yeah. I know. Pretty oblique.
I don't find it funny, but I don't find it insulting either. I do find it gross and nonsensical though. The gross part should be obvious. The nonsensical part comes from my AS thinking that Theory of Mind has nothing to do with being aware of whether others have brains. Of course I'm aware they do. And I'm even aware they have their own thoughts.
Lack of Theory of Mind isn't about not being aware of it at all. It's about very often assuming that others think the same things about certain things that we do. It''s about frequently forgetting that others aren't seeing the same things that to us are obvious, and that applies to us whether we are dealing with NT's or each other.
The reason the joke makes no sense to me (before it's explained), is my own literal thinking.
Jokes that have to be explained are almost never funny. Considering that even you felt you should explain it should give you a clue that it isn't.
Nothing wrong with thinking it though, and I'm not meaning to attack your sense of humor. My kids make up jokes all the time, almost all of which make no sense to me. I tell them the same thing. If you have to explain it, it's not a very good joke.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Just trying to offer a little insight.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
You are right about explaining jokes but that misses the point. The point was not the joke. The point was oblique thinking. That some found it funny is as interesting to me as the responses of those that did not.
I'm not sure why you would find it gross, unless you find the entire concept of zombies gross.
As for the Theory of Mind not implying the existence of a brain, I'm surprised how many have tried to split that hair. It is not that big a leap. Theory of Mind is what informs me that another entity has intention. Intention implies a mind. A mind REQUIRES a physical brain. With a faulty Theory of Mind, I can easily conclude that you have no intention and therefore you lack a mind and hence lack a physical brain.
To the point of TOM:
Your response is case in point to exactly what I meant. I split (admittedly) split hairs, and you split hairs in return.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Lack of TOM is working both ways in this thread, not just between you and I, but between you and others, and among others as well. (Big surprise, huh?) Your TOM may be informing you that I have intention, but lack thereof is seemingly preventing you from accepting that to me, it IS a leap from Theory of Mind, to "Brain."
If no one should have a problem making that connection, then why bother to explain it? Thank you though, FOR explaining it, because if you hadn't, I never would have gotten the joke at all.
Either way, it doesn't make me laugh.
Sorry.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
EDIT: Now THIS, I do find funny (and I really DO hope you are not offended by this, because it isn't meant to be. I have the same problem if you haven't noticed!). Right after posting this, I noticed this thread you started:
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt140880.html
Couldn't help but see it as apropos and maybe even a bit ironic.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
_________________
I'm not likely to be around much longer. As before when I first signed up here years ago, I'm finding that after a long hiatus, and after only a few days back on here, I'm spending way too much time here again already. So I'm requesting my account be locked, banned or whatever. It's just time. Until then, well, I dunno...
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Had to chuckle at this. It seems a lot of hair splitting happens around here.
Actually I had noticed. In fact I found the various responses very interesting. It illuminates the Aspieness of the people around here in an unexpected way.
Either way, it doesn't make me laugh.
Sorry.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
No need for an apology. Again, I am more interested in the reactions. I knew from the start that it was oblique and likely not to be funny. I'm a little more surprised that some actually found it amusing. That makes me feel a little less like a freak. At least SOME people make these weird conceptual jumps
Last edited by wavefreak58 on 21 Oct 2010, 4:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I would apologize for the analysis driving you nuts if it weren't for the fact that you are voluntarily choosing to take part on a forum where most of us do just that. That is who I am sometimes, and I don't apologize for that.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
(NO offense taken or meant by the way.)
It's who I am too.
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
(Yes, we have all managed to discuss a joke for multiple pages now. This is beautiful and dreadful both at the same time.)
I would apologize for the analysis driving you nuts if it weren't for the fact that you are voluntarily choosing to take part on a forum where most of us do just that. That is who I am sometimes, and I don't apologize for that.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
(NO offense taken or meant by the way.)
It's who I am too.
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
(Yes, we have all managed to discuss a joke for multiple pages now. This is beautiful and dreadful both at the same time.)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
To tell you the truth, I find the discussion and debate really funny, probably because there is so much irony here. Trying to be careful though, because I am almost positive there are others here who probably don't find it funny, and the fact that I do could be offensive to some.
Sometimes we just can't win.
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
_________________
I'm not likely to be around much longer. As before when I first signed up here years ago, I'm finding that after a long hiatus, and after only a few days back on here, I'm spending way too much time here again already. So I'm requesting my account be locked, banned or whatever. It's just time. Until then, well, I dunno...
Indeed.
It's very strange to see so much of myself mirrored in the responses, not just to this thread, but throughout WP. I never realized how pedantic I appear to NTs. I must be really irritating at times.
I thought the joke was funny because I assume that possibly the choice of brains as a food for zombies has something to do with their cognitive purpose. Maybe zombies eat brains because they need to consume something that thinks. Since autistic zombies would be unable to observe the thinking of others (no theory of mind), they would starve.
I thought it was funny, and I didn't need to have it explained. Not saying it's the world's greatest joke, but since we're beating it to death with analysis, I thought I'd get a couple of sympathetic licks in.
![Shocked 8O](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
![Shocked 8O](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
_________________
I'm not likely to be around much longer. As before when I first signed up here years ago, I'm finding that after a long hiatus, and after only a few days back on here, I'm spending way too much time here again already. So I'm requesting my account be locked, banned or whatever. It's just time. Until then, well, I dunno...
Last edited by MrXxx on 21 Oct 2010, 6:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SpongeBobRocksMao
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But if one is a zombie, then one will have difficulties with socializing that are explained by being a zombie, which mask everything else including AS traits. Thus one would no longer qualify for AS diagnosis. Must... eat... Braiiiiiiinz!! !! Nom nom nom nom eigh eigh eigh eigh!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJH41RfsbJk[/youtube]
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A boy and his dog sometimes talk to each other
A boy and a dog can be happy sitting down in the woods on a log
But a dog knows his boy can go wrong