# Do you think this (dead baby) joke is funny? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663 "2009-01-16T21:55:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/41 "2009-01-17T14:32:08Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > I was actually prepared not to like it …because it was a dead baby joke? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/42 "2009-01-17T15:16:09Z")
> [@SiXSwordS](#): > > …because it was a dead baby joke? No. because a “do you think this is funny” question makes me think that it may well not be and so that joke would have to be genuinely funny in order to win me over. It did. I’ll probably tell it several times in the next week. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/43 "2009-01-17T15:57:20Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Two comments: > The baby walked into the bar then crawled across the floor?? > > I agree with the opinions that puns can be great jokes but generally won’t support a long set-up. Generally they need to be at most a two-line to be effective. What he said. I have an acquantance who’s a fool. He loves puns. He’ll write a one page story with 4 characters to deliver the setup for his one-liner. Like watching a kindergartner doing a magic trick, you can see it coming so early that the rest is pure tedium and the punch line never fails to disappoint. The OP’s joke is going that way fast. Try this: > [@](#): > > Dead baby struuuuuggles onto a bar stool. > Barkeep says “You OK?” > “Naah, I’m a little stiff.” Same story but now it’s 22 syllables versus 104. I cut 80% of the flab & now it’s punchy. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/44 "2009-01-17T19:14:25Z")
That’s definitely better, **LSLGuy**. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/45 "2009-01-17T20:00:05Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > That’s definitely better, **LSLGuy**. If you replaced the quote box in the OP with **LSL** ’s improved version, would you simply answer yes? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/46 "2009-01-19T18:26:48Z")
> [@SiXSwordS](#): > > If you replaced the quote box in the OP with **LSL** ’s improved version, would you simply answer yes? Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/47 "2009-01-19T18:43:09Z")
Dead baby walks into a bar. The bartender says, “Lookit that, a kidaver.” Same question(s). ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/48 "2009-01-19T18:48:18Z")
The second joke only works when written. And even then it’s not funny. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/49 "2009-01-19T19:10:32Z")
I really like the little stiff pun. Googling it reveals that it hasn’t seemed to be discovered as a dead baby joke punchline, which is surprising because its a really good one. But I agree with the others, the joke is set up poorly. Does it have to be in a bar? because the best dead baby joke with that punchline I can think of is: Why do masseuses need to be massaged while massaging a dead baby? Because they’re feeling a little stiff! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/50 "2009-01-19T20:13:07Z")
Quoth **Little Nemo** : > [@](#): > > It’s a convention of the joke - we accept the idea that grasshoppers or kangaroos or horses walk into bars and order drinks for the sake of setting up the joke. (aside) OK, I know the horse and the grasshopper. What’s the kangaroo one? **LSLGuy** , your version does stand better on its own merits, but the original might still be better with the right delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/51 "2009-01-19T20:19:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Quoth **Little Nemo** :(aside) OK, I know the horse and the grasshopper. What’s the kangaroo one? Theer is a sign over the bar that says “Martinis $20.00.” That bartender says “We don’t get many kangaroos in here.” To which the kangaroo replies, “At these prices you’re lucky to get any at all.” ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/52 "2009-01-19T20:47:58Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > I agree with the opinions that puns can be great jokes but generally won’t support a long set-up. Generally they need to be at most a two-line to be effective. Ah, then you won’t ever want to read [this](http://www.forestfirepb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=527&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a) one. It’s an ~11,000 word story that ends in a ridiculous pun. You might start reading it, not realizing how long it is, and by then it’s too late to stop. No one can escape the snake puns! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/53 "2009-01-19T21:41:41Z")
> [@Stauderhorse](#): > > Ah, then you won’t ever want to read [this](http://www.forestfirepb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=527&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a) one. It’s an ~11,000 word story that ends in a ridiculous pun. You might start reading it, not realizing how long it is, and by then it’s too late to stop. No one can escape the snake puns! :eek: Hmm. It has a rather unfortunate title. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/54 "2009-01-19T22:00:34Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Hmm. It has a rather unfortunate title. Oh my. Didn’t even realize that. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/55 "2009-01-20T05:58:43Z")
I don’t like puns, so my opinion (which is that it isn’t funny) needs to be taken with a grain or two of salt. Also, dead baby jokes are kinda passe. Still, when certain jokes have kinda worn out their welcome, a new twist on them can be really awesome. This just wasn’t it 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/56 "2009-01-20T06:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Dead baby walks into a bar. > The bartender says, “Lookit that, a kidaver.” > > Same question(s). That one doesn’t work for me. Puns are not funny just because you say them. In order to work they have to be built up from natural elements not artificially constructed ones. For example: A grasshopper walks into a bar. The bartender says “Hey, we got a drink here that’s named after you.” And the grasshopper says “You’ve got a drink called a Ted?” Example two: There’s this bar that has a drink called a purple water buffalo. Then one day an actual purple water buffalo walks into the bar. The bartender says “Hey, we got a drink here that’s named after you.” And the purple water buffalo says “You’ve got a drink called a Ted?” See the difference? The first joke is based on the fact that there actually is a drink called a grasshopper. It takes a natural element and uses this to construct the joke. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/57 "2009-01-20T07:21:02Z")
It’s kind of cute. I like the description of his struggle onto a barstool more than the punchline. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2009, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/58 "2009-01-20T08:27:28Z")
It’s slightly amusing, in the Vaudeville way. Not exactly “funny.” Not offensive either, but I’m a childless man, I don’t find dead babies any more objectionable than dead adults. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/59 "2009-01-20T12:39:25Z")
For me, dead baby jokes and puns need to be quick hitters. Something like: Why did the dead baby use Ben Gay? 'Cause he was a little stiff. Of course, the point of a DBJ is to be offensive, simply having a walking, talking dead baby in the story isn’t offensive, you need to do something cruel or disgusting to it. This is why classic DBJ’s involve things like pitchforks. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663/60 "2009-01-20T20:10:58Z")
It’s not a dead baby joke. It’s a meta joke that references the “dead baby” jokes and the “walks into a bar” jokes. Ultimately the humor here is pun based, whereas in real dead baby jokes the humor is based on gross out imagery. That said, I like both pun and gross out humor, so I’m not offended by either. It’s more clever than actually funny, but I like those sorts of jokes too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-this-dead-baby-joke-is-funny/481663.md?page=4)