Incredulous, he asks "What are you doing reading that garbage??"
"Well," his friend replied. "Look at our city's Jewish newspaper. One article speaks about a pogrom, the next about rising antisemitism, the next about a vandalized synagogue, and it goes on and on. It's depressing!"
He continues. "What does it say in the Nazi newspapers? It talks about how the Jews are wealthy, how the Jews control all the banks and the press, how the Jews are clever and powerful- it's a real ego boost!"
Joke Poo: The Narcissist’s News Diet
A struggling artist in Brooklyn scrolls through Instagram, eyes glued to his phone. His roommate, noticing the intensity, peers over his shoulder.
“Dude, what are you doing? You’ve been on Instagram for hours.”
The artist sighs dramatically. “I know, I know. But look at my friends’ feeds. One person’s posting about their gallery showing, another’s selling their art for thousands, the next is getting featured in ArtForum… it’s soul-crushing! Makes me feel like a total failure.”
He pauses, takes another drag from his vape. “But then I go to my own profile. All my carefully curated posts, the flattering filters, the comments section overflowing with ‘genius!’ and ‘masterpiece!’… it’s a real ego stroke!”
Okay, let’s dissect this joke and then sprinkle some comedic enrichment on top!
Joke Analysis:
- Core Concept: The joke plays on the absurdity of seeking comfort and validation, even if it comes from a source of hate and lies. The man prioritizes his ego boost over the truth and potential danger.
- Key Elements:
- Historical Context: Pre-WWII Germany, rising antisemitism, Nazi propaganda. This is crucial.
- Contrast: The stark difference between the reality described in the Jewish newspaper and the fantastical portrayal in the Nazi newspaper.
- Irony: The man finds comfort in being falsely portrayed as powerful and wealthy by a group that actively seeks to destroy him.
- Character Flaw: Vanity and a short-sightedness that blinds him to the very real danger he faces.
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s build on the “comfort in lies” theme, combining it with a ‘Did You Know’ that’s ironically relevant:
New Joke/Observation:
Did you know that Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, was ironically a master of manipulating narratives despite having a club foot that made it difficult for him to be taken seriously physically?
It’s like that old joke about the guy reading the Nazi paper. He was happier believing the lies about Jewish power, even though he was one bad step away from being kicked out of his own shoe store just because he didn’t have the same foot. It just goes to show, sometimes people will take anything to boost their self-esteem, no matter how much it hurts. It’s ironic that the same Jews whom Goebbels wanted to eradicate are the ones who would give him free foot surgery today, had he lived long enough to be considered a civilian.
Explanation of the Enrichment:
- Connecting the Dots: We’re linking the joke’s core theme (finding comfort in lies) with a relevant piece of historical trivia that highlights the irony in Goebbel’s personal story.
- Adding Depth: The original joke has dark undertones. The ‘Did You Know’ and observation enhance this by reminding us that even the architects of hate might have their own insecurities and absurd contradictions.
- Amplifying the Irony: By contrasting the Nazi’s rhetoric with his personal deformity, the observation highlights the absurdity of hate and prejudice. The modern world would have fixed Goebbels physical impairment, something that the Nazi regime would have denied him.
Another approach:
Let’s play with a more modern ‘Did You Know’ and a quick observation:
Did you know that studies have shown that people are more likely to share articles from unreliable news sources if those articles confirm their existing biases, regardless of their factual accuracy?
It’s like that Jewish guy reading the Nazi newspaper in the 1930s. He knew it was garbage, but damn if it wasn’t the best ego-massage he’d gotten all week. Now, imagine how much worse that would be if he had facebook.