Russians are cheerful; they like watching comedies and humor programs. However, most of Russians believe it is inappropriate to make fun of wars, disasters, religions, diseases and tragedies related to close relatives.

MOSCOW, April 1, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey concerning the following questions: whether Russians have a sense of humor; whether they watch humor programs and comedies and read anecdotes; what topics they regard as inappropriate to laugh at.

Most of Russians (92%) admit that they have a sense of humor including 29% of those who consider themselves true humorists (42% of 18-24-year-olds; 34% of men and 32% of those who have high level of education vs. 20% of retired persons, 25% of women and 16% of those who have elementary level of education). Every second Russian (50%) believes that he/she is able to joke and to understand jokes; 13% admit they do not have such abilities. Remarkably, the share of respondents who give these answers has almost stayed at the same level since 1998 (94%). Only 5% of Russians consider that they are lacking a sense of humor.

Three-quarters of Russians like humoristic TV programs (79%): 8% watch them every day, 31% - several times per week, 29% - two or three times per month, 11% – at least a few times per year. Comedy movies are chosen by 79% of Russians. Comedy series are less popular than comedies; however, most of Russians (60%) watch them (73% of persons aged 18 - 24 and only 49% of persons aged 60 years and older).

Less than half of Russians choose other kinds of humor. Forty-one percent of Russians are interested in humor radio stations and radio programs. Thirty-nine percent of respondents look through compilations of jokes and humorous stories; 37% opt for humorous Internet sites and blogs.

But do all the topics are good for mockery? According to the majority of Russians, off-limits topics include war, war victims (63%), genocide, epidemies and terrorist attacks (58%). It is inappropriate to make fun of religious values (57%), tragedies of close relatives (61%), appearance and diseases (56%). Four out of ten Russians (44%) think it is not good to poke fun of ethnic differences. Every third (37%) thinks that it is not good to mock Russia`s history.

Twenty-eight percent of Russians say that it is inappropriate to cruelly laugh at other people`s dreams; 27% - to mock names of other people. Twenty-five percent of respondents avoid such topics as politics, Russian government and president; 22% - economic and social problems. And finally, 25% of Russians think it is inappropriate to make fun of all the topics mentioned above.  

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted March 21-22 14-15, 2015. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 communities in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.

’In 1998, 2000 this answer option was not offered 

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