"Sixteen… four better, four worse, four richer, and four poorer. “
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” version of the wedding joke, titled accordingly:
Joke Poo: Potty Training
Two puppies were in obedience school when one whined to the other, “How many commands does a human give?” His friend responded, “Six… Sit, stay, four paws up, shake, roll over, and speak.”
Okay, let’s break down this joke and see what comedic gold we can mine.
Dissection:
- Premise: Two young boys are observing a wedding, prompting a question about marriage.
- Setup: The first boy innocently asks, “How many wives can a man have?” This sets up the expectation of a numerical answer or a simple explanation about monogamy.
- Punchline: The second boy’s response, “Sixteen… four better, four worse, four richer, and four poorer,” is unexpected and humorous. It plays on the traditional wedding vows (for better or worse, for richer or poorer) and uses repetition to amplify the absurdity.
- Humor Type: Situational irony, a touch of absurdity, and a play on words. The humor comes from the contrast between the expected straightforward answer and the boy’s naive, yet cynical, misinterpretation of marriage vows.
Key Elements:
- Marriage Vows: The “for better or worse, for richer or poorer” element.
- Youth/Innocence: The fact that it’s a child making the observation.
- Polygamy (implied): The joke subtly references the concept of having multiple wives, contrasting with the expected monogamous view.
Enrichment & New Humor:
Now let’s leverage some interesting facts related to these elements to create new humor:
Option 1: Witty Observation (Marriage Vows & Statistics)
“They say marriage is ‘for better or worse.’ Statistically, it’s often ‘for worse slightly more often’ and then, after a few years, ‘for expensive lawyers.'”
- Rationale: This plays on the original joke’s cynical undertones and adds a layer of modern commentary about divorce rates and legal fees. It grounds the absurd concept in a somewhat relatable (and perhaps sadly humorous) reality.
Option 2: New Joke (Youth/Innocence & Modern Marriages)
A little girl asked her mom, “Why does the bride wear white?”
The mom replied, “Because white symbolizes purity and innocence.”
The girl paused, then asked, “So, why does the groom wear black?”
- Rationale: This joke uses the same “naive child asking a question” setup as the original. It then leverages the expectation set by the first part of the answer to create humor when it’s subverted to be about how the groom is wearing black.
Option 3: Amusing “Did You Know?” (Polygamy & History)
“Did you know that while polygamy is illegal in many modern Western countries, it has a long and surprisingly common history in various cultures and religions? In fact, if you consider the average lifespan of marriages and remarriages, some people unintentionally achieve a sort of ‘serial monogamy’ that looks suspiciously like ‘one at a time’ polygamy… just saying.”
- Rationale: This provides a humorous observation on the current state of marriage. It highlights the somewhat humorous juxtaposition between the history of marriage versus how some marriages are currently.