# Moose are funnier than elk. Why? And by how much? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028 "2013-10-11T22:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/21 "2013-10-12T01:45:38Z")
Moose look like marionettes on invisible strings. They walk funny compared to Elk. Elks, on the other hand, are just big sturdy looking deer. They don’t have that awkward movement and derpy faces which make moose so superior. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/22 "2013-10-12T01:59:00Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > This Moose vs Elk? Your link doesn’t work, so I don’t know. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Must be the hump that makes 'em funnier. That and the neck thingie. It’s more than just that, but you know what they say: Explaining humor is like dissecting a moose. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/23 "2013-10-12T02:05:21Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > This Moose vs Elk? Bad link! Trying again… [Moose vs Elk](http://wildlife.state.co.us/SiteCollectionDocuments/DOW/Hunting/BigGame/elk-moose-flyer.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/24 "2013-10-12T02:06:37Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > A moose may be funny, but an[ne] elk has a theory about dinosaurs. “A-hem!” Anyway, a Møøse once bit my sister. No really! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/25 "2013-10-12T02:20:16Z")
Moose are indeed funnier, but one can still talk about “Elk and their ilk”. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/26 "2013-10-12T02:24:58Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Bad link! > > Trying again… > > [Moose vs Elk](http://wildlife.state.co.us/SiteCollectionDocuments/DOW/Hunting/BigGame/elk-moose-flyer.pdf) That wasn’t it. I just typed “moose vs elk” into Google and it automatically generated a chart comparing them that appeared above the search results on the Google page. I tried it with a few other things (like “butter vs margarine”), and it worked for them, too, though not for everything. Ooh! I’m going to try “Marmite vs Vegemite” and see if it knows which one is superior! ETA: Surprisingly, it didn’t do the comparison chart thingie with them. Oh well! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/27 "2013-10-12T07:25:48Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > Ooh! I’m going to try “Marmite vs Vegemite” and see if it knows which one is superior! > > ETA: Surprisingly, it didn’t do the comparison chart thingie with them. Oh well! Moose and elk are both animals, so it can compare them. With Marmite and Vegemite, it isn’t sure if both, one, or neither are animal, vegetable, or mineral, so it opts to not compare them at all. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/28 "2013-10-12T12:50:06Z")
A moose runs around on the floor and eats cheese and is chased by the cats. The elks, on the other hand, live up in the hills, and in the spring they come down for their annual convention. It is very interesting to watch them come to the waterhole. And you should see them run when they find it is only a waterhole. What they’re looking for is an elk-a-hole. ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/29 "2013-10-12T20:29:38Z")
More fodder for discussion: Elk may be good to eat, but chocolate mousse is better. There aren’t any elk books for children that come close to Thudwick the Big Hearted Moose. Plus moose rhymes with papoose and caboose and loose and goose - opening up all sorts of poetic opportunities. While elk just rhymes with milk and even then the spelling is all wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/30 "2013-10-12T21:13:20Z")
> [@as\_u\_wish](#): > > Plus moose rhymes with papoose and caboose and loose and goose - opening up all sorts of poetic opportunities. While elk just rhymes with milk and even then the spelling is all wrong. Ogden Nash begs to differ: > [@](#): > > Moose makes me think of caribou, > And caribou of moose, > With, even from their point of view, > Legitimate excuse. > Why then, when I behold an elk, > Can I but think of Lawrence Welk? ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/31 "2013-10-12T21:49:45Z")
You know, a specialty seafood restaurant might consider serving Elk ‘n’ Whelk. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/32 "2013-10-12T23:24:37Z")
According to humor writers, elk should be funnier, with that [explosive “k”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inherently_funny_word). But it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/33 "2013-10-12T23:34:06Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > “A-hem!” > > Anyway, a Møøse once bit my sister. No really! My man! I’ve loved that line for over 40 years. > [@WhyNot](#): > > According to humor writers, elk should be funnier, with that [explosive “k”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inherently_funny_word). God Damn it! Beat me by nine minutes. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/34 "2013-10-13T03:51:56Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Must be the hump that makes 'em funnier. That and the neck thingie. I think it’s the nose. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/35 "2013-10-13T04:36:17Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I wouldn’t laugh to a Moose’s face. An Elk’s kick or goring could kill you. An elk may kick or gore you, but at least it won’t drop hundreds of ping pong balls on your head. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/36 "2013-10-13T05:50:07Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > With Marmite and Vegemite, it isn’t sure if both, one, or neither are animal, vegetable, or mineral… We’re not sure either. Some are of the opinion that Marmite and Vegemite _aren’t_ vegetable, animal, or mineral. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/37 "2013-10-13T05:55:20Z")
Could it be because elk don’t mate with [statues](http://i.imgur.com/el8U4.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/38 "2013-10-13T06:12:00Z")
Elk also don’t get [stuck in swing sets](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZroC_iYub-w). Damn, they’re in Utah already! Better hide. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/39 "2013-10-13T06:20:18Z")
Definitely the ping pong balls. Plus, say the word “moose” ten times, fast. It’s a funny word. Even without a k. It’s goofy and funny. Plus Bullwinkle. Was that the first show to break down the fourth wall? And now, here’s something we hope you’ll really like. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028/40 "2013-10-13T06:57:57Z")
May I please point out one vital difference? Neither an elk, nor anything of its ilk, is easily applied after a shampoo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moose-are-funnier-than-elk-why-and-by-how-much/671028.md?page=3)