… the first number you program into your new phone is for your pharmacy.
Okay, here’s my attempt:
Joke Poo: You know you’re getting old when…
… the first app you download on your brand new VR headset is a meditation app for your lower back.
Okay, let’s break down this joke and then build upon it.
Joke Dissection:
- Premise: Getting old is characterized by a shift in priorities and behaviors.
- Punchline: The defining action is prioritizing pharmaceutical needs over social connections or other common phone contact types.
- Humor Source: It’s funny because it subverts the typical uses of a new phone (friends, family, work) and highlights the practical, health-related concerns of aging. It speaks to the increasing reliance on medication and healthcare as one gets older. It’s also relatable to many people, either through personal experience or observing older relatives.
Key Elements:
- Aging: The central theme.
- New Phone: A symbol of modern technology and social connection.
- Pharmacy: Represents health concerns and medication.
- Programming (phone): Implies initial and important contact selection.
Comedic Enrichment – Option 1: Witty Observation
“You know you’re getting old when your phone’s predictive text starts suggesting ‘refill’ after you type ‘he.'”
Explanation: This riffs on the idea that healthcare (and related terms) becomes so frequent that your phone “learns” your needs related to your health.
Comedic Enrichment – Option 2: A “Did You Know” and Joke Combo:
Did you know: The average American over the age of 65 takes four or more prescription medications.
Joke: You know you’re getting old when you need a separate password manager just for your online pharmacy accounts, and even then you forget which one has the coupon for Metamucil.
Explanation: The “Did you know” grounds the joke in a factual reality and emphasizes the increased medication use of older adults. The joke highlights the frustrating aspects of online healthcare management and the relentless pursuit of discounts.
Comedic Enrichment – Option 3: New Joke
You know you’re getting old when… the pharmacy calls you to remind you to pick up your phone.
Explanation: This plays on the increasing forgetfulness often associated with aging.