Some Rules...

Okay, this has been bugging me for a long time. You see, there are actually rules to saying jokes. Well, not rules, persay, but guidelines. And I know a lot of people who don't follow them, which gets me annoyed. So, here they are:

1. DO NOT REPEAT - As in, if someone says something funny, it's funny. And you may want to add to it, so you can be funny too. But adding on does not mean saying the exact same thing 5 seconds later, with like, 1 word different. Because guess what, you just killed the joke.
2. JOKES ARE NOT MEMORIES - Okay sure, one of your memories can be about that time when that joke was said and everyone cracked up. But a joke is not a memory. So you cannot say, "Hey, remember quack..." If "quack" was some joke that was told. Unless, that joke is now an inside joke, but, see rule #4. But if it was just a joke that was just funny then, forget about it. It's over.
3. JOKES HAVE TIME LIMITS - If you said something funny, do not keep saying it for like a week. Depending on how funny the joke is, or your status among your clique, you have a certain amount of time for how long you can use the joke. Unless it becomes a memory, because those can always be used, but see rule #2.
4. NO STEALING (OR BORROWING) JOKES - Let's say someone said a joke or something funny, and everyone cracked up, spit out their drinks, etc. The next day, you cannot use that joke as your own. It's like plagerism. Sure, you can use that joke in your new joke. Like making fun of the person for saying that. But if you're trying to revive someone else's joke because you want to be funny, shame on you.
5. IT'S ALL ABOUT TIMING - With any joke, timing is everything. And anyone who can have perfect timing, is like a joke master. But there is also a lot of timing involved in adding on to a joke. You have to wait until you can be heard, or until everyone stops laughing, but they still have the joke on their minds. And if you miss it, your chance to be funny has gone, and it won't be coming back. There is an exception though, as long as your joke is funny enough. If it isn't, give up. Also, look back to rule #1.
6. THERE ARE GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS - Sometimes people have an off day, and they just can't relate with a good joke. If that's the case, then accept it, and stop trying to make everyone laugh like on your good days. We all just need a break sometimes.
7. JUST LAUGHING - There are some jokes that are perfect. Extremely perfect. And to try and top it would be practically a crime. So you have to know when to just laugh, and not try to add on. Because sometimes laughing can be a great add on. Oh, and sometimes, people say things that might be funny, but are really meant to be serious. So you can smile, giggle even, but don't outwardly laugh as if it was the greatest joke you had ever heard. Also, refer to rule #1 and #6.
8. KNOW YOUR EXPERTISE - If you're sarcastic, be sarcastic. If you're goofy, be goofy. Just be you. And do not try to make yourself seem funny by stealing someone's style or trying to do something completely different, unless you have high status in your clique or you're just that funny.

Well, I guess that's it. If I think of anything else, I'll add on. But please try to keep these rules in mind, next time you're with your friends, because no one likes a joke-ruiner.