Hi-tech humour has taken over

It’s certainly no laughing matter but our proud tradition of joke telling is being killed off by technology.

Emails social networking sites and internet video clips have replaced the time-honoured tradition where schoolchildren, work colleagues or friends would ask each other “have you heard the one about...”.

Hi-tech humour has taken over to such an extent that one in three adults does not know a single gag, while 18 percent know only one. And nearly half said they would like to be able to tell more jokes but can never remember the punchline.

The findings emerged in a poll of 2 000 people by Costa Coffee to launch the Costa Light Comedy Challenge. Comedian Paul Tonkinson said: “Brits are famed for their sense of humour and it’s a great loss to our culture that so many of us can’t tell a good joke.

“Remembering all the detail in a joke and delivering a punchline with impact does take a certain amount of skill and flair - which some are better at than others.”

According to the survey 20 percent believe it is easier to text or e-mail a joke as it “prevents you looking stupid if you get it wrong”.

And over 20 percent find updates on Facebook and Twitter more witty than an old-fashioned gag. - Daily Mail