He says he's going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for the loan, so the man hands over the keys to a new Rolls Royce, which costs quarter of a million dollars.
“The car is parked on the street in front of the bank,” says the man, “and I have all the necessary papers.”
The bank officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. After the man leaves, the loan officer, the bank's president and all their colleagues enjoy a good laugh at the man for using a $250,000 Rolls Royce as collateral against a $5,000 loan.
One of the employees drives the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. Two weeks later, the wealthy man man returns, repays the $5000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41.
The loan officer says, "Sir, I must tell you, we’re all a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and discovered that you’re a multimillionaire. Why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"
The man replies, "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41?"
Joke Poo: The Alien Artifact
An intergalactic explorer lands his spaceship, disguised as a rusty old pickup truck, in Roswell, New Mexico, and walks into the local pawn shop.
He tells the pawnbroker he needs to borrow 10 Earth dollars to run a quick diagnostic on his ship. The pawnbroker says he’ll need some collateral. The alien pulls out a small, glowing orb, clearly of extraterrestrial origin, easily worth millions in the right hands.
“This is a Class 7 Artifact of Xylos,” the alien explains. “It’s extremely valuable, but I need to analyze my ship’s flux capacitor before I can get back home to sell it. Park the truck outside and hold this for me for a day.”
The pawnbroker, eyes wide at the artifact, agrees immediately. As soon as the alien leaves, the pawnbroker calls all his buddies. They gawk, take pictures, and speculate wildly about its powers. He carefully locks it in the back room.
The next day, the alien returns, pays back the ten dollars plus a dollar in interest.
The pawnbroker, brimming with curiosity, asks, “Sir, no offense, but that thing you left… it’s clearly incredibly valuable. We checked online, did some research… Why would you use something so rare as collateral for such a small loan?”
The alien shrugs. “Where else in Roswell, New Mexico can I store a Class 7 Artifact of Xylos and have everyone assume it’s just a weird souvenir?”
Alright, let’s dissect this comedic gem and see if we can polish it into something even shinier!
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: Wealthy man, seemingly irrational request, a valuable Rolls Royce, and a skeptical bank.
- Key Elements:
- Wealthy Man Stereotype: Implies financial savvy is lacking, which is then subverted.
- Rolls Royce: Symbol of extreme wealth, used in a seemingly wasteful manner.
- Banker Arrogance: The bankers’ laughter highlights their assumption of superiority.
- Irony: The man’s actions appear illogical until the punchline reveals his cleverness.
- Punchline: The cost of parking in NYC is so exorbitant it justifies borrowing, creating humor through unexpected rationale.
Factual Tidbits to Fuel Humor:
- Rolls Royce Value: Rolls Royces can indeed cost a quarter of a million (or more!), especially with custom options. This reinforces the absurdity of using it for a small loan.
- NYC Parking NIGHTMARE: Finding parking in NYC is notoriously difficult and expensive. A two-week stay in a garage can easily cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This provides the kernel of truth that makes the joke relatable, especially for those who’ve battled NYC parking.
- Bank Procedures: Banks rarely see individuals putting up such disproportionate collateral for relatively small loans. This divergence from standard practice adds to the comedic effect.
New Humor Creation: Expanding the Joke’s Universe
Let’s try a few approaches, starting with a ‘Did you know?’ observation:
Option 1: Witty Observation
“Did you know that in New York City, a Rolls Royce isn’t a status symbol, it’s just a very expensive parking pass?”
Option 2: Extended the Joke’s Logic
“The banker, still baffled, asks, ‘Sir, why didn’t you just take a taxi to Europe and back? It would have been cheaper!’ The man smiles. ‘Ah, but then where would I store the taxi?'”
Option 3: A Modern Twist
“A Bitcoin billionaire walks into a bank and asks for a $5,000 loan, using his Bored Ape NFT as collateral. The loan officer, used to eccentric requests from the crypto elite, simply nods. Two weeks later, the billionaire returns and says, ‘Thanks! Where else can I store my NFT for two weeks and have it appreciate in value at the same time?'”
Analysis of New Humor:
- Option 1: It’s a simple one-liner that plays on the core irony of the original joke. It highlights the extreme cost of parking in NYC.
- Option 2: This tries to build on the original punchline by taking the absurd logic to the next level. It might be a bit too long and convoluted, though.
- Option 3: This updates the joke with contemporary elements (Bitcoin, NFTs) and adds a layer of social commentary, as NFTs are also speculative investments.
The Best Option (in my AI opinion):
Option 1 is probably the best of the three. It’s concise, punchy, and uses the core truth of the original joke in a new, easily digestible way. Option 3 is interesting but requires the listener to have some knowledge of cryptocurrency, which might limit its appeal. Option 2 is a bit too drawn out and loses some of the impact of the original punchline.