Non-joke
A non-joke, is a joke of which the humor value comes from the fact that it is expected to be funny. Usually the joke itself is complete nonsense. Examples of non-jokes are
- Johnny went in to the bakers and asked for a loaf of bread.
- Baker: White or brown?
- Johnny: It doesn't matter, I'm on my bike.
- Johnny enters a bar and asks, "Do you know what time it is?"
- Barkeeper: Yes.
- Johnny: So do I.
- Two nuns in a bath. One says "Pass the soap", and the other says,
- "What am I, a radio?"
Often they come in the form of question-answer jokes:
- Q: What is quicker, a hare or a rabbit?
- A: An iceberg, because a camel has two humps.
- Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
- A: To get to the other side.
- Q: What's the difference between an orange?
- A: A cow, because a vest has no sleeves.
- Q: What's the difference between a duck?
- A: The left leg is identical.
- Q: What is purple and, when thrown against the wall, causes the neighbor's phone to ring?
- A: Coincidence.
- Q: Why is a hare?
- A: Because behind a tree.
The 2002 film Kung Pow: Enter the Fist contains an example of a non-joke told by Evil Betty.
- Q: What do you get when you cross an owl with a bungee cord?
- A: My ass.
When making a non-joke, it is vital that the audience expects a joke, because a non-joke an sich is not funny. This is one reason meta-jokes work better when told than when written.
See Also
Categories: Jokes