She proposed they see other people.
Okay, here’s my attempt, riffing on the same structure and twist:
Joke Poo: The Promotion
After 10 years of loyal service, my employee got promoted this week.
She was promoted to customer.
Alright, let’s break down this joke:
Core Joke Structure:
- Setup: A seemingly romantic and positive scenario: “After 6 years of dating, my buddy’s girlfriend proposed to him this week.”
- Twist/Punchline: A subversion of expectations: “She proposed they see other people.” The word “proposed” is used in a literal sense, but implies romantic proposal.
Key Elements:
- Romantic Relationship Length (6 years): Implies commitment and expectation of further deepening the relationship (marriage being a common association).
- “Proposal”: Wordplay, utilizing the double meaning of “proposing” (marriage vs. suggesting something).
- Expectation vs. Reality: The listener anticipates a marriage proposal, only to be hit with the opposite – a desire to end the exclusivity.
Comedic Enrichment and New Humor:
Now, let’s use those elements to create something new:
Focusing on the “6 Years”:
Witty Observation: “Six years is a long time. That’s roughly 2,190 ‘Netflix and chill’ sessions. If she’s proposing seeing other people now, I’m guessing they were already halfway there on alternate profiles.”
Focusing on “Proposal”:
New Joke: “My therapist proposed to me yesterday. I was so excited… until I realized she just wanted to propose a new co-pay plan.”
Focusing on Expectation vs. Reality, combined with a “Did You Know?” fact:
Amusing “Did You Know?” Fact: “Did you know that in the animal kingdom, some female praying mantises propose and execute their mates? So, in a weird way, ‘proposing they see other people’ is a relatively gentle rejection. At least your buddy’s still alive.”
New Joke Based on the “Did you Know”:
My friend told me his girlfriend proposed to him, and I was so happy for him. Then I asked how it went, and he responded with, “I think I will be fine once my head grows back in.”
In Summary:
The original joke is effective because of the unexpected twist. By analyzing the core elements, we can then leverage those elements to create further humor, either through witty observations, new jokes based on the same premise, or by injecting surprising (and relevant) facts. The goal is to amplify the comedic impact or explore related avenues of humor.