Dumbing down is a silly mistake made by most women. They believe that the sillier they are, the more attractive they are to men. True or false?
False! According to a recent study conducted on 12,000 people in more than 30 countries, “We found in societies like Britain, or especially in Scandinavia, men place increasing value on other qualities, like intelligence, rather than curvy figures or skill at cooking.”
What’s the point of exhibiting an inferior level of intelligence when you should be proudly showcasing your worth to the world? No man is worth lowering yourself down for. Well, maybe Ryan Gosling is, but I can guarantee you that he’s not worth it if he enjoys being around a bimbo.
Trying to impress a man should be relatively straightforward. The best thing you can do for yourself is to be who you are and if that doesn’t work, dumbing down for him should be a last resort, or better yet, completely shelved as an option.
Despite my rambling, there’s no denying that women the world over have at one point or another, unashamedly dumbed down for a guy. I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done it. There’s just something about putting ourselves in a submissive position that has men falling for us. Men love feeling strong and women love being taken of. It’s as simple as that. [Read: Why men always fall for a damsel who needs rescuing]
10 ways to make a guy laugh without having to dumb down
There are plenty of ways to make a guy laugh without dumbing down. It’s true that comedy is very subjective, but remember that the key is to make him laugh with you and not at you. If you’re stuck, here are 10 tips that you should keep in mind the next time you have a conversation with your crush.
#1 Use sarcasm.
Research conducted by Harvard Business School shows that sarcasm is the “highest form of intelligence.” Apparently, “To create or decode sarcasm, both the expressers and recipients of sarcasm need to overcome the contradiction (i.e., psychological distance) between the literal and actual meanings of the sarcastic expressions,” said author Francesca Gino. “This is a process that activates and is facilitated by abstraction, which in turn promotes creative thinking.”
So what does this tell you? Using sarcasm to make him laugh doesn’t mean you’re dumbing down. On the contrary, it exhibits your intelligence whilst challenging him to think on your level. It’s certainly a win-win situation. [Read: Should you ever dumb yourself down now and then to impress a guy?]
#2 Play off current events.
Try to sneak bits of current events into your jokes. Not only will it let him know that you’re more than just E! News, it’ll also showcase your grasp of current affairs. For example, if you’re talking about work and the number of emails that you have to deal with each day, you can say something like, “Wow, looks like Hillary isn’t the only one with email problems.”
#3 Revere intelligence.
With jokes, there’s always a victim. It could be the Irishman, the nun, the dog, the Malaysian prime minister. No matter what the joke is, there has to be a subject that unwittingly becomes the victim.
Why not make subpar intelligence a victim of the next joke you tell? It will let him know that you have no intention of dumbing yourself down to get a crack out of him. Sure, this may backfire on you as he may think you’re comically arrogant but if you’re smart enough, you’ll be able to figure out a way to thwart him from thinking that. [Read: 15 highs and lows of dating someone who’s smarter than you]
#4 Figure out what he likes.
Use that brain of yours to figure out what he likes and use it to your advantage. For example, if he’s a Star Trek fan, crack jokes that only a Trekkie would understand. The same can be said for comedians. If he likes Dane Cook, quote him. If he likes John Oliver, reference him. There are a million ways to relate to him without needing to dumb it down.
#5 Focus on your strengths.
When trying to make your man laugh, focus on your strengths. Whether you’re engaging him in a serious conversation about dams or making fun of beavers, nothing beats speaking about something you know. Present it to him in a fun and flirty way and he will be bound to laugh. [Read: How to be a classy lady who awes every man she meets]
#6 Be kooky.
Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. Be kooky and quirky and play off on slapstick comedy. Mannerisms and facial expressions play just as big a role in conversations as the actual words, so don’t be afraid to be expressive and make fun of yourself.
#7 Take the dirty route.
Don’t be afraid to make dirty jokes. You’ll be surprised at how many naughty jokes out there require brain power to figure out so don’t brush them off so easily. The great thing about dirty jokes is that you can inject them with a little eroticism and send out all kinds of signals to him. He’ll be laughing and wanting more in no time. [Read: 12 types of humor and how it affects your conversations]
#8 Be inventive.
Inject a little bit of creativity into your words and ideas and you will find that humor will follow suit. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll be on a roll once you break out of your comfort zone and start being inventive. Not only will you make him laugh, he’ll love you for it.
#9 Use technology.
Another way to make him laugh without dumbing down is to use technology. There’s no reason why you can’t engage in witty banter via text messaging or email. He can’t see your face so he won’t know what’s coming next. Take advantage of the situation and blow him away.
Surprise him with your wit and don’t forget to keep it short. If all else fails, fall back on the myriad of memes out there. Nothing beats opening up an email first thing in the morning and being greeted by a hilarious meme. [Read: 11 naughty ways to flirt with a guy over text]
#10 Time your jokes.
Keep it smart by timing your jokes and not forcing them onto him. Let your humor come out at the right moment and don’t let him think that you’re trying too hard. Don’t try to be funny if you sense a negative vibe from him as it will certainly backfire. So long as you sense a positive and easygoing vibe, it should be safe to crack whatever joke you have up your sleeve.
[Read: The complete guide to being funny and make everyone love your company]
You may not be the funniest person he has ever met but that doesn’t mean you’re not funny. If you let your personality shine through, there’s no doubt that you’ll make him laugh regardless of what you say. There’s nothing simpler than being yourself, so do it with pride!
