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by treve 389 days ago
This is a genuine question, not trying to yuck someone's yum. I don't understand this style of writing. I can't really relate to the humor. Can someone explain the laugh people get from this?
8 comments

It both teaches ppl who don't know yet, and "weirds"[1] things for people who already know, by framing it in a "dressed down" way.

[1]: "weird" in the sense that it turns it upside down, to make the familiar unfamiliar and give new perspective. As described better in this article: https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2016/09/22/speak-weirdness-to-tru...

I totally understand not getting why it's valuable - I'm not 100% on board either. But you're asking why it's funny to talk like a caveman? You might as well ask why farts are funny.

Maybe this one's execution isn't great, and maybe the joke doesn't work at this length - but the origin of the humor? Not to be insulting, but that's akin to a Lieutenant Commander Data question...

Thanks I guess I was just wondering if something went over my head, but sounds like not really.
The original is great. It was a stylistic choice which drove the point home that the simple, dumb, caveman part of your brain can be wise.
It was entertainingly novel the first time I saw it, but every copycat since then just feels like desperate bandwagoning.
Is not for laugh, is for stories by fire.
It started with https://grugbrain.dev/ but I think its useful because it dispenses with any possibility of pretension and signals 'this is simple advice about the fundamentals'. The limited vocab means no jargon bullshit. I find some of it really insightful. It speaks to the truth that beneath all the layers we are just hominids who have accidentally given ourselves great powers, and day to day a lot of what we do can be explained in simple terms and there is value in admitting that.
I'm kind of with you. I like oddball narration, but only if it's funny or entertaining. This is neither, I'm afraid.

I'm not sure what I'm missing.

Smart people pretending they're dumb. Juxtaposition is funny. Explaining jokes makes them less funny. Is fine.