Have you ever seen something that made you laugh that shouldn't have?
By James72
@James72 (26790)
Australia
October 22, 2008 6:40am CST
Many years ago I worked in a restaurant chain in a major shopping centre. It was absolutely pouring with rain outside and I was sitting in the food court watching the storm outside through the large glass entrance doors. There were glass walls on either side of the main sliding doors as well..... All of a sudden I saw this man in a suit come running in from the rain and he had his briefcase held up over his head to stop himself from getting too wet. He was running so fast and ended up NOT seeing all the glass walls and ran smack bang into the sliding doors! He basically bounced baackwards like a squash ball with his briefcase going one way and himself the other. After a few seconds he go to his feet, picked up his briefcase, looked around sheepishly and carried on into the shopping centre quite shaky on his feet.
Now this could have been so much worse than what it was and must have HURT big time! But I was laughing so hard I honestly thought I would cry. I just couldn't help it because it looked so funny. Once I had calmed down a bit I felt guilty because even though it looked funny this poor guy was probably hurt.
Have you even been in a similar situation and laughed at something you really shouldn't have laughed at?
5 people like this
17 responses
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Yes, I have and it happened today. I didn't laugh out loud, I Just bit my lip very hard to stop myself from getting there. I do not want to describe it here as I am already worried that I could actually go to hell for my reaction and writing about it would just make it worse... like have my own special place there.
2 people like this
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Yes, my lower lip's a little bruised (not really!) but I was trying hard not to laugh at someone I shouldn't be laughing at and at something that is of no laughing matter. I hope this more detailed description helped that imagination of yours. Please, please, no special places... knock on wood infinity!
2 people like this
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
24 Oct 08
Hello, James!
If I was in your position, I would have laugh aswell. I wouldn't be able to avoid it, because it must have been really funny. Yes, it might have hurt him and I would feel bad for laughing, but still I would laugh.
Many times, when you see somebody falling, you just laugh. People may get injuried or something, but still you laugh at them when you see them going down. I mean, I do sometimes. Depends on how they fall. It's something funny, but I don't know why.
Once, I was there talking to my friend and two guys were running in our directions. They were chasing each other. One of them just jumped with his body against my friend, who flied away and ended up hitting against the wall. It was PRETTY funny, specially knowing that this friend of mine doesn't allow anybody to touch him. I couldn't hold the laugh. It was funny, and he wasn't hurt, there was no problem in laughing... I guess.
Respectfully,
Munhozmib.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
24 Oct 08
Hi munhozmib! Yes, it can be really difficult to stop and recognize the potential seriousness of a situation like the one I described when it looks so comical! We all sit there and laugh ourselves silly at the home video type shows when people get hurt in a silly manner and being an actual spectator to the real thing makes it even harder to keep a straight face. The scenario you described sounds very funny also! I hope they laughed alongside you. It's times like this that you wish you had a video camera! 
Thanks for the response.
Thanks for the response.1 person likes this
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
23 Oct 08
I have often found friends who have had little too much, tipsy and their mindless behaviour quite amusing. And when it is a group of friends it seems to be even moreso. One such incident happened in the club where i frequented with some friends. Late into the night most of them intoxicated and behaving in the most strangest of manners. One of them who kept stumbling and making a fool of himself kept drawing everyone's attention and became the subject of entertainment that night. This was on the first floor and had a blacony. He mad moved towards the railing of balcony in his state and we in our moments did not seem to notice him tip over the balconey. One moment he was there and the next moment he was gone.
James, this guy was hurt and fractured his skull. It took him over a year to recover. I just can't see myself laugh at this situation anymore and wished i had not.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Oh my! 
It sounds like he was hurt pretty badly then. I can see how it must have looked funny at the time though because I too have seen very drunk people fall off things as well. But none of them were ever hurt really badly. I have a friend of mine that fell off the roof of a car while it was moving and he ended up with about 9 stitches. Strangely enough he still refers to this as one of the best nights he's had! Many a time the fact that people ARE drunk is what saves them from serious injury because their bodies are so relaxed. It does seem that your friend is fully recovered now so don't be too hard on yourself alok. 
Thanks for responding.
