So the guy walks in. Immediately he is hit in the head and knocked out.
When he wakes up, he's floating in Lake Michigan in a barrel with an apple in his lap.
He looks around, and sees another guy floating in a barrel about 20 feet away.
"Hey!" he yells. "Do we get dessert on this cruise?"
And the other guy says, "We didn't last year."
Joke Poo: Silicon Valley Special
A fresh-faced coder is walking down the street in San Francisco when he sees a sign outside a WeWork:
“Silicon Valley Special: Seed Funding and a Launch Party, $3.00!”
So the coder walks in. Immediately he’s blindfolded, spun around twenty times, and pushed into a windowless room.
When he opens his eyes, he’s sitting at a picnic table in Golden Gate Park, sharing a lukewarm can of La Croix with a bunch of other dishevelled coders. He has a half-eaten avocado toast in his lap.
He looks around, and sees another coder nervously fiddling with a fidget spinner about ten feet away.
“Hey!” he whispers. “Do we get users after this launch?”
And the other coder says, “We didn’t last funding round.”
Alright, let’s break down this Polish joke.
Core Elements:
- Polish Stereotype: The joke relies on a (rather harsh) stereotype of Polish immigrants being naive or victims of scams.
- Misleading Offer: The “Dinner and a Cruise” is deliberately misleading, creating a setup for a bait-and-switch.
- Violent Twist: The joke turns violent abruptly, with the protagonist being knocked unconscious.
- Dark Humor/Irony: The punchline highlights the dark humor – the “cruise” is a horrific situation, yet the character focuses on dessert. It’s ironic because the character is focused on the least important detail in a life-threatening situation.
- Recurring Victim: The “didn’t last year” line implies this scam has happened before, adding to the dark humor and the stereotype of repeated victimization.
- Chicago Setting: Chicago is a city with a large Polish population, potentially contributing to the stereotype’s perceived relevance.
Areas for Enrichment:
- The Chicago Factor: Chicago has a rich (and sometimes turbulent) history.
- Polish Heritage: There’s a lot of fascinating Polish culture to contrast with the stereotype.
- Lake Michigan: This Great Lake can be both beautiful and treacherous.
- Barrels as Transportation: The use of a barrel adds to the absurdity.
New Humor Piece – “Polish Tourism Board Response”:
(Opening Slide: A stunning sunset over Lake Michigan)
(Voiceover with a slight Polish accent, warm and inviting): Tired of the same old vacation destinations? Looking for a unique experience? Then come to Chicago!
(Next Slide: A picture of a pierogi next to a shot of the Chicago skyline)
(Voiceover): We boast delicious Polish cuisine, from savory pierogi to hearty kielbasa. And for the adventurous traveler, a truly immersive experience awaits…
(Next Slide: A close-up of a pristine, varnished wooden barrel with a small life preserver attached. A single, perfectly ripe apple sits inside.)
(Voiceover): Our ‘Lake Michigan Barrel Cruise’! A chance to connect with nature. Unplug. And truly reflect on your life choices. (beat) No guarantees of dessert, but we’ve upgraded the apple quality this year. Organic.
(Next Slide: A fine-print disclaimer flashes briefly, then disappears. The voiceover continues as the final slide shows a picture of a happy, diverse group of people enjoying Polish food on a patio.)
(Voiceover): The Polish Tourism Board: We’re barrel-ing our way to your heart… one stereotype at a time! (whispers) Just kidding! Seriously, come visit!
Explanation:
- Subversion: This piece takes the premise of the joke and uses it to “advertise” Chicago, but it’s a deliberately self-aware and satirical ad that acknowledges the negative stereotype and its origin.
- Irony: It uses the absurdity of the barrel cruise to highlight the charm of Polish culture and the beauty of Lake Michigan.
- Humor: The “no guarantees of dessert, but…” line directly references the punchline of the original joke, creating a callback for those who know it. The asterisk and whisper suggest a mischievous spirit that acknowledges the joke but also assures viewers that Polish tourism isn’t actually based on knocking people unconscious.
- Tourism board: It is always funny when an organization takes a hit and make fun of it.
- Contrast: By juxtaposing the initial dark premise with images of happy, diverse people, it challenges the stereotype and promotes a more inclusive image of Chicago’s Polish community.