Melannie Gregersen explains why self-deprecating jokes backfire. They either make people uncomfortable enough to agree with the insult or leave them in awkward silence. Being uplifting about yourself comes across as more confident and attractive.
Sometimes we think if we make jokes about ourselves where we're criticizing ourselves, we think we're just being funny or something. In reality, it usually makes people very uncomfortable. Because if they agree with you and laugh, then they're basically being mean to you. But if they disagree with you and don't laugh, then it's just awkward. And so they just— it's not comfortable. It doesn't show confidence from you either. So if you are someone instead who is uplifting about others and yourself, that makes you a very attractive person to be around. And the good news is, is it's pretty easy to learn how to do that if it's not something you've started doing yet.
