---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is really funny to see people that you…"
description: "\"It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.\" — Penn Jillette"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/penn-jillette-1046_acting_it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-yo_105815.png"
---

#  It is really funny to see people that you know acting…

![“It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.” quote by Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/penn-jillette-1046_acting_it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-yo_105815.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/penn-jillette-1046_acting_it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-yo_105815.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/penn-jillette-1046_acting_it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-yo_105815.png)

> “It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.”

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often alter their behavior when observed, especially on camera, revealing a performative self that prioritizes image over authenticity.

**In simple terms:** Cameras trigger inauthentic performance.

Key Takeaway

Observation changes conduct.

Themes

psychology media studies social behavior authenticity

Mood

wry observational

Type

humorous social observation

When to use this quote

- Reality‑TV production analysis
- Social media influencer coaching

Key Concepts

self‑presentation theory surveillance effect

Practical Applications

- Practice mindfulness to stay grounded on camera
- Set personal guidelines for authentic interaction

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we feel compelled to perform when watched?
- How can we cultivate authenticity in a surveillance culture?

A Different Perspective

Some individuals maintain authenticity despite cameras, using the platform to amplify genuine expression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Unpleasantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-unpleasantly-1271358/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-know/) [Really Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-funny/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv/) [Tv Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-cameras-1040844/) [Tvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tvs/)

## Related quotes

> [TV cameras seem to add ten pounds to me. So I make it a policy never to eat TV cameras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-carlisle/tv-cameras-seem-to-add-ten-pounds-to-me-so-i-make-it-a-policy-never/)

[Kitty Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-carlisle/)

> [I am only under pressure when I am in front of the TV cameras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-partey/i-am-only-under-pressure-when-i-am-in-front-of-the-tv-cameras/)

[Thomas Partey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-partey/)

> [There are some really funny people doing creative stuff with social media, which is sadly where a lot of my attention goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-rogowsky/there-are-some-really-funny-people-doing-creative-stuff-with-social/)

[Scott Rogowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-rogowsky/)

> [I felt like there was something wrong with me in my twenties but, when I started doing stand up comedy, I learnt that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-felt-like-there-was-something-wrong-with-me-in-my-twenties-but-when/)

[Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/)

> [To me, the funniest American of the Twentieth Century is Richard Nixon because he had the most to hide, and he was so bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/to-me-the-funniest-american-of-the-twentieth-century-is-richard-nixon/)

[Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/)

> [Its really funny how people liked their own status.!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dadi-froi/its-really-funny-how-people-liked-their-own-status/)

[Dadi Froi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dadi-froi/)

> [Its really so funny that people who treat me like shit get offended when me finally do the same to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/its-really-so-funny-that-people-who-treat-me-like-shit-get-offended/)

[Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/)

> [HATERS ISTS SO FUNNY THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE LEAST ABOUT YOU HAVE THE MOST TO SAY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/haters-ists-so-funny-the-people-who-know-the-least-about-you-have-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's funny how the people who know the least, have the most to say. And the people who know the most, walk away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-funny-how-the-people-who-know-the-least-have-the-most-to-say-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Funny how the people who know you the least have the most to say about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/funny-how-the-people-who-know-you-the-least-have-the-most-to-say/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The guys on the stunt team are really fantastic. It's really funny, because for all the aggression they have to display on screen, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-otto/the-guys-on-the-stunt-team-are-really-fantastic-it-s-really-funny/)

[Miranda Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-otto/)

> [There are a lot of really funny guys who are very natural in what they do: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/there-are-a-lot-of-really-funny-guys-who-are-very-natural-in-what/)

[Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/)

> [I think the best compliment you can receive is not, 'Oh, that was really funny,' but, 'Is that the first time you said that?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-griffin/i-think-the-best-compliment-you-can-receive-is-not-oh-that-was-really/)

[Erik Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-griffin/)

> [ Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre, the guys who run that show \[Big Bang Theory\], are really funny and really smart, and the cast is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/bill-prady-and-chuck-lorre-the-guys-who-run-that-show-big-bang-theory/)

[Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/)

> [My dad's really funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/my-dad-s-really-funny/)

[Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/)

## More by Penn Jillette

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [I intend to do the Penn &amp; Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/part-of-the-experience-of-being-entertained-is-sitting-back-and/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [That whole 99% thing, they are all in the 1% of the world. Every one of them pays a cellphone bill that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/that-whole-99-thing-they-are-all-in-the-1-of-the-world-every-one-of/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [I will forever stick up for Catholics and Christians in general. With a small number of very horrible exceptions, they do play by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-will-forever-stick-up-for-catholics-and-christians-in-general-with/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [I believe very much that the most damning thing you can say about Muslims is that you're afraid to say anything because they'll hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-believe-very-much-that-the-most-damning-thing-you-can-say-about/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [I'm not bothered by the idea of getting old, or I guess you could say by having arrived at old. I was 10 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-not-bothered-by-the-idea-of-getting-old-or-i-guess-you-could-say/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [I'm always surprised when the corporate world does stupid things, because they're often not very stupid in hindsight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-always-surprised-when-the-corporate-world-does-stupid-things/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [It's only the losers named 'Dave' that think having an unusual name is bad, and who cares what they think? They're named 'Dave.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-s-only-the-losers-named-dave-that-think-having-an-unusual-name-is/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [The only secret of magic is that I'm willing to work harder on it than you think it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-only-secret-of-magic-is-that-i-m-willing-to-work-harder-on-it/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Well, it's not really the right word, but freedom is kind of a hobby with me, and I have disposable income that I'll spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/well-it-s-not-really-the-right-word-but-freedom-is-kind-of-a-hobby/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [My whole take on libertarianism is simply that I don't know what's best for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/my-whole-take-on-libertarianism-is-simply-that-i-don-t-know-what-s/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Freedom means the right to be stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/freedom-means-the-right-to-be-stupid/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [“Once you've condoned faith in general, you've condoned any crazy shit done because of faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/once-you-ve-condoned-faith-in-general-you-ve-condoned-any-crazy-shit/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Jay-Z, he knows precisely who he's going for - 14-year-old white suburban girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/jay-z-he-knows-precisely-who-he-s-going-for-14-year-old-white/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

[Explore all 302 Penn Jillette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

## More Acting quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/)

[Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/)

> [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/)

[Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/)

[Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/)

> [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/)

[Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/)

> [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/)

[Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

[Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Penn Jillette"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-you-know-acting-unpleasantly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-you-know-acting-unpleasantly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/penn-jillette-1046_acting_it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-yo_105815.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/penn-jillette-1046_acting_it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-yo_105815.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/penn-jillette-1046_acting_it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-yo_105815.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.” — Penn Jillette",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Penn Jillette",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is really funny to see...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-you-know-acting-unpleasantly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-you-know-acting-unpleasantly/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
