I told him, “It was tough at the start, but once she ran out of breath, it was easier to tape her to the chair.”
Joke Poo: The Taxidermist
My boss suspected his prize-winning goldfish, Bubbles, wasn’t as vibrant as he used to be, so he told me to photograph him extensively for comparison later.
After I’d taken hundreds of pictures, he asked how it went.
I told him, “It was tough to start. He kept moving and reflecting the light. But once he stopped breathing, it was much easier to pose him perfectly for the shots.”
Alright, let’s break down this joke:
Elements of the Original Joke:
- Premise: A boss asks an employee to spy on his wife, suspecting infidelity.
- Misdirection: The word “tape” is the key. We initially assume “tape” means “videotape” for evidence.
- Punchline: The employee literally “taped” her, binding her to a chair. This is a complete misunderstanding of the initial request and a shift to physical action.
- Dark Humor: The humor comes from the unexpected, violent (implied, not shown) turn of events. The employee’s nonchalant delivery makes it even darker.
Factual Tidbits & Interesting Points:
- Surveillance Technology: The request hinges on the idea of modern surveillance, which is driven by technological advances and increasingly accessible tools.
- Miscommunication: Language is inherently ambiguous. The joke highlights the potential for catastrophic misinterpretations, even in seemingly simple directives.
- Workplace Relationships: The joke plays on the often awkward and potentially unethical power dynamic between a boss and employee.
- Adhesive Tape History: Believe it or not, the first masking tape was invented by a 3M employee in 1925. It was originally used by auto body shops to protect paint!
- Psychology of Suspicion: The boss’s suspicion creates a negative feedback loop; he acts on his suspicion, causing the employee to take action, and potentially exacerbating the situation.
New Humor Based on the Dissection:
Option 1: Witty Observation
“My therapist says I have ‘interpreting-literally-related trauma’ stemming from one bad HR experience. Apparently, when my boss said ‘keep an eye on our competitors,’ he wasn’t impressed when I bought binoculars and camped across the street from their office.”
Reasoning: This uses the same “literal interpretation” mechanic, but in a less violent, more workplace-comedy scenario. It adds a layer of self-awareness by acknowledging the absurdity of the interpretation.
Option 2: New Joke
My boss was upset, said he needed me to be more proactive at work and gave the example of the other employee, Sarah, who he said “really took the bull by the horns on the Smith account” – Well I just got fired, apparently PETA frowns on livestock in the workplace.
Reasoning: This joke follows the same structure as the original. The boss gives an instruction that is meant to be interpreted metaphorically, however the employee takes it literally.
Option 3: ‘Did You Know?’ Enhanced Joke
“My boss suspected his wife was cheating, so he told me to follow her and tape her for evidence. I told him, ‘It was tough at the start, but once she ran out of breath, it was easier to tape her to the chair.’ Did you know that the first masking tape was invented to protect car paint? My boss, unfortunately, was looking for something a bit more… incriminating than her choice of auto detailing.”
Reasoning: This adds a meta-commentary layer by referencing the history of tape. It juxtaposes the mundane origin of the tool with the dark implications of its use in the joke. The final line further emphasizes the miscommunication and the ridiculousness of the situation.