# Where's the little girl? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988 "2017-06-27T13:24:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/41 "2017-06-27T21:17:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I never bet with a guy who has “Weasel” in his name; they tend to be sneaky. (Psssst… he’s a she) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/42 "2017-06-27T21:24:03Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > (Psssst… he’s a she) take a walk on the wild side. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/43 "2017-06-27T21:25:32Z")
Did anyone notice the little girl hiding behind the lamppost? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/44 "2017-06-27T21:26:34Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Did anyone notice the little girl hiding behind the lamppost? I’m not falling for that. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/45 "2017-06-27T21:27:34Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > How is ridiculing something funny? That’s one of the most basic definitions of humor. You didn’t find it funny which is OK, but what kind of question is that? That wasn’t the question; you’ve ignore the word “or”. If it was written as two questions they would be “How is acting like a stereotype funny?” and “How is acting like a stereotype ridiculing the stereotype?” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/46 "2017-06-27T21:30:17Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > My fault for trying to explain humor. Never try to explain _why_ something is funny. Comedians can explain why something is funny, but that’s part of their job. I realize it’s not part of your job to do this, but I thought I’d try and understand what you found funny about this video. I’m able to explain why I don’t find it funny. I think it’s odd that you can’t, or think that you can’t, explain why you do find it funny. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/47 "2017-06-27T21:33:27Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I thought it was dumb- until they (SPOILER!!) drove away shooting. I laughed at that. Same. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/48 "2017-06-27T21:35:47Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > (Psssst… he’s a she) I never bet with ladies. They tend to take advantage. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/49 "2017-06-27T21:38:17Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I thought it was dumb- until they (SPOILER!!) drove away shooting. I laughed at that. See, _I_ thought the cops shooting into the air was stupid. I’d have edited that out. “_There’s_ the little girl”, cops all laugh, walk to their cars and quietly drive off. Man left standing by car, still trembling. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/50 "2017-06-27T21:47:38Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > In what ways did you feel it was ridiculing the cop stereotype? In what ways do you feel let’s go down to the quarry and throw stuff down there? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/51 "2017-06-27T21:57:30Z")
I thought it was funny. I took it as ridiculing police abuse of power. The driving away shooting into the air like cowboys cinched it for me. YMMV, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/52 "2017-06-27T22:04:01Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I’m not falling for that. [No joke.](http://imgur.com/a/UApE8) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/53 "2017-06-27T22:04:32Z")
No laugh here, in part because I saw the punchline coming down Main Street. mmm ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/54 "2017-06-27T22:52:27Z")
I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/55 "2017-06-28T01:03:45Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I laughed. I didn’t. “Each to his own,” said the old lady as she kissed the cow. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/56 "2017-06-28T15:07:22Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Add me to this list. > > I’ll even say why it’s not funny: it’s punching down. Do you say it’s punching down because the powerful cops are ridiculing the man? I wonder if this is the difference between those who find it funny and those who don’t. People who aren’t amused see it as a cruel joke played by the cops, and wonder how anyone can laugh at that. But the rest of us aren’t laughing at the cops’ joke; we are laughing at the absurdity of cops behaving in such a ridiculous manner. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/57 "2017-06-28T15:36:48Z")
This would have worked perfectly as a scene in _Superbad_ with the two kawazy kops. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/58 "2017-06-28T15:47:47Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Do you say it’s punching down because the powerful cops are ridiculing the man? > > I wonder if this is the difference between those who find it funny and those who don’t. People who aren’t amused see it as a cruel joke played by the cops, and wonder how anyone can laugh at that. But the rest of us aren’t laughing at the cops’ joke; we are laughing at the absurdity of cops behaving in such a ridiculous manner. The entire gag is people in a position of power abusing their power to amuse themselves. That’s punching down. The police are the antagonists, the motorist is the protagonist that we identify with. If this happened to you, would you be amused? The concept of police abusing their authority and threatening to kill someone isn’t ridiculous or absurd, IMO; there is now plenty of recent video showing police doing just that. Throwing in “doing it just for their own amusement” doesn’t add any humor to that, it just reinforces the negative power dynamic. ---
**Author:** ![Orr\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ee59a6/32.png) [@Orr\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orr_G)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/59 "2017-06-28T15:57:29Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > This would have worked perfectly as a scene in _Superbad_ with the two kawazy kops. Or _Super Troopers_. I didn’t find the skit funny. The tone was all wrong for the joke they were making. It was too well-produced to have that tone married with that joke. I would say it was interesting and even “arty”, in its surrealism and the way it created discomfort in the viewer. But then the cops shooting in the air as they drove off was such a tonal whipsnap (to something closer to what it should have been at the start to be funny), it showed that the director simply had no clue as to how to manage the tone of the piece. Judd Apatow or the Broken Lizard crew would have nailed the joke, because it would have been at least a little funny from the start. Almost any random Youtuber/Viner would have nailed the joke, because of the irony inherent in such amateur productions. And come to think of it, Louis CK would have nailed the joke in a dark way, because the cops wouldn’t have turned into cartoons at the end, and the humor would be about just how horribly uncomfortable we are that such absurdist cruelty somehow touches too closely to reality. A bit like in his episode “Bully”. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988/60 "2017-06-28T15:59:09Z")
Read all the comments before watching the video. I was expecting a little girl to pop out of the car, mow down all the cops with a machine gun, and speed away. Now _that_ would’ve actually been funny. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-little-girl/789988.md?page=4)