Everyone has their own, so unless being asked, you don’t show it to everyone you meet just to prove you have one. Otherwise people will just remember you as an asshole.
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” riffing on the original, with a title reflecting that:
Title: Joke Poo: Favorite Coffee Mugs
Favorite coffee mugs are like opinions:
Everyone has one they think is the best, but unless you’re actively offering me a beverage, please don’t shove yours in my face trying to convince me why it’s superior. Otherwise, I’ll just remember you as that weirdo obsessed with coffee mugs.
Okay, let’s break down this joke.
Core Elements:
- Comparison: Political opinions are compared to an asshole. This is a classic shock-value comparison.
- Commonality: Asserts everyone has both.
- Propriety/Social Norms: Focuses on the inappropriateness of unsolicited displays of either.
- Negative Consequence: Over-sharing results in being perceived negatively (as an “asshole” – both literally and figuratively).
Humor Mechanics:
- Taboo/Vulgarity: The use of “asshole” is inherently attention-grabbing and slightly offensive, which contributes to the shock value and (for some) the humor.
- Truthiness: The joke relies on the (perceived) truth that people often overshare their political opinions and that this is generally annoying.
- Concise Analogy: The analogy is short, punchy, and relatable (most people have, if nothing else, encountered an asshole, literally or figuratively).
- Relatability: Because politics can be divisive, a lot of people can relate to the feeling of being inundated with unwanted opinions.
Now, let’s enrich it! Here are a few approaches:
Option 1: “Did You Know?” with a twist:
Original Joke Recall: Political opinions are like an asshole… don’t show them to everyone.
Enrichment:
“Did you know the average person actually does have an opinion about the anus? In a 2015 study published in ‘Colorectal Disease,’ researchers found that a startling 87% of respondents admitted to having formed a strong opinion on the optimal cleanliness of the perianal region. So, technically, the joke is wrong… everyone does have one, they might just keep it to themselves… unless, of course, you ask them to elaborate on their preferred wiping technique. Then you might be remembered as an asshole for asking!”
Explanation of Enrichment:
- We’re using a real study (hypothetical journal & topic). This gives it a veneer of credibility.
- The study’s focus is absurdly specific, contrasting the grandiosity of “political opinions” with the triviality of “perianal cleanliness.”
- We’re subverting the original joke by stating, “the joke is wrong”, and making it about having an opinion about buttholes.
- We’re adding another layer of humor: the potential social awkwardness of discussing wiping habits.
Option 2: A New Joke Structure Playing Off the Original:
Original Joke Recall: Political opinions are like an asshole… don’t show them to everyone.
Enrichment:
“Political opinions are like the appendix: everyone has one, most people think it’s useless, and occasionally it causes a massive infection that requires immediate and unpleasant intervention. Also, removing it doesn’t seem to make anyone any happier.”
Explanation of Enrichment:
- New analogy: The appendix replaces the asshole.
- Maintains the cynicism/negative view of political opinions.
- Adds the element of potentially harmful dysfunction (“massive infection”).
- The ending adds a punchline, highlighting the futility of trying to “fix” the problem.
Option 3: A Witty Observation:
Original Joke Recall: Political opinions are like an asshole… don’t show them to everyone.
Enrichment:
“The internet has made expressing political opinions like having a public proctologist exam. Everyone is welcome, nobody asked, and the experience is rarely pleasant.”
Explanation of Enrichment:
- Brings in the role of the internet, highlighting its contribution to the perceived problem.
- The image of a “public proctologist exam” is inherently absurd and unsettling, amplifying the humor.
- Reiterates the negativity associated with the unsolicited sharing of political opinions.
Hopefully, these expanded takes provide good examples of how to dissect the original joke and “enrich” it by building on its core components with additional information and wit.