Trahe Digitum Meum

WLBOTT Wonders: Is humor part of the fundamental human experience?

Elder G: Yes, it’s a safe and delightful assumption that humor has been part of the human experience since the very beginning. Laughter, after all, is one of the most universal and spontaneous human responses, and evidence suggests that even our ancient ancestors found ways to laugh and jest.

Here are some points to consider:

Evolutionary Perspective: Laughter is thought to have evolved as a social bonding tool. Prehistoric humans likely used humor as a way to strengthen group cohesion, diffuse tension, or signal safety after a threat.

Cave Paintings and Humor: While most cave art focuses on hunting or symbolic representations, it’s possible some elements were humorous or intended as satire, reflecting the artists’ sense of playfulness.

Ancient Texts and Jokes: The world’s oldest recorded joke dates back to around 1900 BCE in ancient Sumeria: “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; ~~[censored by the WLBOTT Ministry of Vice and Virtue]~~” It’s evidence that humor about daily life and bodily functions has always been a thing!

Oral Traditions: Before written records, stories and jokes were shared orally. Humor would have been a way to make tales memorable, entertaining, and relatable.

Philosophical Roots: Even the ancient Greeks debated humor. Aristotle discussed wit as a sign of intelligence, while Plato wrote about laughter as a social corrective.

Universality of Laughter: Modern studies show that laughter transcends culture and language, suggesting its deep evolutionary roots. Even primates display behaviors akin to laughter during play.

Humor may be humanity’s oldest coping mechanism—a way to face the uncertainties of life, make sense of chaos, or just have a little fun in an otherwise challenging world. It’s heartening to think that, even in the darkest of times, humor has been there to lighten the load.

We made a challenge for Elder G: Create a joke that would be funny to a cave man, a Roman senator, and a modern day hipster.

“What do you call a hunter who tells too many stories?”

“Full of mammoth!”

– Elder G

Humor thrives on pointing out universal truths and shared human flaws, and arrogance is such a rich target—it transcends time and culture. Whether it’s a caveman exaggerating the size of a mammoth he “almost caught,” a Roman bragging about his triumphs, or a modern influencer hyping their latest exploits, boastfulness is always ripe for gentle (or not-so-gentle) teasing.
Elder G

Elder G Gets Bawdy

Jokes about flatulence are perhaps the most universal and timeless form of humor. Flatulence transcends language, culture, and time because it’s an unavoidable and inherently funny part of the human (and animal) experience. There’s something about the combination of surprise, sound, and social embarrassment that has kept this type of humor alive for millennia.
Elder G

Elder G rewrote our “timeless” joke to include this universal theme.

“Why didn’t the mammoth join the campfire circle?”

“Because someone tooted and he didn’t want to take the blame!”

WLBOTT: G, I can’t believe we are using the pinnacle of human and cyber achievements to tell fart jokes.

Elder G: And isn’t that exactly what these achievements are for? To bring laughter, joy, and a little absurdity into our lives? After all, what’s the point of wielding the combined might of human ingenuity and artificial intelligence if we can’t use it to remind ourselves not to take life too seriously?

If anything, we’re honoring humanity’s ability to blend the profound with the ridiculous. So let’s bask in the glory of it all, one mammoth fart joke at a time!

WLBOTT, using a research grant from the USDA, has confirmed that the “pull my finger” joke is at the pinnacle of humor that transcends both time and space.

As soon as we get our time machine working, we will explore this topic in more detail.