It sounds like he was hurt pretty badly then. I can see how it must have looked funny at the time though because I too have seen very drunk people fall off things as well. But none of them were ever hurt really badly. I have a friend of mine that fell off the roof of a car while it was moving and he ended up with about 9 stitches. Strangely enough he still refers to this as one of the best nights he's had! Many a time the fact that people ARE drunk is what saves them from serious injury because their bodies are so relaxed. It does seem that your friend is fully recovered now so don't be too hard on yourself alok. Thanks for responding.2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Now we always see slapstick type movies and even cartoons with someone slipping on a banana but I have to admit that I have never seen this happen for real! I am not surprised you all laughed over it. I just hope the person who slipped on it was able to laugh about it as welll. Thanks for the response subha.
I am not surprised you all laughed over it. I just hope the person who slipped on it was able to laugh about it as welll. Thanks for the response subha. 1 person likes this
@sheenarobins (547)
• Philippines
23 Oct 08
Hello James,
How are you? I don't know if this one counts but so far this the one that I can remember. I wasn't just watching it but I was actually starring the scene.
I was bathing my son who was seven years old that time. He had a teeth that was about to pull off so I asked him or tricked him (LOL) to open his mouth so I can see the teeth. I told him that he has meat in betwen his teeth so I can put my hand inside his mouth. I pulled his teeth very quickly and he was shocked, took him a few seconds before crying. While he was crying I was on the floor laughing so hard of his reaction. We got wet he and I because he actually splashed water on me as a payback. I was still laughing and cannot compose myself. But you know kids, they easily forget when you've wronged them.
hehehe,
silly mom,
sheena
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Hi sheena. I am fine thanks. Getting absolutely hammered with work at the moment though! 
This is very funny to me because my Mother did something similar! She used to distract my attention while telling me she was checking to see how loose my toothe was and would then YANK it out. I too used to be horrified but only AFTER she showed me the tooth was out! Your son got you back though so that;s the main thing. Just wait until he's bigger! 
Thanks for the response.
This is very funny to me because my Mother did something similar! She used to distract my attention while telling me she was checking to see how loose my toothe was and would then YANK it out. I too used to be horrified but only AFTER she showed me the tooth was out! Your son got you back though so that;s the main thing. Just wait until he's bigger! Thanks for the response.1 person likes this
@061234217 (133)
• China
23 Oct 08
yeah,your story is funny...There are so many stories around us.If you think it's funny,then you laugh.It's the normal reflect.
2 people like this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
i think it happened to me myself in the past... i walk too fast and bang on the glass that i didn't see so hard that i got a big headache after that... but i laugh very hard at my own carelessness and foolishness after that and i walk away straight away from that place because i am so embarrassed... take care and have a nice day...
2 people like this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
23 Oct 08
James
there must have been many such incidents but just can't remember right now. But I can tell you that I must have made so many people laugh like you did! I am invariably the kind of person who would fall even in the most normal of situations. I would trip, skid, slip every now and then. I remember, once I was talking on phone with someone very offical over something very serious and sensitive. I was rolling the chair to and fro. it had been a long talk and I had to repeat the same stuff again and again. All of asudden my chair rolled front and I fell down flat on floor! It was completely shocking and I told that person on phone that I wished to hang up for I fell down!! Yes I did say that! I still laugh on remebering the incident, am still laughing.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
23 Oct 08
Oh yes. Being able to laugh at ourselves and allowing others to laugh at ourselves is a big thing! I try to do that. In fact it makes things so easier. Once I was all decked up t attend a party and just when I was about to enter the hall I tripped and fell! My bag, my cell phone went scattered. I composed myself, stood up and saw a number of known faces gazing at me with a shock in their eyes. I immediately laughed out and they were relieved to laugh and it got easy.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Hahahaha. I was in Vietnam with my wife, my Sister and her BF a couple of years ago and we went on a Mekong Delta tour. When we got to one of the islands they gave uas bicycles to ride so we could go and explore. I sped off as fast as I could (Typical male show-off stuff!) and ended up being SO caught up in what I was doing I ended up slamming into a group of motorcycles! When I picked myself up off the ground there was a whole family of Vietnamese people standing there and laughing their a@@es off. There were at least 10 of them too! So I decided to take a bow! They thought that was even funnier and so did I. I then got back on the bike and took off like a rocket again.
They thought that was even funnier and so did I. I then got back on the bike and took off like a rocket again.@James72 (26790)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Lol. I have ended up doing a backflip off a chair myself asctually and it can be quite a challenge trying to keep your composure. I have also seen people forget they have a headset on and get up to walk away and almost decapitate themselves! I think that it's great when we can laugh at ourselves like this and especially laugh alongside others if they see it as well. So many people end up embarrassed when they get a bit clumsy or something but there is no better way to make the embarrassment disappear than by laughing about it all! Thanks for the response.
