Which is practically nothing compared to what it cost to send him there.
Original Joke:
I’ve got a kid in Africa that I feed, that I clothe, that I school, that I inoculate for 75 cents a day. Which is practically nothing compared to what it cost to send him there.
Joke Poo: The Interdimensional Package
I’ve got a Glarbian Grobnar in Dimension X that I feed exotic space-mushrooms to, that I outfit with gravity-defying jumpsuits, that I teach quantum gibberish to, and that I protect from Zargon invasions for 75 Galactic Credits a day. Which is a steal, considering the interdimensional shipping fees on his monthly care package.
Alright, let’s dissect this joke.
Key Elements:
- Charity Paradox: The joke hinges on the irony of charitable giving. It starts with the seemingly virtuous act of sponsoring a child in Africa, highlighting the relatively low cost of basic necessities.
- Hidden Expense: The punchline reveals a far greater, unexpected expense: the cost of sending the child to Africa. This immediately re-frames the whole scenario, implying a family relationship or some non-standard arrangement.
- Social Commentary (Subtle): There’s a faint undertone poking fun at the assumptions of how poverty and charitable giving usually work (i.e., money goes to Africa, not the other way around).
Joke Type: Irony, surprise, a slight twist of a “first world problem”.
Comedic Enrichment and New Humor Creation:
Let’s leverage the “hidden expense” element, and the implication of travel, and combine it with some fun facts about Africa.
Did you know?
The average price to fly a commercial airline from New York to Johannesburg, South Africa is anywhere between $800 – $2000 USD! That’s a whole lot of inoculations!
New Joke:
“I’m trying to do my part, you know, be eco-conscious. I calculated my carbon footprint, and it turns out the most environmentally damaging thing I’ve done all year is…fly my nephew to Burkina Faso. The kid kept begging to see a baobab tree. At least now I can tell people I’m practically carbon neutral, considering the 75 cents a day he spends on composting lessons there.”
Explanation of the New Joke:
- Builds on the “hidden expense” element: We replace direct charitable aid with a personal “eco-conscious” act. The huge expense is still travel-related.
- Adds absurdity: The specificity of wanting to see a baobab tree (a distinctive African tree) adds a touch of silliness and suggests an over-indulgent relative.
- Uses a factoid to enhance: While baobab trees are pretty cool, it’s somewhat absurd to incur the carbon footprint for the specific sake of seeing one. This heightens the joke, playing on the same first-world problem of the original joke.
- Complicates it with modern sensibility Carbon Footprint is now a mainstream topic, making this joke feel contemporary.
- Ties it back to charity (sort of): The composting lessons hint at environmental awareness, a modern-day form of “doing good.”
By keeping the underlying theme of the original, and injecting it with an interesting tidbit, this new joke gives a similar comedic impact.