Why do americans seem to be the only people who can't laugh at themselves?
343339
A while back we (the Brits and other Europeans) rounded up all the people who didn't have a sense of humour, loaded them onto ships and sent them across the Atlantic to colonise the New World.  It's true - nowehre in the history books are there references to the jokes that Christopher Columbus made because he didn't make any.\n\nAnyway, since then they've been colonising the country quite nicely even though they've messed up a bit of late.\n\nAfter 500 years a sense of self-humour has been genetically bred out of them.\n\nThere is hope though - Africans and Caribeans have a great sense of humour so maybe they'll introduce some back into the population.\n\nBy the way, this answer isn't meant to be taken seriously.  If you're from the US and take it seriously then I guess it proves Geoff The Plank's point.
1117475
My guess: every immigrant community goes through it, hence the Irish, the Polish etc. joke. They were different, they talked funny, acted funny, and so people manage fear/ lack of understanding with jokes. It's too simple to say that it's just racism and done by bad people. We in Eastern Europe, for example, have a whole lot of very painful, pointed jokes about ourselves. Bulgarians have some of the most vicious Bulgarian jokes around. Humor is a way to transmit very simplified cultural messages.
914318
I seem to find by going by this site its everyone who is religious or american.... which doesnt really seem true to my normal life where i know people who are religious where i am not but we get on and they dont preach to me or give me the thumbs down for having a different opinion..... As for the Americans, i think they just dont get the ironic sence of humour on here... looks like i will get loads of thumbs down for having an opinion again.
419409
There is no generally accepted reason why human beings laugh. We do know that it is tied to crying from brain injuries that have resulted in people suddenly crying or laughing for no reason. The area of the brain that controls this is relatively small and the injuries are rarely the same making study of the actual mechanism difficult.
1072828
I am too. It's funny. It's only rude when the other person doesn't laugh... then it comes across wrong...
381047
Right on man! It's like you can't have a laugh at fatties or retards anymore!\n\nBy the way: some of my family are fat and most of my best friends are retards.
424375
a very natural way to cover up their true emotions. sometimes some people get away with it remarkably. some people are just toooo nervous that even their giggle sounds ghastly..\nit is jus a spontaneous reaction to a situation they cant handle..
659403
People just sometimes take themselves too seriously and not everyone understands everyone else's sense of humor, so it's kind of relative isn't it?\n\nOh and btw, I am an ordained minister.....but I have a GREAT sense of humor.
398057
because most americans are stupid and cant see past the end of there noses..
28589
You don't have to do anything. It's not like you have a problem. Everyone laughs at their own corny jokes. It's the human nature. Live your life for you boo. Laugh it up, even it was dumb as s***! Toodles!
959325
Ok, to an extent I think it's funny to make fun of ourselves.  It becomes annoying "if" that's all you ever do and it's always VERY negative.  That's a very unbecoming trait.  We all want to date someone who is confident in their own skin.  It is definitely a turn-off if someone is always down on themselves.  Now, that being said, you HAVE to be able to laugh at yourself, but be confident at the same time.
714588
Because we all want be successful and resent those we feel are more successful than we are.\nIt's basically one big inferiority complex.\n\nAnd it's NOT unique to Americans.
697348
We do sometimes, and maybe we have a dry sense of humour, and laughing at your own jokes is not cool.
1112734
It's all in good fun. With all the politically correctness that American society says we should have, there is almost no one that we can joke around about that won't get overly offended. It's not that Americans don't like Canadians, it's that it's safe to joke with Canadians, because so many of them are such good sports about it. Canada is like a close cousin that you pick on at family gatherings.\n\nAlso, many people say mean things about Canada to be ironic. Someone might say that they hate Canada, which is funny and ironic, because there is pretty much nothing to hate about Canada. \n\nSo, because it's ironic and because it's safe, Americans have made jokes about Canada a soft of trendy running gag. There is no true dislike of Canada here, at least, none from me or anyone I've met.
857466
Well, America has been lucky.  Hopefully, we will continue to have it.  Heck.. We got the British soldiers fighting along side us now.  Thanks   \n\nI think Teresa F from Northern England answered pretty good, so I won't go into battles etc.  In fairness I will defend the British sense of humor.\n\nI have worked with some British soldiers and find them friendly and funny. Yes, the soldiers would joke around about the US soldiers be chaps from the colony or something along those lines, but they would take the ribbing just as well and with a smile on their faces.  Don’t take things so personal people, it’s like them saying hello and giving an open to their kind of banter.  They also do it amongst themselves, but they are always willing to have an American join in on the fun.
714061
Because some, not all, think that they actually run the world (see the Project for the New American Century for specifics).  I find most Americans to be wonderful people but some, mostly those in powerful positions, speak to the world in a condescending manner which sadly reflects badly on all Americans.  \nBTW, I am Canadian myself and although I understand your sarcasm vis a vis the tax and policing the world, it really wasn't a very good analogy.  \n\nCheers to Cute Fuzzy Kitty
335715
I think that being awful or anything else depends individually in each person , not in their ethic group. And thinking that other people think this also depends in yourseft. You can't say that all American are awful, because that is not true. Just like you can't say all immigrants think this because that is also not true.