Non-Brineary!
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” based on your mermaid joke:
Title: Joke Poo – The Excremental Existentialist
What do you call a sentient toilet who believes it deserves a seat at the United Nations?
…Non-Flushioned!
Alright, let’s dive into this “Non-Brineary” joke.
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: “What do you call a mermaid who believes they should’ve been born on dry land?” – This establishes a character (mermaid) and a specific internal conflict (dissatisfaction with their aquatic existence).
- Punchline: “Non-Brineary!” – This is a pun that relies on:
- The similarity in sound between “brine” (salty water) and “binary” (referring to a system of two options).
- The LGBTQ+ term “non-binary,” referring to someone whose gender identity doesn’t fit neatly into the male or female categories.
- Humor: The joke’s humor stems from the unexpected connection between a mermaid’s existential crisis and gender identity. It’s also a play on language, using a familiar term in a new context.
Key Elements:
- Mermaid: A mythical aquatic creature, half-human, half-fish. Symbolizes the sea, fantasy, and transformation.
- Existential Crisis: A moment where someone questions the meaning of their existence or feels conflicted about their identity.
- Brine: Salty water; the mermaid’s natural habitat.
- Non-Binary: A term associated with gender identity.
- Pun: The linguistic device that ties everything together.
Comedic Enrichment:
Here’s a “Did You Know?” fact playing off the joke’s themes, followed by a related joke.
Did You Know?
The oldest known depiction of a mermaid dates back over 30,000 years! It’s a figurine found in Upper Paleolithic France, suggesting that the fascination with hybrid human-animal forms and the blurring of boundaries (land and sea, male and female, real and imagined) is deeply ingrained in human culture. This might explain why even prehistoric mermaids probably struggled with existential questions.
New Joke:
Why did the non-brineary mermaid go to therapy?
Because they were suffering from gill-t over not fitting in with their pod, and their therapist told them to “just keep swimming” in the direction of self-discovery, even if it means finding their shore thing!
Explanation of Enrichment:
The “Did You Know?” fact contextualizes the mermaid concept, adding an interesting layer of history and suggesting that the theme of “not fitting in” has ancient roots. The new joke extends the initial pun, introducing new wordplay (“gill-t” for guilt, “shore” for sure), and further explores the mermaid’s internal conflict, creating a short narrative. The “just keep swimming” reference, of course, is a nod to “Finding Nemo,” an association which adds a further layer of fun.