"$5, sir," the bellhop replied.
The man gives the bellhop $10 and says, "Next time you get asked that, you tell them it was $10 and that I gave it to you."
"Thanks!" the bellhop replies.
"Who gave you the $5?" the man asks.
"You did last month," the bellhop replies.
Joke Poo: The Ghostly Recruiter
A newly deceased soul arrives at the Pearly Gates and asks St. Peter, “What’s the most impressive accomplishment anyone’s ever listed on their resume to get in, old boy?”
“Oh, someone claimed to have ended world hunger,” St. Peter replied with a chuckle.
The soul, eager to impress, pulls out his own resume and writes, “Ended world hunger.” He hands it to St. Peter.
“Very ambitious,” St. Peter says, raising an eyebrow. “Who gave you the idea to put that down?”
The soul replies, “You did, just a moment ago.”
Alright, let’s dive into this bellhop joke!
Joke Dissection:
- Core Concept: It’s a joke about dishonesty and the manipulation of perception, specifically the perception of wealth and generosity. The businessman wants to inflate his image and impress future questioners, even if it involves paying twice the initial amount and essentially lying.
- Humor Source: The punchline derives from the bellhop’s nonchalant revelation that the businessman’s “generosity” is a recurring (and rather pathetic) charade. It subverts the businessman’s attempt at self-aggrandizement by revealing his transparent motive and cheap tactics. The bellhop’s lack of surprise suggests this is a common occurrence, making the businessman seem even more foolish.
- Key Elements:
- Businessman: Portrayed as insecure and desperate for validation.
- Bellhop: Presented as observant, perhaps a little jaded, and certainly smarter than the businessman gives him credit for.
- Tip: The focal point of the attempted manipulation.
- Lie/Exaggeration: Central to the humor, as the businessman tries to craft a false narrative.
Humorous Enrichment:
Let’s build on this with a “Did You Know” style observation that enhances the humor, drawing on the history of tipping:
Did you know…
The origins of tipping are shrouded in a bit of mystery, but one popular theory dates back to 16th-century England, where guests at private homes would give servants money – called “vails” – for good service. These vails became expected, and sometimes even exorbitant! Now, imagine our businessman from the joke was visiting one of these homes. Instead of just bribing the bellhop to inflate the size of the tip, he’d probably be trying to claim he invented the entire practice of “vailing” altogether! “Yes, I am the Vails Man! Generosity is my brand!” …and then later complain about the cost of maintaining such a philanthropic image.