Adam, a fresh Navy recruit, was eager on his first day aboard the submarine. He reported to the officer, who sized him up and gave his first order.
"Adam, I need you to stand by the periscope entry and make sure no unauthorized personnel touch it. Understand?"
"Yes, sir!" Adam responded and stood at his post. Fifteen minutes later, the officer returned.
"Adam, I’m reassigning you. Head to the mess hall and start washing dishes."
Without hesitation, Adam complied, scrubbing away at the sink. But after washing only a few dishes, the officer appeared again.
"Adam, change of plans. You're needed in the supply room. Make sure everything’s secured in case of rough waters."
Again, Adam followed the order and made his way to the supply room. Inside, he found another crewman stacking boxes. Adam, a bit frustrated, spoke up.
"Hey, is it normal to keep getting shuffled around like this? I’ve been reassigned three times already, and it’s only been 15 minutes!"
The crewman chuckled and said, "Welcome to the sub, Adam. This place is full of reposts."
Joke Poo: Ben, the Intern
Ben, a bright-eyed summer intern at a tech startup, was excited to prove himself on his first day. He reported to his supervisor, who looked him up and down and gave his first task.
“Ben, I need you to stand by the coffee machine and make sure nobody uses decaf. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am!” Ben responded and stood guard. Fifteen minutes later, the supervisor returned.
“Ben, I’m reassigning you. Head to the ping pong table and make sure no one uses the good paddles for practice.”
Without hesitation, Ben complied, feeling slightly confused. But after only a few volleys, the supervisor appeared again.
“Ben, change of plans. You’re needed by the nap pods. Make sure everyone is using the white noise playlist and not playing death metal.”
Again, Ben followed the order and made his way to the nap pods. Inside, he found a senior engineer adjusting the settings. Ben, now clearly frustrated, spoke up.
“Excuse me, is it normal to get moved around like this? I’ve been reassigned three times already, and it’s only been an hour!”
The engineer sighed and said, “Welcome to the office, Ben. You’re a ‘placeholder.'”
Okay, let’s analyze this joke:
Core Elements:
- Setting: A submarine, specifically, a US Navy Submarine.
- Character: A fresh, eager, and naive Navy recruit named Adam. An experienced (and seemingly bored) crewman. An officer who’s messing with Adam.
- Humor: The punchline plays on the word “reposts,” suggesting that Adam’s constant reassignments are like seeing the same content over and over again, a common internet meme. The humor derives from the unexpected application of internet slang in a realistic Navy setting.
Deconstruction: The joke’s effectiveness hinges on the contrast between the structured, hierarchical environment of a submarine and the chaotic, recycled nature of internet content. The expectation is of military precision and order; the reality, portrayed through Adam’s experience, is one of arbitrary and repetitive tasks.
Enrichment & New Humor:
Let’s dive into some submarine-related facts to create a new joke or observation:
- Fact 1: Ballast Tanks: Submarines use ballast tanks to control buoyancy. Filling them with water makes the sub sink; expelling the water makes it rise.
- Fact 2: Limited Space: Submarines are notoriously cramped, requiring sailors to be in close proximity for extended periods. This can lead to unique social dynamics.
- Fact 3: Communication Challenges: Submarines face unique communication challenges, particularly when submerged. Radio waves don’t penetrate water well, requiring specific technologies for underwater communication.
New Joke/Observation (Using Fact 1):
A rookie submariner is struggling to adjust to life below the surface. He keeps complaining about the constant up-and-down movement. His seasoned shipmate sighs and says, “Look, kid, around here, complaining about buoyancy is like complaining about reposts online… It just surfaces every time.”
Why it works: This builds on the original joke’s theme of the unexpected application of internet slang in a naval environment, and adds a submarine-specific twist. The new joke connects the idea of re-emerging online content with a submarine’s surfacing and diving actions.
Bonus Observation (Using Fact 2):
“Life on a submarine is like being trapped in a Reddit thread with 100 of your closest strangers. Every opinion is amplified, every annoyance is magnified, and after a few weeks, you start to believe that ‘The cake is a lie’ is not only a relevant meme but also a plausible explanation for the missing birthday dessert.”
Why it works: This observation plays on the idea of confined spaces amplifying personalities and the tendency for internet humor to seep into real life, especially in isolated or monotonous situations.
New Joke (Using Fact 3):
What’s the Navy’s favorite underwater communication technique? Echolocation of the last relevant meme.
Why it works: Uses humorously the idea that the only content worth communicating in the middle of the ocean is an old meme.