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by peacenik1

Question by blank: what does it mean to have a mischievous sens of humor?
I was told by a teacher that I have a mischievous sens of humor but most people like my jokes. I am a little bit cynical but I am not that mean.
Should I take what he said wrong?

Best answer:

Answer by LAlawMedMBA
Two denotations of mischievous are particularly relevant:

Mischievous (def.) 1. maliciously or playfully annoying.
3. roguishly or slyly teasing, as a glance.

A person who has a “mischievous sense of humor” may simply be someone who likes to tease others, or who is playfully annoying, but it could also be someone who likes to put other people in troubling, puzzling, confusing, or ironic positions for a laugh. The most notable example of a mischievous sense of humor is the practical jokester, who sets up an elaborate scenario in which he entraps a friend (or relative). The friend believes that he is involved in a real life experience, when in reality he is part of a conspiracy designed to make him the brunt or object of humor.

One of my great-uncles was a renowned practical jokester, and people admired him for it, because it took a lot of brainwork to create his pranks, and everyone laughed hysterically after they discovered that it was another sting by the jester.

If you are told that you have a mischievous sense of humor, it is not much of an insult, because it implies that you are probably clever, and that at least you have a sense of humor, which is always a good thing. You might want to be careful with a teacher, however, because he is an authority figure who has considerable influence on your career course, so it would be wiser to keep (and use) your sense of humor, but avoid the mischievousness.

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