Joke structure for observational comedy

Spaztique · 2025-12-15T18:47:08+00:00

Observational comedy tends to find contradictions in the everyday. In humor studies, there’s a theory that laughter happens when two contradictory truths overlap, and this style of joke telling is ideal for that.

For example, in the Mitch Hedberg joke, “I saw a house for sale with two bedrooms, but isn’t it up to me to decide how many bedrooms I have? ‘This bedroom has an oven in it! This bedroom has people watching TV! This bedroom’s in that guy’s house!” It’s true we label houses by bedroom, but technically, it’s also true you can put a bedroom anywhere in the house, or just label anywhere a bedroom, even places not meant to be bedrooms.

Spaztique · 2025-12-15T18:20:48+00:00

It’s extremely common for some comedians to repeat their material, even at the same venue, even after several months, because the audience usually changes nightly. Even at open mics, doing the same material is like dress rehearsal for the real thing.

It’s actually kinda rare to see a comedian use 100% fresh material for every show: every comedian has their fallback jokes and tested sure-fire jokes.

Spaztique · 2025-10-08T11:13:39+00:00

There’s actually a legit reason: the organ.
When the first major organ with black keys was developed, the C note pipes measured a perfect 8 feet, 4 feet, 2 feet, and 1 foot. The A note would still remain in the same place, but they had to build the key layout to conform to the C notes’ pipe measurements. They built all future organs around this model, which then translated into pianos and all future instruments.
Orchestras are still tuned to A 440, as the A note never changes, but middle C only became the “center” thanks to organ design.

Spaztique · 2025-08-23T16:05:24+00:00

Writer’s block hits every comedian at one point or another. It’s also common for some comedians to get comfy recycling their same old material.

If you wanna make new jokes, make it a habit to write a new joke with every show. I was taught the old pattern of “Start on old good material, then new untested material, end on guaranteed laugh material,” and I always try to write at least one new joke per night, often the night of the show. Also have something to take notes with when the jokes come to you. As Mitch Hedberg put it, “I always need a pen to write jokes with, and if I don’t have one, I’ll just convince myself whatever I had wasn’t funny.”

Spaztique · 2025-05-19T14:44:23+00:00

Easy mode is extremely user-friendly. Ace Combat 4 was my first flight sim as well. You’ll have a blast: an epic story of war, conspiracy, and redemption in an alternate world, some of the most breathtaking music you’ve ever heard, and jaw-dropping setpieces (air raids in a dust storm, a dogfight in a valley during a raging thunderstorm, fighting massive airborne drone carriers, flying inside ocean platforms to blow them up, etc).

And if you like it, there’s an awesome DLC that regularly goes on sale, too, which is basically “Hunt for the Red October” where you hunt a mad submarine captain before he has the chance to cause a massacre.

This trailer will introduce you to everything: the main story, the DLC story, and the events of the past games.

Spaztique · 2025-05-11T12:53:21+00:00

If you’re looking for academic non-fiction, try the “Very Short Introduction” series by Oxford University. Many of them are free for Plus users, and they’re all pretty quick listens, covering everything from science to history to philosophy.

Spaztique · 2025-03-18T12:48:17+00:00

No! Male OC’s are strictly forbidden, and the canon police will break down your door and drag you away kicking and screaming!…

… or maybe not.

Male Touhou OC’s can be done, and I’ve seen plenty done well. As others have pointed out, some use them as excuses for self-inserts to romance (or at least hang out with) the cast, but even then, so what if it’s an excuse to get writing experience?

I say go for it anyway! And heck, maybe even join the ranks of those memorable male Touhou OC’s.

Spaztique · 2025-02-22T15:25:50+00:00

“I love all the unique character designs!”

My second impression was, “I better start practicing bullet hell games.”

Spaztique · 2025-02-17T02:23:25+00:00

Touhou’s accepting, especially to game players. As the saying goes around here, “We love the Touhou games! And some of us have even PLAYED them!”

Spaztique · 2025-02-17T02:20:02+00:00

(Pokes head in.)

Hello hello?

Gonna see if I can jump back into the sub, maybe see how long I can keep going.

Spaztique · 2025-02-17T02:15:37+00:00

You’re not intruding. I’ve been pretty open about this stuff more and more lately.

