Well, crap.  Seeing all the bullshit coming out of the UK I can see why this would be true.


news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4598820

Briton in Gloom as Chuckle Levels Drop

By Charlie Hamilton, PA

Gloomy Britons are too stressed-out with almost half unable to rustle up even one decent belly laugh each day, according to new research.

Laughter levels are plummeting due to a combination of money worries, partner problems and even political uncertainly, according to the new data.

As a nation, we are taking life more seriously than ever before with the amount of time Brits enjoy chuckling three times lower than in the 1950s.

The sorrowful figures reveal the vast proportion of people feel more cheerful at work rather than at home.

The research, carried out by cruise company Ocean Village, also suggests a healthy dose of laughs could be the easiest way to ensuring good health.

Ocean Village’s Amanda Bate said: “Laughter is an essential ingredient of a healthy, happy life and is one of the most effective and immediate antidotes to stress and tension – it really is the best medicine.

“The findings of this study show a worrying trend towards glumness. In the 1950s we laughed for an average of 18 minutes daily but this has dropped to just 6 minutes per day.”

Morning misery is rife, with almost half of Brits (45%) admitting they have a total sense of humour failure first thing in the morning, which often lasts until lunchtime.

Around 16 million adults, totalling 40%, admitted failing to muster even one proper belly laugh in an average day.

One ray of good news appears to come from Manchester where single women aged 18-24 years old, were found to be the happiest people in the UK.

Bristol was the most cheerful place for couples aged 25-34-years-old.

Factors such as weather, time of day and age, were all cited as being able to spark the blues.

July and August were the happiest months of the year according to three out of four Brits quizzed, with January the most miserable for two thirds of us.

The study was carried out by ICM Research on behalf of Ocean Village who interviewed a random selection of 1,000 adults aged 18 or over.

Morning misery is rife, with almost half of Brits (45%) admitting they have a total sense of humour failure first thing in the morning, which often lasts until lunchtime. Around 16 million adults, totalling 40%, admitted failing to muster even one proper belly laugh in an average day.

Am I correct in assuming that some Royal Standards Committee (located in Greenwich, no doubt) has established the proper criteria for "total humour failure" and a "proper" belly laugh?

Quoted: Around 16 million adults, totalling 40%, admitted failing to muster even one proper belly laugh in an average day.

Well they probably didn't want to pay the yearly licensing fee for belly laughing. Maybe they're just getting by with the occassional hearty chuckle.

Belly laughing will be banned there before long if this crap keeps up.