4 ms·

People in all countries make jokes about the problems of their society or lives, or their government or bureaucracy or businesses; you don't have to live in "cr

People in all countries make jokes about the problems of their society or lives, or their government or bureaucracy or businesses; you don't have to live in "cruel unjust" absurdity or be "drunk enough" to do so, or be afflicted by any other stereotype or trope.

sverige 10y ago
...but it helps.
- jacobush 10y ago
  WW3 is just over. Some men in hazmat suits walk through a deserted and bombed out city, geiger meters screeching. Suddenly, they see three men setting in a park, playing cards. Curious, they walk over and ask - how can you be alive, you have no protective gear? - Oh, we are from Krakow.
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    As a citizen of Krakow, I feel safer already <3.
  - umanwizard 10y ago
    I don't get it -- is there a lot of radiation in Krakow, or something?
    - jacobush 10y ago
      Especially back then, Krakow was extremely polluted.
andrei_says_ 10y ago
True, and, it is my belief that the oppression and absurdity (and alcoholism) were taken to extremes during the "commu/socialist" era. And so the humor was typically cynical, absurd and predominantly dark.
- sverige 10y ago
  I learned Russian and German in college in the early '80s and knew a fair number of emigrants from the former Soviet bloc (Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, East Germans). They all shared this same sense of humor. Which served them well once they figured out they weren't going to become millionaires just because they made it to the U.S.
  - andrei_says_ 10y ago
    Still waiting for the Americans to figure it out...
    - jacobush 10y ago
      ouch
xherberta 10y ago
"drunk enough" because alcohol served to lower inhibitions. Westerners really don't know what it's like when speaking too freely could land you in trouble.
paganel 10y ago
> you don't have to live in "cruel unjust" absurdity or be "drunk enough" to do so, or be afflicted by any other stereotype or trope. That is correct, but as a Romanian some of the best jokes I've ever heard were created late under Ceausescu's regime, in the '80s, when the economic and political situation was the most dire. The most famous character was Bulă (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bul%C4%83 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bul%C4%83), whose life ended just as Ceausescu fell. I haven't heard better jokes since then. One which I remember as a kid, told by my father to his drunken friends (back in the day your dad could actually take you over with him to the pub, even if you were only 7 or 8 years old): """ There's a ministerial inspection at the school where Bulă studies, and, as usual, he sits in the last bench (Bulă is not the brightest of pupils). As Bulă's hot lady teacher starts presenting the lesson one of the inspectors, who was sitting right next to Bulă, tells the other inspector, without most of those present hearing it, apart from Bulă: 'This teacher's legs really do look hot!' As the lesson continues the lady teacher poses a question for her pupils to answer. Bulă, sensing his chance, frantically raises his hand. The teacher, slightly bewildered by Bulă's recently found excitement for learning, tells him: 'Tell us the answer to my question, Bulă, and good for you for showing interest in the lesson!' to which Bulă answers: 'Your legs look really hot!' Of course that makes the teacher very mad, she starts cursing at Bulă and throwing him some slaps. After all is said and done Bulă turns back and tells the two school inspectors: 'Well, you stupid lads, if you didn't know the answer to the teacher's question why did you whisper it?' """

sverige 10y ago

...but it helps.

jacobush 10y ago
WW3 is just over. Some men in hazmat suits walk through a deserted and bombed out city, geiger meters screeching. Suddenly, they see three men setting in a park, playing cards. Curious, they walk over and ask - how can you be alive, you have no protective gear? - Oh, we are from Krakow.
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  As a citizen of Krakow, I feel safer already <3.
- umanwizard 10y ago
  I don't get it -- is there a lot of radiation in Krakow, or something?
  - jacobush 10y ago
    Especially back then, Krakow was extremely polluted.

andrei_says_ 10y ago

True, and, it is my belief that the oppression and absurdity (and alcoholism) were taken to extremes during the "commu/socialist" era. And so the humor was typically cynical, absurd and predominantly dark.

sverige 10y ago
I learned Russian and German in college in the early '80s and knew a fair number of emigrants from the former Soviet bloc (Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, East Germans). They all shared this same sense of humor. Which served them well once they figured out they weren't going to become millionaires just because they made it to the U.S.
- andrei_says_ 10y ago
  Still waiting for the Americans to figure it out...
  - jacobush 10y ago
    ouch

xherberta 10y ago

"drunk enough" because alcohol served to lower inhibitions. Westerners really don't know what it's like when speaking too freely could land you in trouble.

paganel 10y ago

> you don't have to live in "cruel unjust" absurdity or be "drunk enough" to do so, or be afflicted by any other stereotype or trope. That is correct, but as a Romanian some of the best jokes I've ever heard were created late under Ceausescu's regime, in the '80s, when the economic and political situation was the most dire. The most famous character was Bulă (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bul%C4%83 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bul%C4%83), whose life ended just as Ceausescu fell. I haven't heard better jokes since then. One which I remember as a kid, told by my father to his drunken friends (back in the day your dad could actually take you over with him to the pub, even if you were only 7 or 8 years old): """ There's a ministerial inspection at the school where Bulă studies, and, as usual, he sits in the last bench (Bulă is not the brightest of pupils). As Bulă's hot lady teacher starts presenting the lesson one of the inspectors, who was sitting right next to Bulă, tells the other inspector, without most of those present hearing it, apart from Bulă: 'This teacher's legs really do look hot!' As the lesson continues the lady teacher poses a question for her pupils to answer. Bulă, sensing his chance, frantically raises his hand. The teacher, slightly bewildered by Bulă's recently found excitement for learning, tells him: 'Tell us the answer to my question, Bulă, and good for you for showing interest in the lesson!' to which Bulă answers: 'Your legs look really hot!' Of course that makes the teacher very mad, she starts cursing at Bulă and throwing him some slaps. After all is said and done Bulă turns back and tells the two school inspectors: 'Well, you stupid lads, if you didn't know the answer to the teacher's question why did you whisper it?' """