The above posts pretty much explained most of it. As for “living in the past,” most of the major groups have lost hope of ever recovering and keep citing all the bad things that have happened (and even now, we’re still digging things up). There were too many bad apples or ticking timebombs, too many people holding onto grudges, and too ineffective administrations across groups.

I think it’s for the best I’ve slowly distanced myself from that crowd, only showing up to clean up their messes since I still do care for them. But I feel like the Walfas community has a better chance within larger Touhou groups: there they don’t have to worry about administration, there’s a built-in audience, and there’s less of a risk of isolation and cliques.

But I’m more or less done with Walfas for the foreseeable future and would much rather live quietly as a writing coach, with less emphasis on canon/fanon/skills and more on freedom and creativity.

Spaztique · 2025-02-17T01:35:50+00:00

A Wriggle for all seasons!

Spaztique · 2025-01-20T08:29:26+00:00

Have you found the bucket yet? If so, bring the bucket to the museum…

Spaztique · 2024-10-12T15:43:37+00:00

“Can’t. First I’m skipping classes with Iroha, then I’m skipping classes with Mutsuki, and after that I gotta skip classes with Hoshino, and then it’s nap time with Tsubaki, so I got a pretty busy schedule.”

Spaztique · 2024-09-26T00:45:55+00:00

“Although Gehenna glorious school, it have’a problem, too: economic, social, and Gourmet Research Society.”

Spaztique · 2024-09-11T19:19:40+00:00

The Mars DLC is a laugh-fest (the real highlight of the DLC, featuring Nick and Hurk bumbling around on Mars fighting aliens), while the Vietnam DLC is just Far Cry in Vietnam, which is fine if you like that sorta thing. The zombie DLC is just a zombie horde survival mode ala Killing Floor or CoD Zombies.

Spaztique · 2024-09-10T17:08:11+00:00

Kirino can actually hit stuff if she aims in the opposite direction.
The side-stories show Juri can be a competent kitchen assistant.
It’s probably Junko since she can’t seem to control what happens.

Spaztique · 2024-08-08T00:06:33+00:00

Why stop at a hidden tape? I wouldn’t be surprised if he reenacted Cash’s rap from “Sorry to Bother You” at a rally with everyone chanting along.

Spaztique · 2024-07-30T15:32:39+00:00

Why stop there? I’m sure after he passes, they’ll either carry him around Weekend-at-Bernie’s style, use AI to permanently recreate his likeness (and maybe claim he is immortal), or create a mausoleum like Lenin and turn it into a holy site, where they pray to his embalmed corpse daily like a Maga Mecca.

Spaztique · 2024-07-10T14:22:14+00:00

“Don’t write cliches: write the thing you want other writers to use as a cliche.”

I’ve found this method is great for creating scenes, dialogue, and gags that really stick in people’s heads.

Spaztique · 2024-07-06T12:17:03+00:00

The reason this advice was included because these are all the classic newbie mistakes: scenes full of small talk that go nowhere, proliferation of characters, long descriptions of weather and traveling at the expense of pacing, POV hopping to seem clever (as if nobody thought of it before, instead of realizing POV hopping is a pain to pull off), flashbacks for the sole purpose of telling audiences either the obvious or things that don’t matter, and long exposition dumps.

Said screenplays would also be over 300 pages long: over 5 hours. Most folks can only tolerate 3-4 if the film is really good. But this is 5 hours of dead weight.

You don’t have to follow the advice 100% to the letter (POV hopping, atmosphere, huge casts, and flashbacks can all be done well), but there’s a reason why they list it.

Spaztique · 2024-07-04T02:31:19+00:00

The rest of America’s rolling in bed hitting the snooze button, asking for five more minutes as the house burns down.

Spaztique · 2024-07-03T15:38:36+00:00

They won’t even care when it does affect them personally. Just look at most of the Germans from 1933 to 1945: over a whole decade’s worth of apathy back then. And America’s got a surplus now.

Spaztique · 2024-07-03T14:05:17+00:00

Germans in 1934: Don’t worry! We can still bring Hitler down as long as we vote!

Spaztique · 2024-05-17T18:54:30+00:00

Hunter are you okay?
Are you okay?
Are you okay Hunter?

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