# What makes these t-shirts funny? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064 "2013-03-16T00:39:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MuleSkinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@MuleSkinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MuleSkinner)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/1 "2013-03-16T00:39:26Z")
If you’ve never heard of t-shirt hell, they sell shirts with images that are controversial or rude but have some degree of humor to them (or at least that’s the intent). The meaning behind them usually isn’t something that the average joe wouldn’t get, but I can’t figure out the following: > **[T-Shirt Hell :: uSHEEP](https://www.tshirthell.com/funny-shirts/usheep/)** > > Usheep > **[T-Shirt Hell :: MY NATIVE AMERICAN NAME IS STEVE](https://www.tshirthell.com/funny-shirts/my-native-american-name-is-steve/?trck_&trck_referring_productid=1516)** > > My Native American Name Is Steve > **[T-Shirt Hell :: SALLY STRUTHERS, THAT'S WHO!](https://www.tshirthell.com/funny-shirts/sally-struthers-thats-who/?trck_&trck_referring_productid=1529)** > > Sally Struthers, That's Who! > **[T-Shirt Hell :: TOBEY](https://www.tshirthell.com/funny-shirts/tobey/?trck_&trck_referring_productid=1535)** > > Tobey Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/2 "2013-03-16T00:41:59Z")
The first one is taking potshots at people who the wearer thinks are “sheep” for buying iWhatevers from Apple. _Hilarious!_ ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/3 "2013-03-16T00:44:55Z")
Yeah, that’s a bunch of knee-slappers. Almost as good as that picture of a lion saying “Moo! I’m a horse!” The last one is based on an image of “OBEY” only this one had Tobey Wassisname. Random =/= funny. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/4 "2013-03-16T00:44:59Z")
Hm. There doesn’t seem to be any business purpose for me to go to that website, which is kind of ironic since they’re trying to sell t-shirts. I’ll take your word for it that it’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/5 "2013-03-16T00:47:23Z")
The last one is a ripoff of that old Andre the Giant one - “OBEY!” Is the person in the picture meant to be someone called Toby, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/6 "2013-03-16T00:48:19Z")
The second one is a riff on white folk taking on Native American names because of white guilt and a too-liberal upbringing. The last one is a rip=off of the “Obey” t-shirts that are everywhere, and features Toby McGuire. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/7 "2013-03-16T00:55:17Z")
My interpretations: the uSheep shirt: Seems to show a crowd of people with TV’s where their heads belong. I think it is a social critique of AT&T for their massive marketing of their u-Verse services, selling to a herd of mindless brainwashed sheeple all watching TV. the “My Native American name is Steve” shirt: I think this is a critique of North American indigenous peoples claiming the title of “Native Americans”, as opposed to the routine definition of “native” meaning simply “someone (anyone!) who was born here”. I had a history teacher some years ago who made this point. He argued that it wasn’t terribly interesting or useful (but was instead pretentious, perhaps) for North American indigenous people to call themselves “Native Americans” since he (the teacher) was also a native American too, like most of the rest of us in this country, simply by being born here. ---
**Author:** ![MuleSkinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@MuleSkinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MuleSkinner)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/8 "2013-03-16T01:01:50Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > the uSheep shirt: Seems to show a crowd of people with TV’s where their heads belong. I think it is a social critique of AT&T for their massive marketing of their u-Verse services, selling to a herd of mindless brainwashed sheeple all watching TV. I don’t think that’s it. I Googled ‘u\_verse’ and I don’t see any logos using a small ‘u’ or font similar to what’s on the t shirt. I think beowulff got it as some of the devices replacing heads look like iPods. The others are probably iPads. Not sure what the little kid has as a head. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/9 "2013-03-16T01:20:13Z")
> [@MuleSkinner](#): > > Not sure what the little kid has as a head. Looks like an ipod Touch to me. It’s definitely a slam on people who like Apple products. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/10 "2013-03-16T01:20:43Z")
