Once long ago I had to send a message to someone fairly important here in Thailand. We weren’t quite friends but were certainly more than casual acquaintances. Since the message was sent on July 14, I added at the end: “Happy Bastille Day!” Unfortunately, I had not learned yet at that time that Thais generally have no sense of irony, and their sense of humor is pretty much limited to the slapstick. He got all hot and bothered, thinking I was suggesting he was a tyrant who needed taking down. Despite my explanation, he never got over that.
Mel Brooks in Spaceballs.
Me, trying to get a friend who seems hesitant to sign a petition: Come on, it’s not like we’re asking for your first born son.
THEN I remember her first born son was the victim of a murder/suicide by his father.
I was rather proud of my retort in this thread, but no takers.
I work in Pro-Audio and I was picking up some equipment from a wholesaler. I needed a cassette player, the rep suggested a certain model and I looked at the spec.
“Yep, this will be fine, I’ll take one please. Brilliant, it’s even got DOBLY!”
Silence. Tumbleweed blows through room.
“Erm, OK, I’ll add one to the order. And it’s Dolby.”
“Yeah, but it sounds better in Dobly, dunnit?” (said in Nigel Tuffnel voice)
“Erm, OK. Dolby”
And that was that. Eighteen years later, I still cringe that I chose a person who deals with pro musicians day in and day out, yet misses completely a Spinal Tap gag. Worse than that, I didn’t try to explain it to him, I just walked out, leaving him under the impression I think Dolby is DOBLY.
“That’s my secret, Captain - I’m always angsty.” -The Incredible Sulk
Thank you.
Two things of note: I went to an all girls school, so I wasn’t au fait with young men’s insecurities and I find it hard to resist a straight line. A couple of weeks into uni and this guy made a feeble quip (probably much like some of the ones in this thread) and followed up with “That’s just my little joke” “I bet it is a little joke!” I zinged back. Well I wasn’t to know he had a rather small penis…
Yeah, but in RTP, a Blue Devil/Tarheel marriage is more mixed (and certainly less likely) than black/white.
I don’t know how my dad, a tarheel, ever got over the fact that Duke hospital saved his life.
A formal meeting at the school I used to work at, discussing speakers for an event. Someone mentioned they had managed to line up a marine to speak to the kids. Someone asks ‘Oh, where did you get him?’ I say, in suggestive, nudge-nudge wink-wink tones ‘Yeah, where DO you get a marine from?’
Horrified silence.
When actor Terrence Mann originated the role of Chauvelin in the Frank Wildhorn musical The Scarlet Pimpernel, I went around proclaiming “Terrence Mann finally gets to play one.” Very few people figured it out.
Mann’s previous roles had been Rum Tug Tugger and The Beast of Beauty &. He was finally playing a man.
Only Jews can make fun of the 'caust. And her name is Sara Silverman.
I often reference things being able to “go to 11”. Nada. Cue the crickets…