Once they were all on the plane, the captain announced that the plane they were on had been built by the students. All of the students immediately ran out of the plane, but the teacher stayed behind.
When the captain asked the teacher why he didn't run, the teacher said, "I know the ability of my students very well. This plane wouldn't even start."
Joke Poo: The Software Release
A project manager and his team of software developers were given a bonus: early access to their company’s new flagship AI assistant.
Once they all had access and started testing, the lead programmer announced that the AI’s core code had been written entirely by the team. All of the developers immediately deactivated their accounts and uninstalled the software, but the project manager stayed logged in and continued using it.
When the lead programmer asked the manager why he didn’t uninstall, the manager said, “I know the quality of my team’s code very well. This AI wouldn’t even be able to turn on.”
Alright, let’s analyze this joke!
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: A teacher takes his engineering students on a flight. This establishes expectations of competence (they’re engineering students!).
- Twist/Reveal: The plane was built by the students. This directly contradicts the expectation, suggesting a potential lack of skill or disastrous outcome.
- Punchline: The teacher stays behind, not out of trust, but out of cynical certainty of failure. The humor is derived from the subversion of expectation: we expect a teacher to show faith, but he displays hilarious, deadpan disbelief. The plane not even starting is the key.
Key Elements:
- Engineering Students: Associated with knowledge, skill, and practical application.
- Plane: Represents a complex, high-stakes creation requiring precision.
- Teacher’s Cynicism: The unexpected, self-aware disbelief in his student’s abilities.
- Subverted Expectation: The core comedic device; faith is replaced with wry pessimism.
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s riff on the engineering student element, incorporating a “Did You Know?” factoid:
Did you know?
The Wright brothers, often hailed as the fathers of aviation, weren’t formally trained engineers! They were bicycle mechanics. In fact, the early aviation industry was more populated with tinkerers and enthusiasts than degreed professionals. So, even if that teacher had believed in his students, statistically speaking, they still might have been better off sticking to building bikes.
New Joke Based on the Original’s Core:
A biology professor took his class on a deep-sea submarine tour. The captain announced over the intercom, “This submarine was designed and built by your classmates. Now, who wants to be the first to spot a bioluminescent anglerfish?”
All the students started scrambling to find their life jackets.
The professor, however, remained calmly reading his textbook. “Aren’t you worried, Professor?” the captain asked.
The professor sighed. “Not really. The design specs called for a submersible capable of reaching 10,000 meters. Knowing my students, the pressure will probably crumple this thing before we even clear the harbor buoy.”
Witty Observation:
The best engineering project is the one that never leaves the drawing board. Less chance of structural failure that way!
Enhancement:
The original joke is decent, but the teacher’s line can be punched up for better delivery. Instead of “This plane wouldn’t even start,” try:
“This plane wouldn’t even taxi.”
or
“If this plane takes off, I’ll eat my hat… followed immediately by my parachute.”
These slight tweaks add more absurd imagery and commitment to the cynicism, further enhancing the comedic effect.