They usually play on the flaws and absurdities of human nature. In a short story, a miser who is so stingy that he tries to bargain with the Grim Reaper to take someone else instead of him. The combination of the serious concept of death and the ridiculous behavior of the miser creates that dark humorous effect.
A group of vampires held a blood drive. This is funny in a dark humor sense because vampires are supposed to take blood by force, but here they are doing it in a more civilized way, which is completely against their nature. It's a humorous take on the traditional view of vampires.
Here's one. A man goes to the doctor and says, 'Doctor, I think I'm a moth.' The doctor says, 'Well, you should see a psychiatrist. Why did you come to me?' The man replies, 'The light was on here.'
Here is one. A man goes to the doctor and says, 'Doctor, I think I'm a moth.' The doctor says, 'I'm a doctor, not a psychiatrist. Why did you come here?' The man replies, 'Well, your light was on.'
One characteristic is the unexpectedness. They often have a twist that catches you off - guard, like in the story where the doctor says 'I'll deal with you later' to the man who thinks he's a deck of cards. Another is that they can be a bit macabre. For example, the skeleton asking for a beer and a mop. It's not your typical humorous situation but it makes you laugh because it's so absurd and a little bit creepy at the same time. Also, they sometimes play with taboos or uncomfortable topics in a way that still manages to be funny, without being too offensive.
Dark humor short stories often feature unexpected or absurd situations. For example, characters might find themselves in a completely illogical yet real - ish situation, like in 'The Metamorphosis' where a man turns into an insect.
Dark humor short stories also tend to play with taboos. They might touch on topics like death, violence, or social norms in a way that is not typical. By breaking these boundaries in a humorous context, they create a unique and often thought - provoking reading experience. This can make the reader both uncomfortable and amused at the same time.
They often involve personal or unique situations. For example, something that happens only within a family or a small group. Dark humor in these stories usually takes an unexpected turn, like in the story of the old cat. The comment about the cat not scratching furniture after death is unexpected and a bit dark. It's not the normal reaction one would expect in a mourning situation.