It used to be the bar, where
people, usually men, were hunkered around the table and where the
latest jokes were thrown around and knees slapped in return. There was
alcohol involved and the jokes were funnier if the blood alcohol level
went beyond the legal limit. Thousands of jokes lifted from the
backside of the centerfold or out of a book and other publications were
shared, just for the laugh of it. In modern times, the way of sharing
jokes has transported to other means and levels of communication. In a
time where people met and had online friends, most communication is not
done person to person, but over some gadgets, including the cellular
phones.
Why people nowadays prefer to use methods of communication that are not
personal can be traced back to many reasons. The reason why text
messaging jokes are nowadays being exchanged is very simple, if you
receive a good one, you will forward it. It is just the same like with
email forwarding, where you receive a good joke or funny picture, even
a link to a funny place, you will forward that to your pals. The SMS
forwarding of good jokes is just another automated transfer of already
established social practices. There is just no beer and knee slapping
is done in solitude
of your home.
Just like with the internet, text messaging jokes can go viral,
particularly the very good ones. Did you ever hear this one? Yesterday
someone knocked on my door; it was a well-dressed young man carrying a
vacuum cleaner. 'Good morning,' said the young man. 'If I could take a
minute of your time, I would like to demonstrate the very latest in
high-powered vacuum cleaners.' 'No use,' I said, 'I haven't got any
money - I'm broke!' and proceeded to close the door. Quick as a flash,
the young man wedged his foot in the door and pushed it wide open.
'Don't be too hasty!' he said. 'Not until you have at least seen my
demonstration.' And with that, he emptied a bucket of horse manure onto
my hallway carpet. 'If this vacuum cleaner does not remove all traces
of this horse manure from your carpet, Sir, I will personally eat the
remainder.' I stepped back and said, 'Well I hope you've got a good
appetite, because they cut off my electricity this morning. What part
of 'broke' did you not understand?'
There are no reasons why particular text messaging jokes become viral
and are spread around, it largely depends on the taste of humor of the
people involved. But sometimes good ones are being passed, sometimes
not. If there is a smile on the face of the recipient, then it all
makes sense.
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