--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the response to comedy becomes…" description: "\"When the response to comedy becomes cheering instead of laughing, that is so irritating. It's the worst.\" — Paul F. Tompkins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/paul-f-tompkins-3121_becomes_when-the-response-to-comedy-becomes-chee_2600419.jpg" --- # When the response to comedy becomes cheering instead of… ![“When the response to comedy becomes cheering instead of laughing, that is so irritating. It's the worst.” quote by Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/paul-f-tompkins-3121_becomes_when-the-response-to-comedy-becomes-chee_2600419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/paul-f-tompkins-3121_becomes_when-the-response-to-comedy-becomes-chee_2600419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/paul-f-tompkins-3121_becomes_when-the-response-to-comedy-becomes-chee_2600419.jpg) > “When the response to comedy becomes cheering instead of laughing, that is so irritating. It's the worst.” [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When laughter turns to applause, the humor loses its edge, causing irritation. **In simple terms:** Cheering replaces genuine laughter, irritating the comic. Key Takeaway Seek authentic audience reactions. Themes comedy audience authenticity Mood irritated analytical Type observational comedic When to use this quote - live shows - online videos - social gatherings Key Concepts performance dynamics social feedback Questions to Reflect On - Why does applause feel off? - How can you gauge true humor? A Different Perspective May overgeneralize audience behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [When the response to comedy becomes cheering instead of laughing, that is so irritating. It's the worst. Here's what cheering is: "Look at me!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/when-the-response-to-comedy-becomes-cheering-instead-of-laughing-that/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [I hoped you would consider it seriously instead of laughing at it.' 'Mr. Chamkanni said much the same thing in bed the first night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/i-hoped-you-would-consider-it-seriously-instead-of-laughing-at-it-mr/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [Comedy is so subjective. You could be in a room with 400 people laughing at a joke and you could just not think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/comedy-is-so-subjective-you-could-be-in-a-room-with-400-people/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [Enjoy most: the prospect of having an impact on the public debate. Irritating liberals is a close second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/enjoy-most-the-prospect-of-having-an-impact-on-the-public-debate/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Irritating people are really victims themselves; they tempt you in order to retrieve something they have lost to those who aggravated the life out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/irritating-people-are-really-victims-themselves-they-tempt-you-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You would do well to know, Marcus, that irritating a better swordsman than yourself is a good way to end up dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/you-would-do-well-to-know-marcus-that-irritating-a-better-swordsman/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/anything-which-is-troubling-you-anything-which-is-irritating-you-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I wanted to do action, and it was a bit irritating when people called me a chocolate boy. I can do other films, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/i-wanted-to-do-action-and-it-was-a-bit-irritating-when-people-called/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [I've never been the kind of guy who finds attention irritating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/i-ve-never-been-the-kind-of-guy-who-finds-attention-irritating/) [Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/) > [I know how irritating it is when a producer puts his hand in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/i-know-how-irritating-it-is-when-a-producer-puts-his-hand-in/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. 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It is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-what-you-are-known-as-but-to-me-you-will-always-be-tom-riddle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most irritating people are those without a sense of humor, amirite?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-irritating-people-are-those-without-a-sense-of-humor-amirite/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Paul F. Tompkins > [You can find nice clothes that suit your style at any number of places - Goodwill, Salvation Army, stores like that. They're all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/you-can-find-nice-clothes-that-suit-your-style-at-any-number-of/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [If you pay attention, stand-up can be great improv training ground. 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