Why do some of us laugh inappropiately?

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like some of the others here, I find I laugh inappropriately if I feel that a situation is absurd. In my workplace we have many 'mature' adults and also many younger folks who are fresh out of university, and yet among all us mature people there's so much bickering and gossip and tearful confrontations, it makes me laugh.

On a related note, a few days ago I got up from sitting on my couch and felt such excruciating pain in my lower back that I couldn't put any weight or pressure on my right leg. it was bizarre, I'm quite healthy and agile,and I couldn't imagine what would cause this. I began very methodically testing out my legs and in between all of this I couldn't stop laughing as I was describing it to my husband who found the whole thing very strange

I've been this way all my life. I remember watching movies with my brother, and he would be laughing really hard at things that were supposed to be sad or upsetting. And I would find them making me laugh as well. What really amuses me is the look of non-comprehension on people's faces when something obscure amuses me.

Sometimes funny pictures or ideas pop into my head and cause me amusement. Or I will remember something funny and start laughing. Can't help it, I guess!

I've noticed that I sometimes get the giggles when someone is speaking to me in an upset or angry way. It really is not a conscious thing on my part at all. I often watch myself do this and wonder why, because I know it's inappropriate to laugh when someone is expressing anger. My father, who is an undiagnosed (but strongly suspected) Aspie has always done this too. He laughs or chuckles during serious and charged conversations.

My current hypothesis is that this is a latent defense mechanism, perhaps meant to avoid or diffuse tense situations and strong emotions, which I find very distressing. I guess this is the best my brain can muster in the absence of proper empathetic social skills. The problem is that it usually has the opposite effect.... of course, who appreciates meeting laughter when they are trying to communicate something serious?

It's this kind of thing that confirms my opinion that AS represents a collection of true deficits, not mere differences.

I find that some inappropriate things can actually be funny to laugh at.

I guess I just have an inappropriate sense of humor.