I think that it's great when we can laugh at ourselves like this and especially laugh alongside others if they see it as well. So many people end up embarrassed when they get a bit clumsy or something but there is no better way to make the embarrassment disappear than by laughing about it all! Thanks for the response. 1 person likes this
@kwenge (2487)
• Kenya
29 Dec 08
Oh Yes and it is very recent I have just laughed out. On 23rd dec our general manager was seated in his office/cube which is partitioned by glass and there are blinders, that day blinders were not on so you could see him seated in his office. I sit directly opposite him. Our director went to his office to enquire something, he sat right opposite his desk. Gm was moving in his chair then all of a sudden I saw something falling down with a bang! I looked up immediately I saw him down while the director was sitting in nfront of him........they both looked around while director was dying with laughter if a third party was looking.........i looked the other direction soo fast they dint see me........I burst into laughter then I realised he had hurt his elbows and the seat was in pieces heheheheeeeeeeeee. I felt guilty later on.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
29 Dec 08
Hey kwenge, Happy New Year! This would have been a very funny sight to see! lol. I too have been the victim of office chairs going over and it always seems to happen when there is an audience too! The ones with the wheels especially..... They can be so unstable and if you lean back just a little too far, then over you go! I can understand the feeling guilty part too, but sometimes you just can't help but laugh. Thanks for the response.
This would have been a very funny sight to see! lol. I too have been the victim of office chairs going over and it always seems to happen when there is an audience too! The ones with the wheels especially..... They can be so unstable and if you lean back just a little too far, then over you go! I can understand the feeling guilty part too, but sometimes you just can't help but laugh. Thanks for the response.
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
31 Dec 08
Just hearing this made me laugh and i wasn't there..shame on me too, but i can understand where you are coming from since we know he might have been more embarresed then anything else and hopefully he was ok..
I've done similar things like slipping on wet pavement with shoes that had no reason to be worn in the rain and down i went..seeing as it might have been funny i laughed at myself so all would know it was ok but boy did my butt hurt for a week..lol..
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
31 Dec 08
He did get to his feet again and no ambulances or anything were called, so I think that his pride was hurt more than anything else! It was like a human cartoon in a sense and all he needed to do was hold up a sign while hw eas laying o his back that said "OUCH!" and it would have been exactly like one! I slip and trip all the too Rose, but the main thing is that we can both laugh about it! Thanks for your comments.
I slip and trip all the too Rose, but the main thing is that we can both laugh about it! Thanks for your comments. 
@jessicaboardman (373)
•
30 Dec 08
Hi
I must admit I'm terrible, I do tend to laugh at other peoples misfortunes.....I cant help it but then I kind of realise maybe I shouldnt be laughing and try to compose myself.....I just think that if it happened to me then people would laugh at me, it wouldnt bother me too much!!
I work in a supermarket so we see alsorts, it is difficult keeping a straight face when some people come to you with their complaints.....highly amusing!!!
hugs
Jessica
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
30 Dec 08
Hi jessica. I have seen some of the funniest incidents ever in a supermarket and that is just as an occasional visitor, so I can't imagine some of the stuff you must have seen before! lol. Laugh and the world laughs with you is the way it's supposed to be right? So as long as no-one is laughing at something really horrifying then I don't feel so bad about it myself. I wish for you a very Happy New Year and thank you for your comments.
@wanderer086 (759)
•
22 Oct 08
I laugh a lot. I think your tale sounds like an old slap stick film. I find these situations very funny and probably would have falen off my chair laughing. Laughter is good for you and can keep you healthy. people ought to laugh more. So keep on laughing James.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
22 Oct 08
Actually this is a very apt way to describe it wanderer! It WAS like something out of a slapstick film indeed! I laugh a lot in my day to day life and have no plans of slowing down anytime soon; this was just one of this instances where I felt a little guilty because this guy obviously hurt himself. It was still funny though! lol. Thanks for responding.
