# Jokes that, nowadays, need explaining **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes\ **Created:** [September 25, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466 "2020-09-25T02:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/242 "2020-10-09T18:25:12Z")
Mayberry? Not so much. Yes, some of the minor side characters. But Sheriff Taylor was supposed to be a example of wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/243 "2020-10-09T18:43:45Z")
The jokes were on southern folk by southern folk, and the shows were very popular among southern folk. On both Andy Griffith and the Hillbillies there was an effort not to insult the people represented on the show as a class. ‘City folk’ were often represented as fools who didn’t have the common sense of country folk. Can’t tell you much about Hee Haw but it appeared to be have little popularity out of the south. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/244 "2020-10-09T18:49:30Z")
How many of you can give the meanings of SNAFU, TARFU, and FUBAR, and how old are you? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/245 "2020-10-09T18:50:46Z")
I know SNAFU and FUBAR, but not TARFU. (57) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/246 "2020-10-09T18:52:35Z")
TARFU = Things are really fucked up! They all go back to WWII. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/247 "2020-10-09T19:01:17Z")
SNAFU and FUBAR are my all-time favorite acronyms. So descriptive. and my reply is ALMOST IDENTICAL to Wheelz - don’t know TARFU, and just turned 56. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/248 "2020-10-09T19:31:30Z")
Yean, I also know SNAFU and FUBAR, but not TARFU. I’m 69, and my father was a WWII vet. He was fond of drawing [Kilroys](https://ctl.s6img.com/society6/img/6iZN0PW-0PFCN4x8fashXj9tDAg/w_700/prints/~artwork/s6-0058/a/24365850_13607141/~~/kilroy-was-here-prints.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/249 "2020-10-09T19:59:13Z")
I know FUBAR only. I’m 37. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/250 "2020-10-09T21:07:58Z")
Is it still taken for granted that clothes dryers shrink clothes? I feel like that used to be a comedy staple, but it hasn’t been an actual problem for me for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/251 "2020-10-09T21:57:48Z")
Only if your clothes are made of stuff like pure cotton. Cotton shrinks fer sure; so does wool, unless you wash it in cold water and let it air dry. (Whatever you do, don’t try to spin it dry!) Modern fabrics and blends are largely shrink-free. I much prefer all-natural fibers, but they’re hard to find at reasonable prices. If I do pop for an all-cotton dress shirt, I make sure it’s at least two sizes too big for me before I wash it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/252 "2020-10-09T22:03:19Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > How many of you can give the meanings of SNAFU, TARFU, and FUBAR, and how old are you? [Private Snafu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU256cGwMHM) was the star of a series of WWII training films combining the talents of Dr. Seuss, Chuck Jones, and Mel Blanc. Since they were intended for an audience of GIs, some of them are pretty raunchy. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/253 "2020-10-09T22:03:40Z")
SNAFU = Situation normal, all fucked up! TARFU = Things are really fucked up! FUBAR = Fucked up beyond all recognition! Here’s a cute little number from 1944. I love Mitzi Mayfair, the little one on the left. 🥰 Looie = Lieutenant Topkick = Sergeant Pot = Toilet [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Cq-If5vVvcc/maxresdefault.jpg "SNAFU 1944") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq-If5vVvcc) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/254 "2020-10-09T22:04:12Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Modern fabrics and blends are largely shrink-free. I much prefer all-natural fibers, but they’re hard to find at reasonable prices. If I do pop for an all-cotton dress shirt, I make sure it’s at least two sizes too big for me before I wash it. I think a lot of cotton garments now are made of “pre-shrunk” fabric or thread. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/255 "2020-10-09T22:08:51Z")
I was going to mention Pvt Snafu, but you beat me to it! 😉 There’s a whole slew of them on YouTube. This one is more or less safe for work: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NgBZzkJbCHo/hqdefault.jpg "SPIES (1943 Private Snafu Training Film)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgBZzkJbCHo) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/256 "2020-10-09T22:10:15Z")
Alas, the last time I bothered to buy a dress shirt was in 1994. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/257 "2020-10-09T23:38:25Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > This one is more or less safe for work: Apart from the racial stereotypes that would be offensive by today’s standards. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/258 "2020-10-10T00:09:01Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I remember so many times in the 80s and 90s the idea of anchovies on pizzas was the worst thing ever and the constant threat of your pizza boy giving you the wrong order and handing you a pie with anchovies. Still available at any decent pizza place in NYC. Certainly at any old-fashioned, New York style place, and at plenty of fancy pizza places too. But quite possibly not at chain places like Domino’s or Papa Johns or the like. I don’t know – I’ve never been in (or ordered from) one. Delicious. I _love_ anchovies on pizza. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/259 "2020-10-10T01:14:25Z")
Remember that exchange between Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle about JFK? People in everyday conversation would later say, “Oh I knew Joe Blow” and someone else would reply, a la Bentsen, “I knew Joe Blow and you, sir, are no Joe Blow.” I know I got the quote wrong but I think people at the time did as well. But if you weren’t there in the late 1980s it may not make much sense. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/260 "2020-10-10T02:12:42Z")
A variant was used in a 2005 episode of _ **Corner Gas** _ (“Dog River Vice”): **Emma:** Oscar, I have known Ukrainians, I have worked with Ukrainians. And you, sir, are no Ukrainian. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/261 "2020-10-10T02:13:20Z")
I knew the joke but not its origin. Interesting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466.md?page=14)