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CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

cia.gov

141–150 of 272 posts

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#141
post #24

Some of these seem more like jokes the CIA would have liked to have Russians tell each other more than jokes they actually told each other.

- Most jokes are plausible, and pretty good.

- If you believe the CIA had anything to do with this document, I have a bridge in San Francisco I'd like to sell you...

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#142
post #73

A bit different but here's my favorite European joke: An Italian politician invites his Greek politician friend over for a visit. The Greek pulls up in front of an elegant manor house and is welcomed by the staff. He walks in through a foyer with marble floors and a huge marble staircase with ornamental banisters and a crystal chandelier. They walk through to a lovely veranda overlooking the river, and sit down to ea…

For what is worth, essentially the same joke appears in The Hungarian Tiger by Tibor Fischer (a short book about how Viktor Orbán became Hungary PM, and why this is - all in all - a positive thing).

I do not know if this joke was originated in Hungary, but I am Italian and I am pretty sure it's not an Italian joke.

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Russian guy never gave his dog anything. And yet, his methods were so tough and efficient that he taught the dog to speak and beg in human language. Could also contain a nod to the patience and unending hope of the Russians under their "stingy" government but that's likely too deep and contradicting their infinite cynicism and complete lack of faith ;)

That assumes that the speaking dog is a trick. This is hell. This is the afterlife. If dogs are there then they have souls. Id expect such beings to communicate as effectively as anyone else. My first read was that the dog was informing the devil of his mistreatment. We cannot assume that the devil was being completely clear as to how he would judge the excersise. The russian did not win.

The story never gives away who won, if any of them. If Satan is taking the task in earnest, of weeding out the worst of them, of course the Russian lost and the German won. But, this being a very dark joke, Satan could have chosen to defer the worst of them to purgatory just for the heck of it.

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#144
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I learned Russian and German in college in the early '80s and knew a fair number of emigrants from the former Soviet bloc (Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, East Germans). They all shared this same sense of humor. Which served them well once they figured out they weren't going to become millionaires just because they made it to the U.S.

Still waiting for the Americans to figure it out...

ouch

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#146
Oh my, old socialist jokes? Here's one from Hungary: The lion calls the congress of forest animals and declares: thanks to the tireless work of our scientists, we now know two times two is six. Everyone claps loudly. Only the old rabbit sighs to himself, the way I learned in school, two times two is four. Two giant timber wolves appear, haul the rabbit away and noone sees the rabbit for years.

A few years later, the lion calls the congress of forest animals and declares: thanks to the tireless work of our scientists, we now know two times two is five. Everyone claps loudly. Only the old rabbit, quite haggard now, sighs to himself, the way I learned in school, two times two is four. Two giant timber wolves appear and invite the rabbit to the pub across the street and tell him: - Look comrade, you can think whatever you want but do not be so loud about it. Or do you want it to be six again?

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#147
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, I don't think there's any evidence of rioting in the US recently.

What does this look like https://pibillwarner.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/black-bloc-...

Like this:

http://www.spygun.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/millbank-win...

More photographers than rioters, and around the corner 30,000 people marching peacefully.

Reported like this:

https://psupopculture.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/british-st...

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#148
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People in all countries make jokes about the problems of their society or lives, or their government or bureaucracy or businesses; you don't have to live in "cruel unjust" absurdity or be "drunk enough" to do so, or be afflicted by any other stereotype or trope.

...but it helps.

WW3 is just over. Some men in hazmat suits walk through a deserted and bombed out city, geiger meters screeching.

Suddenly, they see three men setting in a park, playing cards. Curious, they walk over and ask - how can you be alive, you have no protective gear?

- Oh, we are from Krakow.

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Russian guy never gave his dog anything. And yet, his methods were so tough and efficient that he taught the dog to speak and beg in human language. Could also contain a nod to the patience and unending hope of the Russians under their "stingy" government but that's likely too deep and contradicting their infinite cynicism and complete lack of faith ;)

Didn't work for me because in joke world it's perfectly ok for dogs to talk even without training. The joke needs to be improved to manage expectations more effectively. The violation of expectations is what makes most jokes funny, so expectations need to be set up carefully.

The default expectation is for dogs to not speak, also in "joke world".

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Inserting jokes is not that easy. A joke needs to be told in person, create laughs and get retold, go viral. Similarly there's no reliable formula for viral videos etc. And, the Russians were pissed enough and cynical enough and often drunk enough to get pleasure from creating their own. Laughing at the cruel unjust absurdity of their Situation was some of the last bit of power they had to form their narrative.

People in all countries make jokes about the problems of their society or lives, or their government or bureaucracy or businesses; you don't have to live in "cruel unjust" absurdity or be "drunk enough" to do so, or be afflicted by any other stereotype or trope.

"drunk enough" because alcohol served to lower inhibitions. Westerners really don't know what it's like when speaking too freely could land you in trouble.
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