Don't buy it.
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” titled “Plumber’s Dilemma,” inspired by the reverse psychology joke:
Title: Plumber’s Dilemma
I’m teaching a masterclass on unclogging toilets.
…Don’t flush!
Okay, let’s dissect this joke and then reverse-engineer some humor from its components.
Analysis:
- Core Concept: Reverse psychology, the technique of getting someone to do something by telling them to do the opposite.
- Structure: Simple setup (writing a book), punchline (telling the reader not to buy it).
- Humor: The humor stems from the direct application of reverse psychology to the sale of a book about reverse psychology. It’s meta and self-referential. The absurdity lies in the author seemingly sabotaging their own success.
Key Elements:
- Reverse Psychology: This is the central theme.
- Book: The medium of delivery for the joke and the product being “sold” using reverse psychology.
- Meta-commentary/Self-Reference: The joke is about reverse psychology, being used as reverse psychology.
- Subversion of Expectations: We expect an author to want you to buy their book.
Now, let’s create some new humor inspired by this joke, incorporating factual or interesting tidbits:
Option 1: A ‘Did You Know’ With a Twist:
“Did you know that ‘This is Water,’ David Foster Wallace’s famous commencement speech, was almost never published as a book? Apparently, Wallace was incredibly reluctant, feeling it was too simplistic. So, in true reverse psychology style, his agent threatened to publish a version with a glittery unicorn on the cover. Faced with that, Wallace immediately relented. See? Don’t publish my anecdote unless you want a unicorn involved.”
Why it works:
- Uses a real-world example related to publishing.
- Connects to the idea of reverse psychology influencing a creative work.
- The threat of a glittery unicorn is inherently absurd and humorous.
Option 2: A Related Observation:
“I’ve noticed that the ‘Recommended for You’ algorithms online are basically reverse psychology engines. They recommend things you don’t like, subtly challenging you to be a contrarian consumer. ‘Oh, you wouldn’t possibly enjoy this documentary about competitive ferret grooming, would you?’ Five minutes later, you’re buying ferret shampoo.”
Why it works:
- Brings the concept into the modern context of algorithms.
- Highlights a common experience with online recommendations.
- The specificity of “competitive ferret grooming” adds to the comedic effect.
Option 3: A New Joke Structure:
“I tried to use reverse psychology on my cat. I told him, ‘Don’t you dare come sit on my keyboard while I’m working!’ He looked at me, then promptly deleted my entire thesis. I think he’s been reading Machiavelli.”
Why it works:
- Applies reverse psychology to a common (and relatable) cat behavior.
- The escalation to deleting a thesis amplifies the humor.
- The reference to Machiavelli adds a layer of intellectual absurdity.
In Conclusion:
By breaking down the original joke into its component parts, we can identify the underlying principles that make it funny. By applying those principles, along with relevant factual information or absurd scenarios, we can generate new humorous content that shares the spirit of the original. The key is to understand why something is funny before attempting to recreate it.