Before the American arrived, the shift manager advised the workers on what to say to him.
"If you are asked how much you make in a month, say you make enough to purchase a new Lada."
The workers agreed, and soon the American arrived at the factory. During his tour, he approached one of the factory workers. "How much do you make in a month working at this factory?"
"I make enough to purchase a new Lada," the worker answered.
"Do you have a Lada?"
"No," the worker replied. "I do not have a car."
"Why not?"
"I would rather save two month's pay to afford a new pair of boots."
Joke Poo: Silicon Valley Startup
A venture capitalist visited a struggling Silicon Valley startup known for its AI-powered dog walking app. Before the VC’s arrival, the CEO instructed the engineers:
“If he asks about our monthly active users (MAU), tell him we have enough users to justify a Series B funding round.”
The engineers nodded. The VC arrived, toured the tiny, cluttered office, and eventually cornered a coder hacking away at a keyboard. “So,” the VC asked, leaning in, “how many monthly active users are you guys pulling in?”
“Enough to justify a Series B,” the coder replied without looking up.
“Really? That’s impressive. So you’re flush with VC cash, right?”
“Nah,” the coder sighed, finally turning around, bags under his eyes. “I’d rather save two month’s worth of ramen to afford a decent ergonomic chair.”
Alright, let’s break down this joke and then spin it into something new.
Joke Dissection:
- Core Theme: The joke highlights the disparity between official (propaganda-driven) representations of life in the USSR and the lived reality. It’s poking fun at the shortages and low living standards despite the claims of economic prosperity.
- Key Elements:
- American Politician: Serves as the naive outsider, expecting things to be as they’re presented.
- Soviet Automobile Factory: A symbol of Soviet industrial pride (or, at least, what they wanted to be proud of).
- Lada: The car is the concrete example of what workers are supposedly able to afford. The Lada, in reality, had a reputation for being unreliable.
- Shift Manager’s Instruction: Underscores the Potemkin Village aspect – the manufactured facade.
- Boots: Represents the actual, much more modest aspirations and priorities of the worker. The stark contrast between the Lada and boots is where the humor lies.
- Humor Type: Irony, understatement, and a touch of dark humor.
Comedic Enrichment:
Let’s build on the Lada and the boots. Here’s a “Did you know?”-style observation:
“Did you know that in Soviet Russia, the Lada was considered such a status symbol… that most people preferred walking in stylish boots? This wasn’t because they were against driving. It’s just that after the 3-year waiting list, the Lada had already depreciated to the price of a really good pair of boots. And statistically, you were more likely to reach your destination faster in the boots than in the Lada anyway. Because walking. Breakdown on the side of the road. You know.”
Why this is humorous:
- Exaggeration: The original joke implies a slight preference for boots; this amplifies it.
- Historical Accuracy (with a twist): The waiting list for cars in the USSR was notoriously long. This incorporates that fact.
- Lada’s Reputation: Acknowledges the Lada’s poor quality, turning it into a running gag.
- Absurdity: The punchline plays on the idea that walking would actually be faster due to the car’s reliability issues.
- The “You know” punchline: Relies on the audiences understanding of a Lada, it’s just funny because they know that it’s not the most desirable.
Another joke idea:
Why did the Soviet worker choose boots over a Lada?
Because he heard the Lada came with a free, complimentary map of all the mechanic shops in a 50-mile radius. He figured walking was healthier. And cheaper.