The Art Of Unconventional Wit — With An AI Assist by Erika Raskin

Photo of robot made of cardboard and duct tape

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My website recently asked if I’d like some assistance composing a blog post. As I’m hopelessly behind in the book marketing department for Allegiance (promoting myself ranks right up there with a colonoscopy prep), I think:

God, yes! I’ll take any help I can get!

AI generously provided a menu of topics to choose from (crafting quirky characters, laughter as a writing tool, secrets revealed.) I clicked on humor as a theme. Before getting started though, I found myself glancing around for Mrs. Goode—my 4th grade teacher. I had a flashback to almost being caught sliding a laminated answer key up my sweater sleeve to, um, what’s that word?

cheat

—on the comprehension part of the assignment. The responses for the self-graded test were supposed to require separate trips to the honor box after reading the stories. Whatever. I was economizing steps. And, you know, work. I did it all year until the time Mrs. Goode lifted an eyebrow in my direction.

Here’s Wix’s take on how to be comical along with my personal evaluation of its efforts.

AI: Are you tired of the same old jokes that are as dull as dishwater? Do you seek to elevate your humor game to a whole new level? Well, look no further, my fellow jesters, for today, we delve into the enchanting realm of unconventional wit!

Me: Whoa that is way too over the top. Also, decidedly not funny.
AI: What is Unconventional Wit?
Unconventional wit is like humor’s rebellious cousin. It’s the kind of humor that catches you off guard, makes you do a double-take, and then erupt into laughter. Think of it as the unexpected twist in a tale, but in joke form.
Me: That’s pretty good! Humor’s rebellious cousin—I like it! The bad guest at the slumber party who won’t let anyone get any sleep.
AI: Embracing the Unexpected
In a world filled with predictable punchlines, unconventional wit dares to defy the norm. It thrives on surprise and delights in turning the mundane into the extraordinary. Imagine a rubber chicken crossing the road . . . not to get to the other side, but to start its stand-up comedy career!
Me: You had me until the stupid rubber chicken thing. Was that concept ever funny?
AI: The Power of Incongruity
One key ingredient of unconventional wit is incongruity. This fancy word basically means putting together things that don’t usually go hand in hand. Picture a penguin in a tuxedo, sipping a martini and discussing quantum physics. Now that’s incongruity at its finest!
Me: Ummm
AI: Crafting Your Unconventional Humor Arsenal

To master the art of unconventional wit, one must be willing to think outside the joke box. Take a mundane situation and add a dash of absurdity. For example, “Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing!”

Me: I think I heard that in Mrs. Goode’s class.
AI: Let’s Get Visual!
A picture is worth a thousand laughs, especially when it involves a penguin telling jokes in style!
Me: That’s so annoying it doesn’t even deserve a response.

AI: Humor for the Brave

Unconventional wit is not for the faint of heart. It requires courage to push boundaries and venture into uncharted comedic territory. But fear not, for the laughter that follows is sweeter than honey and more infectious than a yawn in a crowded room.

Me: Agreed.
AI: Closing Thoughts
So, dear readers, as you embark on your journey to master the art of unconventional wit, remember this: the best punchline is the one that catches you by surprise, tickles your funny bone, and leaves you wanting more. Embrace the absurd, revel in the unexpected, and above all, don’t forget to laugh! In conclusion, let’s raise a toast to the misfits of humor, the rebels of wit, and the champions of unconventional comedy. Here’s to embracing the weird, celebrating the wacky, and never shying away from being delightfully, unapologetically funny. Now, go forth and spread the joy of unconventional wit like a ninja of humor, stealthily sneaking up on unsuspecting minds and leaving them in fits of laughter!
Me: More than likely AI would give itself an A. Mrs. Goode would lift a brow.

Erika Raskin
Erika Raskin is Streetlight‘s fiction editor. Her latest novel, Allegiance, is about the slow creep of a fascist takeover in America—and its impact on one family. More of her words can be found at erikaraskin.com.

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