A cheerful voice answered, “Car pool!”
The chairman said, “What cars do you have available?”
The voice replied, “Well, we’ve got vans for the factory runs, Mondeos for the sales team, BMWs for the directors… And one big fancy Mercedes for Fatty, our chairman.”
The chairman said, sharply, “Do you know who you are speaking to?”
“No,” the voice replied.
“This is your chairman.”
Another pause.
Then the voice calmly said, “…Do you know who YOU’RE speaking to?”
“No,” said the chairman.
“Good,” said the voice. “So long, Fatty.”
Joke Poo: The Space Station Shift
The commander of a sprawling space station found his personal shuttle bay wouldn’t open, so he contacted mission control.
A crackly voice answered, “Mission Control, Earth!”
The commander said, “What shuttles are ready for launch?”
The voice replied, “Well, we’ve got the cargo transports for asteroid runs, the light runners for diplomatic missions, the supercruisers for the admirals… And one fully-loaded, platinum-plated yacht just for Barry, our station commander.”
The commander said, coldly, “Do you realize who you’re talking to?”
“Negative, Commander,” the voice replied.
“This is your commander.”
Another pause, filled with static.
Then the voice said, in a sugary sweet tone, “…And do you realize who you’re talking to?”
“No,” said the commander, starting to sweat.
“Excellent,” said the voice, its sweetness replaced by a menacing growl. “Prep the escape pods, Barry. You’re about to have an unscheduled meeting… with space.“
Alright, let’s break down this joke and then cook up something fresh.
Joke Dissection:
- Core Element: The joke hinges on mistaken identity and the power dynamics within a company. The chairman expects deference due to his position, but the employee in the car pool takes advantage of anonymity to deliver a cheeky insult.
- Humor Source: The humor comes from:
- Irony: The chairman’s attempt to exert authority backfires.
- Subversion: The subordinate disrespects the superior, defying expectations.
- Schadenfreude: We enjoy the powerful figure being humbled.
- Relatability: Many people can relate to the desire to speak freely to those in positions of authority without consequences.
- Key Players:
- The Chairman (“Fatty”): Arrogant, entitled, expects to be recognized and respected.
- The Car Pool Employee: Resourceful, quick-witted, and possibly holding a grudge.
Interesting Tidbits & Facts:
- Executive Car Pools: Back in the Mad Men era, executive car pools were quite common, a symbol of corporate camaraderie and cost-saving measures. The hierarchy was still present, of course, with the highest-ranking executive getting shotgun.
- The Psychology of Anonymity: Studies have shown that anonymity can lead to increased aggression and rule-breaking behavior. This is often attributed to the “deindividuation” effect, where people feel less accountable for their actions when they are not personally identifiable.
- Mercedes-Benz & Executive Status: Throughout the late 20th century, owning a Mercedes-Benz was a strong indicator of high status and wealth. The brand became almost synonymous with executive privilege.
New Humor Creation:
Let’s craft a “Did You Know?” styled joke:
Did you know that back in the 1970s, corporate car pools were a hot trend, especially among executives? But one daring car pool employee in the motor pool took employee anonymity to a whole new level.
One morning, the chairman of a large multinational company found his Mercedes-Benz had issues starting, so he called the company car pool to request a car. The car pool staff member answered the phone and inquired about what kind of car he required for his business needs. When he mentioned that he was the chairman, the staff member said, “Well, we’ve got vans for the factory runs, Mondeos for the sales team, BMWs for the directors… And one big fancy Mercedes for Fatty, our chairman.”
Realizing his moment of anonymity, he asked the voice, “Do you know who you are speaking to?” When the staff member said, “No.” the chairman declared “This is your chairman.” There was a short pause, then the staff member calmly said, “…Do you know who YOU’RE speaking to?” When the chairman responded, “No.” the staff member abruptly ended the call with “Good, so long, Fatty.”
What the chairman did not realize was that the staff member had a degree in psychology specializing in deindividuation. He was conducting an on-going study of the effects of anonymity on challenging authority, and simply hung up when the chairman asked him again who he was. The chairman spent an hour on the side of the road, and Fatty learned an important lesson.
Moral of the story? Corporate car pools: a good way to save the planet, and an even better way to humble the CEO.