What does Subway and a bad tinder date have in common?

Okay, here’s my attempt at a "Joke Poo," playing off the Subway/Tinder joke:

Joke Poo: What do a trip to Ikea and a new relationship have in common?

You go in expecting to build something beautiful and lasting, but you end up spending hours following confusing instructions, discovering pieces are missing, and questioning all your life choices. And in the end, you’re still the one who has to assemble everything.

Okay, let’s break down this joke.

Joke Dissection:

• Setup: The question "What does Subway and a bad Tinder date have in common?" immediately sets up a comparison between a fast-food sandwich experience and a dating experience. This is a classic "commonality" joke structure.
• Punchline: The punchline relies on a double entendre (sexual innuendo). It plays on the advertised length of a Subway sandwich (6 inches) and the implied physical attributes (or lack thereof) of a date. The "hot beef" promise becomes "limp inches of lukewarm mystery meat," highlighting a stark difference between expectation and reality. The final line, about paying for your own drink, adds insult to injury, underscoring the disappointing and transactional nature of the experience.
• Humor Source: The humor comes from:
  • Incongruity: The mismatch between the expected Subway experience (a satisfying, customizable sandwich) and the actual disappointing result, mirrored in the letdown of a bad date.
  • Sexual Innuendo: The veiled (but obvious) references to sex.
  • Relatability: Many people have had disappointing dating experiences, and some can relate to expectations versus reality at Subway.
  • Understatement: The "limp inches" description is understated, making the let-down funnier.

Key Elements:

1. Subway: Fast food, sandwiches, customizable, advertised sizes (specifically 6-inch subs).
2. Tinder Date: Expectations, romantic possibilities, physical attraction, financial considerations.
3. "Hot Beef": Double entendre for desire/expectation and food.
4. "Limp Inches": Double entendre for disappointment/lack of.
5. Expectation vs. Reality: The core comedic engine.

Comedic Enrichment:

Let’s focus on the "mystery meat" aspect of the joke and Subway.

New Joke/Observation:

Did you know Subway’s "steak" contains less than 85% actual steak according to a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) investigation. It’s more like a beef-flavored mystery, which explains why my Tinder dates and my subs always have the same, unidentifiable texture. At least the sandwich doesn’t talk about its ex, or ask to borrow money for gas.

Why this works:

• Builds on the Original: It uses the "mystery meat" concept directly from the punchline.
• Factual Basis: The CBC investigation adds a layer of authenticity and "Did you know?" novelty. This helps to heighten the unexpected aspect of the punchline.
• Extends the Comparison: It continues to link the Subway experience to a bad date.
• Adds New Humor: It introduces additional points of comparison/contrast between the date and the sub, highlighting more dating annoyances.

Alternative: Witty Observation:

I’ve started calling my dating profile picture a "footlong promise." It’s technically true; it’s a picture of my feet, taken from a long distance. Whether it delivers the "meat" of a connection, well, that’s the real Subway mystery.

Why this works:

• Plays with Expectations: It uses the "footlong" terminology in a misleading way.
• Self-Deprecating: The humor comes from admitting a potential lack of fulfillment in the dating profile.
• Connects to the Original: It circles back to the Subway theme and the general expectation versus reality.

In short, by isolating the key elements of the original joke and then incorporating factual or surprising details, we can build upon the existing humor and create new, related pieces of comedy.