"Great Britain has silver. This is totally unprecedented. Back in 1912, we got a bronze in the men's team final; here exactly 100 years later Great Britain gets silver. Unbelievable, but it is true." Mitch Fenner, the BBC gymnastics commentator, was beside himself after Team GB won the silver in the gymnastics men's team event on July 30.

However, the result was questioned by the Japanese team due to an incorrect score on the pommel horse. Faced with losing the silver medal, Fenner still didn't forget to crack a joke: "I'm glad that the coach speaks English not Japanese. We can smile, our gymnasts did a fantastic job. We are going to have a medal whatever."

In this 15-minute sentimental moment, the famous British humor and the country's positive attitude were fully presented. 

The country is addicted to humor. Comedy shows on TV often draw more viewers than sitcoms. Conversation sparkles with jokes, seeking the light side of any subject. Young people take to the Internet in droves, seeking out ever funnier memes.

The British can make fun of anything, from the monarchy to religion to Shakespeare. Black humor is part of the package. No matter how grim the circumstances, even when facing a loved one's death, levity rules the day. My boyfriend's grandmother, an 80-year old Welsh lady, described the death of her husband by saying: "I got drunk that day. I was so happy he could finally have a good rest." 

British humor revolved around subtlety, sarcasm and irony. Not for the British the bawdier and more obvious jokes of their French counterparts. Not for the British the blunt and direct approach of their American cousins. The phrase "No sex please, we're British" harks at a nation of understated emotion and stiff-upper-lipped attitudes.

This may not always be an advantage. Foreign women are difficult to seduce with sarcasm and dry wit. However, an endearing characteristic of British humor is that jokes often target culture, politics, religion, arts and current affairs. They tease their queen, their prime minister, singers and each other. This plethora of humor can be extremely difficult to follow for foreigners, even native English speakers from other lands.

So here is the question: Why are British so keen to see the funny side of life?

From my point of view, the answer lies partly in British history and partly in the British character and society. In a historical context, since its civil war in the 17th century, the character of the Great Britain has been to meet times of war and peace alike with a sense of dignified humor, a far cry from the cynicism they see as being the traits of many other countries.

In the early days of World War II, when the threat of Nazi invasion loomed large, the British government launched a poster, bearing the comforting words "Keep Calm and Carry On." It was a message of courage and morale for a population who responded in kind.

The UK also benefits from a free and liberal democracy, where rights are safeguarded and political extremism mostly absent. People know their rights are secure, which reduces worry and allows them to see the fun side in life.

The class system and regional differences have also provided rich materials for jokes, with stereotypes constantly a treasure trove of humor.

As for the British character, apart from what is mentioned before, it is imaginative and conducive to enjoying humor, enabling the country to see and seek out the hidden funny side of things.

Whatever the reasons for the British's obsession with humor, however, this national characteristic has impressed billions of people during the splendid Olympic Games that just concluded.

The author is a student studying in the UK. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn