# Do I have Asperger's, or is this joke not that obvious? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623 "2010-09-04T20:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/21 "2010-09-04T23:51:24Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > > [@astro](#): > > > > It’s such a quick, stealthy throw away joke in the context of flashing by in a second or so I have to give it props. It’s not meant to be deconstructed and pondered after the fact. It’s like a little magic trick. If you blinked you missed it. > > > > There are people that LOOK for stuff on the Simpsons and this was for them. Many people viewing casually would never pick up on it which is part of the whole point of the joke. It’s kind of a little secret. > > Oh, I see — They forgot to add: “Please review!!” > > No, on second thought, that just means the sight gag didn’t really work as a joke. I guess there’s a teeny amount of mirth in the idea that they kinda telegraphed a bad word on teevee, if you’re being very generous in your standards about what counts as telegraphing. But overall, not such a great joke. I mean, will you be including in your next round of cocktail chatter? No, you will not, because it’s dumb. Well, no, I don’t generally pull out _sight gags_ at cocktail parties. Maybe Carrot Top does? Sneed is an inherently funnier name. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/22 "2010-09-05T00:46:20Z")
I would never have gotten the joke. I don’t know why it being on the Simpsons would alert me that it was one, either. My hometown had a “Sneed’s Ace Hardware”, so the name seems common to me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/23 "2010-09-05T00:48:42Z")
I got it right away and I thought it funny that it was yet another ha-ha that got by the censors. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/24 "2010-09-05T01:12:37Z")
I think it’s funny, and only got the joke after I’d seen the episode a few times. It’s not an obvious joke but it’s not meant to be, it’s one of those quick “words on a sign” jokes the Simpsons love so much that casual viewers aren’t meant to get but hardcore fans who watch episodes over and over again are supposed to pick up later. Like an easter egg, sort of. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/25 "2010-09-05T01:35:38Z")
I agree that it isn’t immediately obvious that it’s a joke, but it’s otherwise easy to get. Of course, it helps if you have been familiar with other attempts for [GettingCrapPastTheRadar](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GettingCrapPastTheRadar). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/26 "2010-09-05T02:27:28Z")
I think it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/27 "2010-09-05T02:31:12Z")
I voted “Other.” _ **I** _ think it’s obvious. But this specific topic has been discussed, and you are not alone, as evidenced by the almost even split. Joe ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/28 "2010-09-05T02:39:18Z")
Why would not getting the joke be a symptom of Asperger’s? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/29 "2010-09-05T02:54:02Z")
I got it immediately, obviously. Ever play “The Name Game”? "Chuck, Chuck, bo-buck, Banana fanna fo-… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/30 "2010-09-05T03:02:31Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > I got it right away and I thought it funny that it was yet another ha-ha that got by the censors. BTW, there’s no doubt that everyone involved understood the joke, but the “censors” don’t care about this. We’d love to think the writers are so clever that they snuck something buy the straight-laced prudes, but I have no doubt that they just don’t care about this. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/31 "2010-09-05T04:12:18Z")
Having not seen the visual presentation as it was intended, it’s hard to judge how good the joke is. But judging from the above, it doesn’t even sound close to a joke. Maybe that means I have severe aspberger’s. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/32 "2010-09-05T06:08:18Z")
I don’t understand how it could _not_ be a joke - just because the joke isn’t funny doesn’t mean it isn’t a joke, it just means you think it’s a bad one. It’s supposed to be a humourous play on words, therefore - it’s a joke, right? Regardless of whether you think the joke works or not. How many times can I say the word “joke” in this post? Joke joke joke. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/33 "2010-09-05T06:43:35Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I got it immediately, obviously. > > Ever play “The Name Game”? "Chuck, Chuck, bo-buck, Banana fanna fo-… Exactly. I think one will get the joke immediately if one is thinking on that train of thought. Knowing it is a Simpsons thing helps because you are looking for a joke. If you were to just drive past such a sign, I can see it going over my head. That is one of my favorite Simpsons jokes. That is meaningful to me, because I have been watching the Simpsons since Tracy Ulman, when I was about 15, and I have a hard time narrowing down any favorite eps or bits. But that one does make the cut. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/34 "2010-09-05T06:50:28Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > The joke just makes me think: “What the hell kind of name is Sneed?” > > Google reveals that Sneed is a real name, but it is rare enough to distract from the joke. I suppose it might be rare, but that wouldn’t have occurred to me. Michael Sneed is a familiar name for Sun-Times readers (such as myself.) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/35 "2010-09-05T09:14:06Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I got it immediately, obviously. > > Ever play “The Name Game”? "Chuck, Chuck, bo-buck, Banana fanna fo-… They had this song in _Tiny Toons_ once, and at the end they had a disclaimer: “Character we didn’t use in the Bananafana song: Plucky Duck”. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/36 "2010-09-05T15:34:56Z")
Maybe the joke would be funnier if someone had seen the movie **Chuck and Buck**? Based on the punchline, it sounds like someone who watched the movie came up with the joke. BTW, my girlfriend dragged me to this movie and I do not recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/37 "2010-09-05T15:45:52Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > BTW, there’s no doubt that everyone involved understood the joke, but the “censors” don’t care about this. We’d love to think the writers are so clever that they snuck something buy the straight-laced prudes, but I have no doubt that they just don’t care about this. But every time this joke comes up, tons of people will admit they didn’t get it and had to have it explained to them. I have no trouble believing some of the Fox censors are the same way. > [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > Maybe the joke would be funnier if someone had seen the movie **Chuck and Buck**? Based on the punchline, it sounds like someone who watched the movie came up with the joke. Chuck and Buck came out in 2000. “The War of the Simpsons”, which includes Sneed’s Feed and Seed was made in 1991. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/38 "2010-09-05T16:52:03Z")
this is just an example of the multilayered humor that the Simpsons so abundantly provides that requires many multiple viewings, note taking and cross referencing that would appeal to a person with Aspergers and might well be written by some persons with Aspergers. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/39 "2010-09-05T17:39:03Z")
It first aired in November of 1999. I was 16 and got it the first time I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623/40 "2010-09-05T17:45:33Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > It first aired in November of 1999. I was 16 and got it the first time I saw it. Whoops, you’re right. Still before Chuck and Buck though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-have-aspergers-or-is-this-joke-not-that-obvious/552623.md?page=3)