Bad puns, play, and creativity

[bagworm]

The thing about bad puns is the CONTRIVANCE, and the appearance in the speaker of needing acknowledgment or attention. And that is what, under the much broader heading of wordplay, is groan-worthy. But many just groan automatically at wordplay of any type in any context, and inevitably say the words "bad pun", even at a spoonerism or a mondegreen

Comments

[the_sullz]

Thank for explaining this. For a long time I've said that I don't like puns, but I couldn't explain why. And I also couldn't explain why some puns actually make me smile anyway. Of course it's the contrivance that makes the difference between wit and witless, and as soon as I read that it becomes obvious, but I really had never thought of it.

[vampiresse]

I used to just hate puns, until I had kids. It is so much fun to play with language, it is fun to have little people learn what humor is and how to use it.