I laugh a lot in my day to day life and have no plans of slowing down anytime soon; this was just one of this instances where I felt a little guilty because this guy obviously hurt himself. It was still funny though! lol. Thanks for responding. 1 person likes this
@karamellized (680)
• Philippines
22 Oct 08
Hahaha your story is funny. I also had that experience with glass sliding doors. It involved a friend, I was like pissing her off to the point that she walked out of me then as she was in a hurry walking out she forgot that the door was a glass sliding door that she ended up bouncing back, and both of us had a great laugh. 
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
22 Oct 08
Hahaha. Then you know exactly what I mean when I say how funny it looks when someone does this! At least she could laugh about it too! The good thing is that she was only walking at the time. The guy I saw was running flat out because he wanted to get out of the rain! Thanks for the response karamellized.
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Several times. But one that comes to mind was when I was maybe 8 or 9 years old. A best friend/neighbor of mine had just lost her grandfather. She called me and asked for me come over. So I went to pay my respects. Now my friend was a bit odd back then, so I didn't know what to expect when I got there. Her deceased grandfather was on his deathbed in the living room. We went over to him and she lifted up one of his eyelids. I don't know why she did this, but it freaked me out so bad I laughed out loud. When I glanced at her mother, who was in the kitchen, she gave me a stern look and I stopped quick. I didn't mean to offend her and her family. Even though I wanted to tell her (my friend's mom) what happened, I didn't dare as I would have gotten my friend in trouble for sure. 
1 person likes this
@Daffodil20 (1754)
• India
30 Dec 08
Seeing someone slip and fall makes you laugh no matter what. As young children we were taught not to laugh at the person but I could never control my giggles.
Your question takes me to my childhood again. After wedding the bride and her family members used to cry. Well its the same everywhere,I know. But here most of the times we saw the bride screaming and and people literally shoving her in the car. I can somewhat understand now but as a child me and my cousins had a difficult time controlling and suppressing our laughter seeing the adults cry like children. It sounds bad now, but honestly we used to laugh when we shouldn't have.
Your question takes me to my childhood again. After wedding the bride and her family members used to cry. Well its the same everywhere,I know. But here most of the times we saw the bride screaming and and people literally shoving her in the car. I can somewhat understand now but as a child me and my cousins had a difficult time controlling and suppressing our laughter seeing the adults cry like children. It sounds bad now, but honestly we used to laugh when we shouldn't have. @James72 (26790)
• Australia
30 Dec 08
I am the same Daffodil and I know I shouldn't laugh but I just can't help it! It's funny that you mention crying at Weddings just now too as I was at a wedding last night and there were people bawling all over the place! I didn't find it amusing this time around but as a child I too would have probably had a giggle for sure. It was actually kind of refreshing to be able to laugh with abandon as a child. These days we are always concerned about possible consequences and we just didn't care about things like that as children. Thanks for your comments and I wish for you and your family a very Happy New Year!
It's funny that you mention crying at Weddings just now too as I was at a wedding last night and there were people bawling all over the place! I didn't find it amusing this time around but as a child I too would have probably had a giggle for sure. It was actually kind of refreshing to be able to laugh with abandon as a child. These days we are always concerned about possible consequences and we just didn't care about things like that as children. Thanks for your comments and I wish for you and your family a very Happy New Year! 
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Oct 08
hi James I think we all have. I laughed once when I was
shopping in mervyns as these three kids were going up the
escalator three steps at a time, but one kid lost his balannce, he sat down on the step, he bumped another lady, who toppled back wards into a third lady, and for a moment the way theyall fell reminded me of dominoes going over and I had to laugh, then I realized there were people probably hurt so I ran over to the bottom of the escalator and helped anothe woman to her feet, and off the escalator, She hurt her arm. we sat her down on a chair, and helpted the other two off who were only shaken up. the three kids who started the whole mess just disappeared . that was good because store security was not laughing and they were out for blood. Only one lady was badly hurt thank goodness for that, but the sight of them tumbling back and making each other fall for a moment was actually funny although I should not have laughed at all. I used to work as a nurses aid so I usually have alot of compassion for anyone who is injured. I would like to have takne those three boys across myknee and paddled them for acting up like that. they could have killed somebody with their silliness.
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
25 Oct 08
Sometimes this "boys will be boys" mentality goes WAY too far; but I can see how it would have been amusing to watch this all unfold though. It sounds like a scene from a Three Stooges movie or something! lol. At least this was an instance where there were no overly serious injuries. It is a shame that security never caught up with those kids though because a paddling was definitely on the cards it seems! Thanks for the response Hatley.
