Inner Grinner or Outer Shouter? Which are you?

Eugene, Oregon
June 5, 2021 10:43am CST
I first heard those words when I lived near Newport Beach in southern California. There was a very funny comedy/music duo, two guys named Skiles and Henderson, who played every weekend at a great restaurant/cocktail bar called the Reuben E. Lee. It was built like and old Mississippi River boat, two stories tall and the food and entertainment were both great. I made a point of having dinner there or somewhere nearby nearly every weekend and maybe once a month ended up In the spacious cocktail lounge for a lot of laughter. Bill Skiles would ask the audience which they were. “inner grinners ,” (people who might be amused by great jokes, or the funny dialogue between the two, but only smile) or “outer shouters” someone who can’t help laughing out loud when things are really funny). I thought about this recently when my wife and I were watching some (I thought) quite funny movies and comedy sketches. I am definitely an outer shouter, and laugh out loud easily several times a day, often at myself. My wife, on the other hand, rarely laughs loudly. (I wonder if it’s because she was raised Presbyterian?) I do make her laugh sometimes with my silly comments and I am always glad to hear it.
8 people like this
7 responses
@sallypup (58166)
• Centralia, Washington
5 Jun 21
That is one handsome boat. You two sound like a lot of fun.
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jun 21
That restaurant is actually built on a barge. It and the one in San Diego closed years ago, I read and this one sank in the boat yard. Sad.
2 people like this
@sallypup (58166)
• Centralia, Washington
5 Jun 21
@JamesHxstatic That's horrible. My hubby and I toured a historic tugboat once. I hope to find it again.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73743)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jun 21
That is a great looking boat, You two certainly compliment each other. I have no one to make me laugh now and if I need a laugh I just quietly chuckle to myself, My late husband also knew how to get me to laugh when we needed it and he would start off and then I would start and soon we would be laughing with tears in our eyes and could hardly stop and if anyone asked what we were laughing about who knew but it sure felt good doing it,
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 21
I am able to laugh and even seek out some funny comics online to make me laugh, even New Yorker cartoons do it sometimes. It is not easy, being alone.
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
5 Jun 21
I think I'm more of an outer shouter but I still have some sort of control and or reservations depending on the scene and situation so it's not difficult for me to shift and be an inner grinner.
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jun 21
Yes, it has to strike me as pretty funny to get me to laugh loudly.
2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23675)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
6 Jun 21
"Reuben E. Lee." I love the name of the restaurant!! I am an inner grinner!
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 21
As much as you like to be entertained? I'm surprised!
@JudyEv (326220)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jun 21
Some rarely seem to laugh out loud. I think I laugh a lot. In fact, I think we both do.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Jun 21
Sounds like a good thing!
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@CarolDM (203451)
• Nashville, Tennessee
5 Jun 21
Cool boat. I am probably a little of both. I laugh more these days outloud.
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jun 21
It was a fun place to go for sure. I guess I am easily entertained.
2 people like this
@owstalaga (4707)
• Philippines
15 Jun 21
Oh I'm more of the outer shouters! Love that term. I find it somewhat annoying when other people rudely tell me off just for reacting from watching movies or TV shows. I mean, come on, we're free to react when we watch shows just like if we're watching a basketball game or baseball game live. We don't just watch and grin when someone shoots the ball at the last minute or does a home run, we scream and shout out of happiness and clap our hands and such. It's normal for people to react to things we see so most definitely I am one happy outer shouter.