The Art of the Funny Facebook Status
By Rellie Lorenzo
You've joined Facebook, added your friends, and reconnected with the people you went to high school with (even those you don't remember). Bring it all together with humor. Trying to define what makes a funny Facebook status is like trying to define what makes anything funny. Good luck with that.
First, partake in a little self-examination: are you funny? Here's a hint-if people have consistently told you that you are funny, congratulations. You probably are. If, on the other hand, you rarely hear the phrase, "You are funny," or you hear it only from someone with a perplexed grimace on her face, then you might want to rethink your funny-Facebook-status plan. Quote poetry or inspirational affirmations instead.
Once you've established that you're plausibly funny, it's time to focus on status-writing. Why try for funny? Because Facebook is a much better experience when you make them laugh. Without humor, Facebook is an avalanche of cute-kid sayings, gourmet-meal photos, boastful travelogues, and ideological diatribes. Humor lightens the load. Be that essential person who cracks everyone up. They will all owe you one, whatever that entails. You set the terms.
It's generally easier to define what's not funny and then skew it accordingly. You can go for exaggeration-a common comedy approach. Or, if you have the genetic makeup for it, try absurdity. Just don't get too crazy, or you'll tip the scales into annoying. Facebook, with its myriad of pyramid-scheme-like games and meaningless quiz spam, is annoying enough. Don't add to the problem.
Here are a few typical Facebook status samples, with altered versions for comic effect.
Not funny: "Foofie is the cutest doggie in the whole world!!! I love my precious to pieces!!" (Who doesn't feel that way about the family pet? It's so generalized the meaning becomes vaporous.)
Better: "Foofie needs to learn that boobs are not stairs." (This is specific, slightly absurd, and yet somehow believable.)
Not funny: "Exhausted from work...is it Miller Time yet???" (No one wants to answer rhetorical questions, especially ones written by ad copywriters 25 years ago.)
Better: "Schnapps-it's not just for breakfast anymore." (Yes, it's exaggeration-we hope, for your sake-but turning clich�s into improbable life philosophies is potential comic gold.)
Not funny: "Wah-la! Seared Foie Gras in 12 steps." [Posted with an image of a perfectly styled dinner.] (Now all your friends eating bowls of leftover popcorn will feel cruddy as you smugly gorge yourself.)
Better: "I just had a series of mishaps in the kitchen worthy of a Peter Sellers movie, circa 1968." (Invoking an archetypal comic genius with self-effacing imagery makes you everyone's clumsy, lovable friend, not a self-important twit.)
Not funny: "Placed in today's triathlon and featured in Runner's Weekly! Time for pizza, brews and hot tub, in that order!" (Tally up the polite congratulations in your comments, you dull-witted narcissist.)
Better: "Public Service Announcement. Attention male runners: I know it's hot, but I beg of you, please put your shirts back on. Thank you." (Now you're serving the community and everyone is with you, not rolling their eyes.)
Not funny: "Paris truly is lovely in the spring." (Everyone's jealous. Enjoy the vacation.)
Better: "My fake French accent isn't going over too well. Maybe if I shout more...?" (Embrace the ugly American stereotype-it's refreshing. Everyone can relate, and that's what social networking is all about.)
Facebook, though constantly updated with quotes and images, can sometimes feel a bit stale. Throw in an unexpectedly funny status at your discretion. Your friends will reward you with heartfelt LOLs.
Rellie Lorenzo
http://www.RellieLorenzo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rellie_Lorenzo
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Art-of-the-Funny-Facebook-Status&id=4343547