The devices in the uSheep one are definitely Apple products. As for the “Native American name” one, a lot of white Americans (or slightly-Native-American, which is still a lot of white Americans) will do things like referring to their “Native American name”, or otherwise try to connect with “Native culture”. But most actual Native Americans nowadays have the same sorts of names as all the rest of us. A guy from the reservation is far more likely to be named “Steve” than he is to be named “Singing Cloud”, or “Chaser of Dogs”, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/11 "2013-03-16T01:21:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The second one is a riff on white folk taking on Native American names because of white guilt and a too-liberal upbringing. > [@Senegoid](#): > > the “My Native American name is Steve” shirt: I think this is a critique of North American indigenous peoples claiming the title of “Native Americans”, as opposed to the routine definition of “native” meaning simply “someone (anyone!) who was born here”. Huh, I have a totally different interpretation of that one. I figured it was for Native Americans and took it to mean basically “Sorry to disappoint you, stupid white person, but my parents really did name me Steve. And I don’t live in a teepee, either. Sheesh.” (ETA: or what Chronos just said!) That said, I think the real answer to the OP’s question is that these are not particularly funny shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/12 "2013-03-16T01:23:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The devices in the uSheep one are definitely Apple products. > > As for the “Native American name” one, a lot of white Americans (or slightly-Native-American, which is still a lot of white Americans) will do things like referring to their “Native American name”, or otherwise try to connect with “Native culture”. But most actual Native Americans nowadays have the same sorts of names as all the rest of us. A guy from the reservation is far more likely to be named “Steve” than he is to be named “Singing Cloud”, or “Chaser of Dogs”, or whatever. Concur. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/13 "2013-03-16T01:36:44Z")
Anyone have any context for the Sally Struthers one? ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/14 "2013-03-16T01:59:01Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > That said, I think the real answer to the OP’s question is that these are not particularly funny shirts. The fact of the matter is that these t-shirt companies are on-demand printing. They accept any t-shirt design. They don’t have to spend money on the infrastructure to actually print and warehouse t-shirts. In general, people are stupid and not particularly funny. That said, there may be some appeal to some demographic that I’m unaware of. If somehow some idiot buys your shirt, you get some kind of percentage. In any case, I think it’s free to submit a design, therefore the plethora of stupid shit. By the way, the on-demand printed shirts are crappy ink-jet printed shirts and will last about 2 washings. ---
**Author:** ![MuleSkinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@MuleSkinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MuleSkinner)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/15 "2013-03-16T02:05:16Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > By the way, the on-demand printed shirts are crappy ink-jet printed shirts and will last about 2 washings. I bought several shirts from there years ago that I still wear around the house. Both the shirts and the ink were high quality and lasted a long time. No, I have no affiliation with the website. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/16 "2013-03-16T02:08:31Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The last one is a rip=off of the “Obey” t-shirts that are everywhere, and features Toby McGuire. Except that he spells it “Tobey,” which is what makes it “funny.” ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/17 "2013-03-16T02:13:13Z")
> [@MuleSkinner](#): > > I bought several shirts from there years ago that I still wear around the house. Both the shirts and the ink were high quality and lasted a long time. No, I have no affiliation with the website. OK, maybe the technology has improved since the last time I checked it out. I’m an old school spot color silk screening Nazi, so I have a huge bias. ---
**Author:** ![MuleSkinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@MuleSkinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MuleSkinner)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/18 "2013-03-16T02:26:24Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > I’m an old school spot color silk screening Nazi, so I have a huge bias. I’m not sure what the difference between ink-jet printed and silk screening is, but some of their shirts have ink that seems to sit on top of the fabric and can be felt and others where the ink is soaked into the shirt and can’t be felt. Both kind seem high quality to me. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/19 "2013-03-16T02:46:09Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Anyone have any context for the Sally Struthers one? [From here:](http://browse.feedreader.com/c/Tshirt_Groove/301877243) All kinds of sassy sparking off this shirt. Sally walks up to the front of the velvet rope. Gives the gatekeeper the look, and the gatekeeper asks with a shrug, “who are you?” As if?!?!?!?!?!? She dresses him down. His boss comes out to see what the trouble is. Sees who it is. Swats the meat head in the back of the head. And offers Sally, in heart-felt apology, bottle service at the corner table. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064/20 "2013-03-16T02:47:46Z")
Before the advent of 4 color photographic separation processes (CMYK), silkscreening required a different screen for each spot color. IOW, if you had a 10 color design, it took 10 screens. Aesthetically, I just don’t dig the 4 color process because I cut my teeth on hand cut rubylith. It’s purely an arbitrary judgement call. YMMV. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-these-t-shirts-funny/653064.md?page=2)