[stagbeetle]

> Why would you laugh at the response unless you don't believe someone?

It's a way to try and break the awkwardness of just a one-word answer. We can't tell the tone this man had, or how the author perceived that tone, just from the writing, but I like to use Hanlon's razor liberally.

I think it's a moot point using only one datum, especially one as subjective as experience, in argument though.