Don't you hate it when you walk into a conversation where people are laughing.  They explain their joke to you, adding, "You had to be there."  Wouldn't it be better if everyone could be in on the joke?  With situational humor, they CAN!    This week's Comedy Around the World talks Turkey.  Istanbul, Turkey.  

My friend and I went shopping for hair accessories.  The shop seemed inexpensive, so we bought some earrings, hair things, and make-up.  Later, our Turkish friends asked us what we paid for our purchases.  They shook their heads in dismay saying, "We should have gone with you.  The owners saw you were foreigners, so they charged you more!" 

We weren't in on this joke.  We WERE the joke.  It was awkward for us, awkward for our Turkish friends. 

When we can make fun of a situation, we let everyone contribute to the humor.  We save face, and we let others save face.  We create a common theme--the funny situation.  We can all add to it and build on the humor we create.  Then everyone gets a good deal!