Has Australia officially lost its sense of humour?

It seems that Australia is ready to get serious, with new research showing less of us are looking for a laugh in what we watch, listen to, and read. In the past, the majority of us have been happy to sit down and watch a guffaw-inducing comedy after dinner, or have preferred to see humorous articles and funny pictures when we turn on our computers, but these days many of us are looking for something a little more serious to entertain us.

The research into our ‘laugh-out-loud’ habits focussed on how many Australians are looking for “something funny as their top media content preference at least once during the week”. While we were once a nation full of people looking for a laugh, these days it seems we’d rather stick to something serious.

These results are coupled with the fact that Australia has recently seen a push towards the type political correctness we have traditionally steered clear of. Rather than risk offending anyone, many people are more careful in what they say to others. In the past we have been known to push the boundaries of what’s considered ‘funny’. As an easy-going nation we value a good chuckle, even if it’s brought on by something other countries might consider rude or outlandish.

So we have to wonder: is this research really a reflection on Australian society? Just because we’d rather watch a riveting TV drama, does it really mean that we’re not willing to have a laugh?

Let’s talk. Tell us what you think in the comments.

Has Australia lost its sense of humour? Are we too scared of offending people these days?