“A Place Where We Can Laugh At Our Non-Human Friends”: 50 Times This Online Group Made Our Days Better
People with pets have their camera rolls dominated by them. And for good reason. Our precious companions provide so much joy, we want to make the moments last. You're on a tiring business trip? No problem, just open up a shot of your goofball and you forget all about it, even if for a little while.
But don't just take my word for it. Take the subreddit 'Funny Animals' for example. Its moderators describe the online community as "a place where we can laugh at our non-human friends" and since its creation in 2011, it has attracted over 1.2 million members, who are constantly sharing pictures of their dogs, cats, and other creatures that make their days shine brighter.
Continue scrolling and check out some of its all-time most popular posts!
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Be Like Rosie
And I Looked, And Behold, A Pale Horse. And The Rider's Name Was Death
Between verbal jokes, slapstick comedy, and funny animal pictures, there are numerous reasons we laugh. But are humans the only species that can find humor in life?
The tricky part is that philosophers and psychologists have long struggled to come up with an exact definition of what constitutes humor in the first place.
They've presented numerous theories over the years, one of the most popular being the "incongruity theory" of humor. At its basic level, this theory states that humor arises when there's an inconsistency between what one expects to happen and what actually happens — and this includes comedic tools like puns, irony, and twists of fate.
Oh Well
Perfection
Cute
According to this definition, it sounds like the vast majority of animals probably don't have a sense of humor, as they lack the cognitive mechanisms and networks that would allow them to identify such inconsistencies.
One known exception is Koko, the famous western lowland gorilla who understands more than 1,000 American Sign Language signs and 2,000 spoken English words.
This clever primate is known not only to use language to humorous effect by playing with different meanings of the same word, but also to understand slapstick comedy — she's reportedly signed the word "chase" after tying her trainer's shoelaces together and made laughing noises at her trainer's clumsiness.
Lmao
Hurry Up Mom!!
Please Release Me From The Void
“Does Your Dog Bite?” “No, It’s Worse. She Judges”
But there are various issues with the incongruity theory of humor and related theories, including the fact that they fail to take into account that jokes with predictable punch lines can also be funny and that certain incongruous things aren't funny.
Furthermore, they also seem to evade the primary reasons why we laugh: being tickled by a friend or family member.
They Look Extremely Pleased To Know One Another
I Would Love To Know What The Joke Was
Hahahaha!
Zoom Cat
My cat also loves Zoom calls, but he prefers to show them his butt.
Recently, a few psychologists came up with a new theory. They propose that humor arises from the so-called benign violation or "something that threatens a person’s well-being, identity or normative belief structure but that simultaneously seems okay," they wrote in a paper about the theory.
"W-What?"
Morning With Meow
When You Love Cookies
Cutest Note Ever
Benign violation can explain why a number of things make us laugh, including being tickled: that is, tickling benignly invades someone's physical space.
You can't tickle yourself because that doesn't constitute a violation and complete strangers can't tickle you to the point of laughter because you won't perceive it as a benign act.
Under this theory, various animals do, in fact, have "humor," if only they can be tickled.
Ahhh So Adorable
He’s Back Once Again
Eggcellent
He Can Do Anything
Research shows us that our primate relatives — chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans — all produce laughter-like sounds when tickled (as well as when they're wrestling and play-chasing).
This also suggests that humor and our ability to laugh likely came from humans' and great apes' last common ancestor.
Additionally, another study discovered that chimpanzees can make silent "laugh faces" just like humans.
Priorities
Huh? Wazzit? Wha .. What's Happening??
Mine does that a lot, not getting under the blankets, but if i wake him up by accident, he's confused look is hilarious.
Bonjour
Buddy
Dogs are also known to have a kind of panting laugh and play face that's suggestive of humor.
But as far as these pictures go, we're probably the only creatures that can appreciate them. Which makes them even more special.
That's Rude 😒 🥲
Lab Gear
Mom Cat
There Are Best Friends
There is a program in zoos that gives cheetahs their own emotional support dogs and it’s so ADORABLE 🥰
No Work
Mister Landlord.. This Is.. Ummm You See
Happy Accident
Tony Hawk replied to this and said it was his little brother Mike. https://americasbestpics.com/picture/moistbudeha-and-nourthatsthestutt-bob-janke-googled-tony-hawk-to-see-Ioho66I79
Who Wore It Better?
The Best Portrait
Gifts
He Still Fine Af Tho
Are There Posts Worth 999 Views?
Moon Moon is at it again..... For those of you that don't get it lol just Google " Moon Moon "
Wish That Was Me
Oreo Cat
I Almost Had A Heart Attack This Morning...
