Sense of Humour Failure

There isn't really much point to this thread. It's just a little anecdote I heard this week at work, and has become such a topic of conversation in the office that I've decided to throw it up here for general amusement and further comment.


One of my colleagues (who would prefer to remain anonymous but for the sake of example we'll call him Jim (because that's his name and it's easier than making one up)) was telling us about an incident at his previous job. Apparently, poor Jim had been working hard on a website as part of a major project that was nearing its deadline. Poor Jim came down with tonsillitis due to feeling overworked and run-down, and was signed off by his doctor. However, not wanting to let the team down, Jim continued to work from home - pulling a few late nights and weekends - in order to get the website ready on time.

The project was completed on time. To show their gratitude, the company arranged for a night out for all the staff, as well as a mock-presentation, in which each team member was given a comedy award for something or other. When Jim was called up to the stage to collect his award, he was presented with the Sense of Humour Failure.

His response was to tear it up, throw it onto the floor, and the following day lodge a formal complaint with the management.

Now I'll admit we're all a bit special in my office, but we find this hilarious.


On a serious note, I'm inclined to agree that this seems out of order, especially considering one of the members of the creative team was given the "Least Creative Person" award. It's all very well to give people comedy awards with a little bit of mickey-taking but TBH I think this goes beyond friendly jibing and into personal insults. But we still think it's pretty darned funny to get given a Sense of Humour Failure award and to tear it up and lodge a complaint.


Feel free to give this a "Vapid Thread Award", or give me a "Most Pointless Poster" certificate

He clearly proved himself to be the worthy winner.

I've been to something similar, it was badged as teambuilding but it was mainly about getting shitfaced in a nice hotel on company time. The actual teambuilding bits and organised dinners were unbelievably wanky though.

TBH I'd be more pissed off for being too boring to get 'an award'.

Originally Posted by Ted

He clearly proved himself to be the worthy winner.

I can just imaging the monty python version

I remember attending an "Awards Night" at TWO magazine (held in the local boozer.) One of the staff won an award for Photoshopping the editor's face onto an overweight woman's body. He had then used this image to create a flyer for a bizarre looking call girl/boy, including the editors personal mobile number. He then paid to have it distributed around London's telephone boxes.

I can't remember what the award was called, but it was well deserved.

TBH I'm not surprised he got pissed off with that, it's not even funny.

Now if he was given an award for most non-attendance at work or for being a sicky mummies boy then it would have been funny.

dunno but that ugly old dinner lady on the mature dating advert is really putting me off my stroke

Originally Posted by mickymellon

dunno but that ugly old dinner lady on the mature dating advert is really putting me off my stroke

but the blonde bit that sometimes appears on the top banner is hot tho

& here at Tooting Municipal Library where we are hosting the Librarian Of The Year 2012, we come to 1st of the special awards for the night, presented by me, Roger Mellie.

1st up is 'Least Literate Member', but before I announce that we should consider the other catagories, which are:

"Best Stack" well Barbera must be a front runner, hahaha, there hey Baps? Not many of them to the pound eh, pet.

Followed by 'Most Inappropriate Act in the Childrens Section', always a well contested award but Peter & Paul doing the Biggus Dickus sketch has to score highly, esp with the impro 'do you like Gladiators' bit at the end.

'Most Creative Sign' surely hotly tipped for the by now infamous one in the midwifery section, which read cuddly wuddly beary beary boo Books, although the hand written one above 'Local Books & Writers' that simply said 'Lepers' was pretty good.

'Best Proactive Service' award, again a huge entry but Mike's 'no I am not going to show you where the books on suicide are because you won't be bringing the fuckers back again' springs straight to mind.

'Best Display' usually poorly nominated but must say the ball gag, the iron chastity belt & the Indiana Jones whip over the 50 Shades of dumpbins were inspired, although we had to keep replacing them. The whip on an hourly basis.

'Best Add On Sale approach' surely to 'long dong John' for the Ken Dodd inspired 'how about this for a bookmark, although he can't be with us tonight as the last time he pulled that one the Nun slammed the Bible shut on it, pulled him clean out of the door & he's not been seen since.

'Best Initiation' gag this time goes to the Pissing Contest dreampt up by Peter when young Karen joined us. Massively back fired when she lay on her back & hit the ceiling, who'd have thought that eh? That'll be the last time you warn 'but being a gurl you'll be a cruel disadvantage'.

'Most Lucrative Staff Earner' not gained this year by the usual blackmails but from the sale of CCTV footage in the young adults area. Top marks for camera placement & the forethought to upgrade it to HD. Shame about the FBI involvement but omlettes & eggs.

Right, time for my tab & a drinkie, BRB. Babs, get yer tights off-you've pulled.

Bullying by any other name. Belittling people is not very clever at any time.

Originally Posted by KorkyKat

Bullying by any other name. Belittling people is not very clever at any time.

It clearly isn't though - to publicly humiliate someone in the modern office world is fecking suicide - so it obviously wasn't intended as such.
He prolly was just having a bad day or is a massive nobber.

Originally Posted by KorkyKat

Bullying by any other name. Belittling people is not very clever at any time.

Someone like you would say that though wouldnt they, so shut up you pissy old moaning git.

Originally Posted by DefTrap

It clearly isn't though - to publicly humiliate someone in the modern office world is fecking suicide - so it obviously wasn't intended as such.

Err...no.

"The project was completed on time. To show their gratitude, the company arranged for a night out for all the staff, as well as a mock-presentation, in which each team member was given a comedy award for something or other. When Jim was called up to the stage to collect his award, he was presented with the Sense of Humour Failure."

Correct when you say suicide. Being ridiculed in public in front of your colleagues is a gamble at the best of times. Better for the company not to even try it in the first place then later having to make a feeble attempt at justifying it as humour. I don't think am employment tribunal would find it in the least bit funny - and yes it does happen.

back in the days of the posh bookshop, young Karen (yes she did exist) received a card from the Personnel Director (that dates this) which was effectively a Congrats on Your Recent Abortion. Karen was so stunned by this (we all knew about the termination because she'd talked it over with everyone) that she showed us all. The Director was a really strange scottish woman who had her divorce granted on grounds of non-consummation. i.e. one of them didn't like sex with the other. We had it down she was a lezzer of the militant variety. She certainly didn't like blokes one bit. Karen OTOH was later invited to an all expenses trip to france by the much older author during his launch party for his reference book on cheese. Yes he'd had a few-we made sure of that!

<thinks> moth-was that you?

I still don't think Moonpig offers this line.

Originally Posted by Editor

i.e. one of them didn't like sex with the other.

I think that's married sex


Non consummation is never having sex once married