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The Dubious Art of the Dad Joke

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Re: The Dubious Art of the Dad Joke

#111

Post by wink »

As a non-native English speaker I've still not grasped why they're called dad jokes. It's not that we don't have them, but there's simply zero cultural connotation to them being related to dads and their kids. The meme doesn't even compute.

Which doesn't mean they're not revered or reviled to the same degree. Some people love them (I do) and some people always just roll their eyes.

Also I'm always relating them a bit to hip hop. I'm not a fan of the music but I am a fan of playing with the language and (ab)using some words in creative ways, so some bands who ace this I actually like. (German Blumentopf were a good example).

Re: The Dubious Art of the Dad Joke

#112

Post by wink »

lmkg wrote: post #20
zajio1am wrote: post #19

For me as a non-american, the concept od 'dad jokes' is totally alien. From perceived usage, it seems just as a different phrase for puns, with some negative association.

It's a certain type of pun. Not all puns are dad jokes. Dad jokes are viewed negatively because they tend to be one-beat, shallow puns. Ones that could be understood by a six-year-old, so when your dad is still telling them when you're ten years old (or twenty), you roll your eyes.

I think the problem is judging them. Some might find them shallow and some might find them clever. Or maybe it's people shouting "dad joke" at every pun anyway.

Re: The Dubious Art of the Dad Joke

#113

Post by ineedasername »

yccs27 wrote: post #110
ineedasername wrote: post #31

These are also known as "Uncle Jokes". I guess moms & aunts either have different (better?) jokes, don't tell jokes, or tell these jokes too but haven't been singled out for it. Anyway, as a father I realized some time ago that I do in fact tell dad jokes. I think it has to do (for me at least) with wanting to make it fun to have my kids to think about something from an unexpected angle.

I've heard "Uncle Jokes" as a term for dad jokes with an uncomfortable subject (NSFW or otherwise).

That's an interesting twist, I wasn't aware. To be honest, I don't have the most reliable source: I heard the term "uncle Jokes" first from an episode of Teen Titans Go [1], which my kids love. Also after you watch a few episodes it grows on you as a pretty good bit of satire. Or I'm suffering Stockholm Syndrome.

[1] https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DCz9WpuIcUPk&ved=2ahUKEwiMl...

Re: The Dubious Art of the Dad Joke

#119

Post by conductr »

wolverine876 wrote: post #79
conductr wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sounds quite familiar to my experience with my 3 year old. He tells jokes back to me that are just as absurd and we try to one up each other. Since he’s learned a good deal of vocabulary and matching and opposites, he finds things that unexpectedly clash hilarious knock knock … porcupine who? Porcupine bulldozer - makes no sense why those things belong together and that’s what makes it funny. Then we’ll laugh an…

> I’m also a serious adult. I don’t joke around with my friends like I did in my youth. My hangout sessions with friends are all calendared weeks/months ahead. I have friends, we joke, but it’s different and not side splitting type jokes; more like chuckles. I see adults do that, but I don't understand it. To me, 'serious' means having consequential responsibilities, prioritizing them, and reliably delivering on them…

> I see adults do that, but I don't understand it

If this implies you are not yet an adult or a young adult, it may also explain why you do not understand it (no offense meant just pointing out it may be a lack of perspective).

I suppose I mean "serious" as in my demeanor and general attitude is mostly tied up in those things like responsibilities and the deadlines and conversing about business, world events, catching up, etc instead of all the free time, lack of responsibility, and ensuing shenanigan's that comes with youth [my youth]. As you age you slowly accrue more and more "responsibility" such that it's difficult to even get in the right headspace, company, and context that would even present a side-splitting laugh situation. It's not that I was overly stoic. I laughed, hard even, but not where I couldn't breath or I was literally rolling on the floor.

It's not that I somehow lost the ability but it's like if you stop working out because the new job is too busy or you are spending all your free time caring for a household/relative. Your health probably doesn't decline a ton in the initial months or even year. But fast forward 10 years and you find that not only did you not work out, but you also let your diet slip, and maybe accrued some weight. Sure you can visit the gym, you didn't forget how to work out, but you lost the habit and you have to work a bit harder to get back what you once had.

Re: The Dubious Art of the Dad Joke

#120

Post by wolverine876 »

conductr wrote: post #119
wolverine876 wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’m also a serious adult. I don’t joke around with my friends like I did in my youth. My hangout sessions with friends are all calendared weeks/months ahead. I have friends, we joke, but it’s different and not side splitting type jokes; more like chuckles. I see adults do that, but I don't understand it. To me, 'serious' means having consequential responsibilities, prioritizing them, and reliably delivering on them…

> I see adults do that, but I don't understand it If this implies you are not yet an adult or a young adult, it may also explain why you do not understand it (no offense meant just pointing out it may be a lack of perspective). I suppose I mean "serious" as in my demeanor and general attitude is mostly tied up in those things like responsibilities and the deadlines and conversing about business, world events, catchin…

I see what you mean now and I've been there. FWIW, blocking out a little time for myself daily - e.g., early in the morning - has transformed me. Just a little time where I am the highest priority (obviously not true in extreme circumstances, but I mean have the discipline and seriousness to make it true 99% of the time) has made an enormous difference in my productivity and my ability to be close to loved ones. The loved ones are especially happy with the results.

Also, with the demands of time, I (mostly) cut out unhealthy coping and relaxation and replaced it with healthy things I love - e.g., someone might cut out drinking and replace it with bicycle riding, if they like it. I define 'unhealthy' by asking, 'will I feel better when I'm done with this activity than when I started?' It took awhile to find healthy activities I love, but that was just a matter of exploring options, which was healthy and enjoyable itself. There's just no time for the unhealthy stuff.

Finally, I felt I wasn't cognitively as flexible as I used to be, and I watched what flexible young people do (and studied other sources), and made sure that 'me time', and other activities when possible, includes exploration - following my nose or my passion, without a defined destination. That also has made an enormous difference.

Others' mileage will vary, but I hope that helps someone!

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