Maybe You Did Chicken Nuggies
Nice Employee
Lmaoo
Dude Look Those Eyes He Is Pissssed
Great
Too Weird😂😂
Someone Isn't Taking Whole Wedding Seriously
Low Resolution Dog
Might Teach Him Some Boxing
"You may be wondering how I got in such good shape. The answer is simple: pushups, situps, and plenty of juice."
Stock
Thanks For Being There
"I'm Not Super Mario"
Mama's Got To Care For Her Baby
Defeat
I'm Innocent You Know
Taking Care Of Good Doggos
So Many Animal Memes, So Little Time
This Cat Loves A Cuddle
Not Far From The Truth
I Mean… Safety First I Guess
It Begins!
Wholesome Tortoise
Absolute Unit
Love Elephants And This Sweetheart Just Made My Day!
KFC
Beautiful Girlfriend
Too Cute To Be A Doggo
Cat: I’m Speed
Fake Coughing
Some Things Never Change...😁😇🐶
Family To Family
It's Too Cute I Can't Concentrate
Olaplex
He Joined The Army
Omg 🎀
“You Saw Nothing..”
That's Adorable!
A Cat Who Takes Selfies! What Do You Think Of It? 😍
They look like a couple of dating teenagers where she is trying harder
Bro Is About To Drop A Mathematics Theorem
Nothing Can Escape The Void
Give It For Free
Best Selfie Of Day!😂♥️
Oh Yeaah!!
Legendary Cat
Works For Cats And Humans
My husband and I have had the same conversation, but about getting another dog. Our Jimmy is a Jack Russell mix who's extremely smart and beyond personable, so I asked him if we could adopt again if another Jimmy dog came into the shelter. I know that my husband was thinking the chances of me actually continually checking and finding another Jimmy dog were slim to none, and that's why he agreed.Three weeks ago, I turned on the local news, and lo and behold, the shelter took in EIGHTY Jimmy dogs, all different sizes, but Jimmy dogs none the less, from a hoarding situation. It was a f*****g miracle! Husband claims we never had that conversation and no such agreement exists. I say he's miffed because his unspoken expectations of me were thoroughly quashed. Now I've got to figure out another challenge to back up the first. He can't say no to a second successful challenge. (Maybe an international petition here on BP would be sufficient). Any thoughts, fellow Pandas?
Sleeping
Got Cheated🥺😭
Found This On Twitter And Had To Share😭
Npc Kitty
Well Guess I Won't Ever Help Then
I Wish This Happiness For You
Just Because
Oh Hello
My cat stalks us when I walk the dog through the park. It's always hilarious to see his little head poke out of a bush.
It's Been Confirmed
Hampster
A Cat That Deserves A Million Upvotes
The Only Good Math Book
When I was studying maths at college (and this was pre-internet yes I’m old) our teacher would just randomly have slides of his pet cats on the overhead projector. Attendance in his classes was really high!
Basically Turist
Black Cat
Human Cat Tree
Purrito
Final
This is my dad. Didn’t want a dog, becomes dog’s favourite anyway
He Ready For Halloween
Good Boy :)
Fat Fred
I Would Never Tell Him That It Isn't
Who's Good Boy?
Guest
"After, he'll give a short speech on the importance of banning vacuum cleaners."
Her Reaction
What To Do?
Cat
Nine Out Of Ten Recommend
Hat
Best Friends For Life! (10 Years Ago vs. Now)
Chomp
He/She Deserves It
Mmmm Yes Must Check Magic Pie Bush
Huh. Guess It Is A Universal Thing
I’ll Always Be There For You
Two Finalists Battle For The Last Choco Taco
Tired Af Fam
Grateful
Little Job
This Cat Is Too Powerful
He Sit And Ponder
Im His Lawyer He’s Innocent
Please Do Not Drink The Milk
Service Dog
Bros Stressed 💀
His Face
"Oh You Lyin' Ho."
Foxy
Salad
Wild 😂😂
Perhaps It Is So
Somebody Fell Asleep In The Rain
His Face Expression 😂🐶
All Aboard The Quack Daddy
Ah, the warm fuzzy feeling you get from these pics after a long, busy day... 🤗
I'm pretty happy about the uptick in animal posts on the front page lately, lol.
Bruh one of my friends just told me that their great dane had puppies yesterday and they are the cutest things
Somewhere on one of these threads is a white dog covered in grass. Could you ( anyone) please point me back to it.
Ah, the warm fuzzy feeling you get from these pics after a long, busy day... 🤗
I'm pretty happy about the uptick in animal posts on the front page lately, lol.
Bruh one of my friends just told me that their great dane had puppies yesterday and they are the cutest things
Somewhere on one of these threads is a white dog covered in grass. Could you ( anyone) please point me back to it.