None. It's hardware, they don't touch it!
Okay, here’s my "Joke Poo" version, riffing on the "developers and light bulbs" joke:
Joke Poo: How Many Data Scientists Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?
None. They just optimize the darkness. They’ll build you a complex model that predicts the optimal time to change the bulb, complete with confidence intervals and a dazzling visualization. But actually changing the bulb? That’s a separate project requiring a full sprint and possibly funding.
Alright, let’s get this joke under the microscope!
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: "How many developers does it take to change a light bulb?" This is a classic setup for a joke with a specific, often humorous, punchline related to the subject matter.
- Punchline: "None. It’s hardware, they don’t touch it!" The humor derives from a common stereotype (often with a grain of truth) about software developers: that they primarily work with software and avoid anything physical or "hardware" related. The joke exploits the perceived division of labor and expertise in the tech world.
- Humor Type: Stereotypical, self-deprecating (to a degree, as developers are often comfortable with this stereotype and even lean into it), and situational irony (the expectation is they’d solve something, but not something so basic).
Key Elements:
- Developers: People who write and maintain computer code.
- Hardware: The physical components of a computer system, like the motherboard, CPU, and yes, light bulbs.
- Division of Labor: The separation of tasks in a system, where different people specialize in different areas.
- Stereotype: The pre-conceived notion that developers only interact with the digital, software side of computing.
Comedic Enrichment (New Joke/Observation):
Option 1: "Did You Know?" with a twist
Did you know that the phrase "hardware" actually originated in the 15th century, referring to small tools and implements made of metal? And, in the 21st century, asking a developer to deal with it is still considered a "bug report" of the highest severity. Escalation to "Field Engineer" required. Expected resolution time: 3-5 business days.
Why it works:
- Connects a historical fact to the joke’s premise.
- Plays on the idea that developers consider hardware issues major problems.
- Introduces jargon like "bug report", "field engineer", and "resolution time" to further amplify the stereotype.
Option 2: A New Joke
Why did the developer bring a ladder to the lightbulb change?
Because he heard that moving things to the cloud was a great way to avoid dealing with on-premise hardware.
Why it works:
- Plays on the current technology trends and jargon, specifically "cloud" and "on-premise".
- Implies the developer is using a complex software solution for a simple hardware problem.
Option 3: Observational Humor
It’s funny how developers, who can wrangle complex algorithms into beautiful code, will call IT support to help them plug in their monitor. We’re fluent in binary, not outlets.
Why it works:
- Highlights the contrast between the developer’s digital abilities and their perceived lack of "real world" skills.
- Uses self-deprecating humor and expresses a truth to which many developers can relate.
By dissecting the original joke and then building upon its key elements with factual or humorous observations, we can create new comedic material that is related to, and enhances, the original’s impact.