Have your ever really asked yourself what GSOH actually means? So many of the “wltm” brigade either boast of or desire a mate with a “Good Sense Of Humour” without actually thinking it through.
Like the word “alternative”, humour is very much a matter of taste. There’s a marked difference between the practical joker with leanings towards slapstick and the Woody Allen aficionado with a penchant for sarcasm and puns.
Do farts (or bottom burps if you have a six year old) and Jim Carrey tickle your fancy or are you hooked on P G Wodehouse? Did you manage to see the jokes in “Lost In Translation” – which to me was a soporific nightmare but which apparently had some people rolling in the aisles? Do you cringe through South Park but still can’t get enough of Laurel and Hardy? How do you really feel about fake, plastic turds in your lunchbox and the sewing of fish-heads into your ex’s mattress as a parting gift?
A shared sense of humour will undoubtedly enhance any relationship and... laughing together is an important as sexual compatibility.
Laughing Together
Thus, with any preferences, generalisations just won’t do. A shared sense of humour will undoubtedly enhance any relationship and in fact I would go as far as to say that laughing together is an important as sexual compatibility.
Humour is a particularly human quirk – animals don’t joke; their instincts are too blatant. I don’t think animals tell fibs either although my cat will pretend that he’s brought in a mouse to get our attention but I still don’t think he thinks deception is funny. (I digress - although come to think of it a shared loved of animals either as pets or as dinner fodder is also important.)
Don't Be Vague
So be specific: to proclaim “likes cinema, eating out and travel” is just too vague. Don’t be embarrassed by your tastes but mention whether you’re a “Double Swiss Bacon Cheeseburger” addict and/or crazy about sushi, sun-dried tomatoes and anything with pesto.
And what on earth do you mean by travel? There’s a great deal of difference between beach hopping between Barbados and the Costa Sol and trekking round ancient churches and Viking settlements.
State your favourite things clearly and think carefully about how open-minded you are to investigating new experiences when responding.
Whilst opposites can and do attract it is still common ground and shared values that will cement a long term relationship
My own partner loves ballet which bores me rigid but every now and then I compromise and try very hard to stop fidgeting whilst men in tights hoist anorexic babes above their shoulders. He, in turn, tries not to squirm on wobbly benches at experimental theatre events where lukewarm white wine is served in paper cups during the (most welcome) interval. However we both laugh at “Friends”, enjoy reading who-dunnits and our idea of culinary heaven is surf’n’turf and anything with garlic.
Whilst we agree on many important things - such as politics, child-rearing strategies, fluffy carpets (hate laminate flooring), not ironing socks and can’t see the point of pierced nipples - our differences can lead to interesting debates usually without rancour; can you believe he disapproves of Charles and Camilla and thinks Julia Roberts is pretty? Whilst opposites can and do attract it is still common ground and shared values that will cement a long term relationship and a shared sense of humour can sow the seeds for a relationship to grow.
Be Honest
There’s really no need to lie about physical attributes. Some women prefer vertically-challenged men, truly believe that balding indicates high testosterone and find muscular hunks too intimidating. Many men like squeezing fat thighs, adore freckles but are actually scared of too much cleavage. You don’t have to be too deprecating but let’s face it if you’re not honest you will actually be caught out quite quickly.
