An attractive young woman visited a psychiatrist and was asked what was her problem.
“Well,” she replied, “I can’t stop having sex with men. I never can even make it to the second date. I think I’m a nymphomaniac.”
“OK,” said the doctor, ”I think I can help you, but realize that my fee is $150/hour.”
“That’s not bad,” she replied, “How much for all night?”
Joke Poo: The Accountant’s Audit
An IRS auditor visited an accountant and asked what was her problem.
“Well,” she replied, “I can’t stop finding tax loopholes. I never even make it to the second quarter before I’ve discovered enough deductions to eliminate all liability. I think I’m a deduction-omaniac.”
“OK,” said the auditor, “I think I can help you, but realize that my penalty assessment is 20% of the unpaid tax.”
“That’s not bad,” she replied, “How much for the whole year?”
Alright, let’s break down this joke and then see if we can squeeze some comedic oil out of it:
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: A young woman seeks psychiatric help, framing her problem as uncontrollable sexual urges (nymphomania).
- Twist/Punchline: The punchline subverts expectations. Instead of seeking treatment, she’s bartering for sexual services from the psychiatrist, revealing a primarily transactional view of sex, or perhaps a dry sense of humor.
- Core Elements:
- Psychiatrist: A figure of authority and supposed professionalism.
- Nymphomania: A (potentially outdated and stigmatizing) term for excessive sexual desire in women.
- Transactional Sex: The idea of sex being a commodity or a service to be bought and sold.
- Irony: The woman goes to a doctor for help but then tries to proposition him.
Comedic Enrichment: Building on the Elements
Now, let’s play with these elements. Here are a few options:
1. The Observational “Did You Know?” Angle:
“Did you know the term ‘nymphomania’ (now more commonly referred to as hypersexuality) comes from the Greek word ‘nymphē,’ meaning ‘bride’ or ‘young woman’? Ironically, the joke suggests she’s skipping the ‘bride’ part entirely and going straight for the… discount.”
2. The Alt-Punchline:
(After the doctor says $150/hour) “Okay,” she replied, “and do you offer a group rate? I have some friends with similar ‘afflictions’.”
3. The Meta-Commentary:
This joke is interesting because it hinges on the stereotype of nymphomania. I wonder how the psychiatrist is planning to ‘cure’ her, considering sexual desire itself is a valid thing. Is it just a way for her to get laid more safely?
4. The Alternative Explanation for Nymphomania
A young woman visits a psychiatrist and says, “Well, I can’t stop having sex with men. I can never even make it to the second date. I think I’m a nymphomaniac.”
The doctor responds, “And what makes you think you’re a nymphomaniac?”
The woman replies, “Well, every time I try to have sex, I immediately imagine a life together, a house in the suburbs, and then I get so turned off it ruins everything. So I just jump from one guy to another.”
5. The “Updated” Version:
A Gen Z woman visits her therapist. “I think I have a problem. I’m constantly swiping right on dating apps. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me.”
The therapist replies, “Well, my rates are \$200 per hour.”
The woman shrugs. “I’ll just use Tinder, then. Cheaper and faster.”
The goal is to add another layer to the joke, which either adds depth, provides an amusing fact, or simply offers another humorous twist.