--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you tell the reader it's funny, then…" description: "\"If you tell the reader it's funny, then the audience is like an audience at a stand-up comedy club and they expect you to be funny, and if you're not, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/dave-barry-222_assumption_if-you-tell-the-reader-it-s-funny-then-t_3172473.png" --- # If you tell the reader it's funny, then the audience is… ![“If you tell the reader it's funny, then the audience is like an audience at a stand-up comedy club and they expect you to be funny, and if you're not, they notice. Whereas if you read a regular op-ed about Israel or the family or medicine, you're not starting with the assumption that you're…” quote by Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/dave-barry-222_assumption_if-you-tell-the-reader-it-s-funny-then-t_3172473.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/dave-barry-222_assumption_if-you-tell-the-reader-it-s-funny-then-t_3172473.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/dave-barry-222_assumption_if-you-tell-the-reader-it-s-funny-then-t_3172473.png) > “If you tell the reader it's funny, then the audience is like an audience at a stand-up comedy club and they expect you to be funny, and if you're not, they notice. Whereas if you read a regular op-ed about Israel or the family or medicine, you're not starting with the assumption that you're supposed to laugh.” [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explains that labeling something as funny sets audience expectations for humor, and failure to deliver leads to disappointment. **In simple terms:** Labeling something funny creates expectation. Key Takeaway Set clear expectations for humor. Themes humor expectation communication Mood reflective thoughtful Type explanatory insightful When to use this quote - op‑eds - stand‑up comedy - advertising Key Concepts writing media perception Questions to Reflect On - Should humor always be explicit? - When is subtlety better? A Different Perspective Humor can backfire if expectations aren't met. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-club/) [Comedy clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-clubs/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Stand up comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up-comedy/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think any writer is a friend to the reader if he or she is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitava-kumar/i-don-t-think-any-writer-is-a-friend-to-the-reader-if-he-or-she-is/) [Amitava Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitava-kumar/) > [I've never done a comedy club in my life. 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My comedy developed in the comedy clubs in London and up and down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhod-gilbert/when-i-started-i-used-to-be-like-a-tiger-my-comedy-developed-in-the/) [Rhod Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhod-gilbert/) > [I just don't get if you have ever gotten offended by a joke, why would you go to a comedy club? 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