# 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:** 22
**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 23, 2020, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/422 "2020-10-23T15:29:32Z")
Why did Jeffrey Dahmer invite Jackie Chan over to his place? He was in the mood for a little Chinese. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/423 "2020-10-23T16:43:45Z")
In the 70’s, my cousin bought me a record cartridge in J(apan)-Town in L.A. She said there was also a K(orean)-Town. There’s probably a V(ietnam)-Town now. In Hawaii, Pearl City, Honolulu is jokingly referred to a J-Town because of historically large number of Japanese families. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/424 "2020-10-23T17:15:31Z")
In Orange County, there’s an area of Westminster referred (and not always affectionately) as “Little Saigon.” ---
**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 23, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/425 "2020-10-23T17:23:47Z")
There’s lots of [ethnic enclaves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_enclaves_in_North_American_cities) called “Little (Something),” from [Little Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Italy) in New York (which actually has several “Little Italys”) and many other places, like Little Haiti in Miami, Little Ethiopias in Washington DC and Los Angeles, and many others. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/426 "2020-10-23T18:19:50Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > In Orange County, there’s an area of Westminster referred (and not always affectionately) as “Little Saigon.” As I recall, there’s a sign on the 22 that says LITTLE SAIGON. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/427 "2020-10-23T18:20:16Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > The MASH thread reminded me of another joke that’s probably over the head of younger folks. ‘What’s so absorbing, Junior?’ ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/428 "2020-10-23T18:23:43Z")
The MASH episode where the supply lines have been cut and everybody has to stuff themselves into one tent. Frank Burns comes in with his rifle and Hawkeye quips, “Chickee, the house dick!” I doubt anybody under forty knows that “house dick” was slang back in the day for “hotel detective.” They may not even knew what a hotel detective did. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/429 "2020-10-23T18:26:00Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There’s lots of [ethnic enclaves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_enclaves_in_North_American_cities) called “Little (Something),” from [Little Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Italy) in New York (which actually has several “Little Italys”) and many other places, like Little Haiti in Miami, Little Ethiopias in Washington DC and Los Angeles, and many others. Our city has a “Little Romansh-Speaking Switzerland”, but it’s just our yard and the one next door (found out the old widow there is from the same tiny Swiss village, and her grandma originally had our last name). ---
**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 23, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/430 "2020-10-23T18:26:12Z")
I know what a house dick is (I’m 65), but I don’t get the “Chickee” reference. 🤔 ---
**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 23, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/431 "2020-10-23T18:28:06Z")
I don’t get this reference either. 🤨 ---
**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 23, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/432 "2020-10-23T18:34:45Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I know what a house dick is (I’m 65), but I don’t get the “Chickee” reference. 🤔 [Chickee!](https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/mymtgky) is what you yelled when the cops or other authorities were coming. Also, “Cheese it, the cops!” ---
**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 23, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/433 "2020-10-23T18:36:10Z")
Aha! 👍 ---
**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 23, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/434 "2020-10-23T18:37:32Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I don’t get this reference either. 🤨 It’s a reference to [Absorbine, Jr,](https://www.absorbinejr.com/) for muscle pain. It used to be much more popular. ---
**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 23, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/435 "2020-10-23T18:38:48Z")
Again, aha! Nice to know! 👌 ---
**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 23, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/436 "2020-10-23T18:41:24Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I know what a house dick is Although house dicks watched out for people stealing the towels, one of their duties is particularly outdated: Checking for couples who were sharing the same room but not married, plus ladies who might invite in unregistered “guests.” ---
**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 23, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/437 "2020-10-23T18:43:14Z")
I always thought they were just checking the walls. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/438 "2020-10-23T18:49:01Z")
Back to oregano. Apparently it was unknown by some in Springfield in early 1997. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Za_KilRD-do/hqdefault.jpg "oregano, what the hell?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za_KilRD-do) “Eight spices. Oh, some must be some doubles.” ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/439 "2020-10-23T18:50:16Z")
Ah. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/440 "2020-10-23T18:51:15Z")
And in higher-class hotels where rich people might stay - to provide security for valuables. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/441 "2020-10-23T18:55:09Z")
No, that is not outdated. Hotel Security will kick out ladies of the evening who use a hotel as a base. That can give the hotel a bad name or even get it shut down. Now, the part about unmarried couples- that is very outdated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466.md?page=23)