Can someone explain this joke to me?

[mollyc]

Jokes are meant to be spoken rather than written. But who speaks in texting “shorthand”?

ummm. i was explaining it. i didn’t invent the joke.

also you must have missed the part where the op said the joke was written inside a card to him.

 

[Analog Kid]

I had to sit, and think, and then I managed to work it out, (and thank you @mollyc, for your explanation).

However, I agree with @Apple fanboy: If you have to explain a joke, it is not funny, and that "joke" is not especially funny, even when you do work it out.

The thing about humor is that it is deeply tied to culture. It's a visceral response.

I guess the way I'd put it is that if you have to have the joke explained, it wasn't meant for you. (This one wasn't meant for me.)

 

[Gregg2]

ummm. i was explaining it. i didn’t invent the joke.

also you must have missed the part where the op said the joke was written inside a card to him.

The fact that the OP is relating an experience of someone writing down a joke does not negate my statement, nor does someone who did not originate the joke trying to explain it. Otherwise, four good points… (and no caps)

I'm aware that some will not agree with the statement.

 

[adrianlondon]

I think the joke would work (better) if it was typed as "IDK" instead of "I decay".

Well, I'd find it 2/10 funny instead of 0/10 funny at the moment.

 

[mollyc]

Jokes are meant to be spoken rather than written. But who speaks in texting “shorthand”?

The fact that the OP is relating an experience of someone writing down a joke does not negate my statement, nor does someone who did not originate the joke trying to explain it. Otherwise, four good points… (and no caps)

I'm aware that some will not agree with the statement.

Over 20,000 titles on Amazon disagree with the sentiment that jokes need to be spoken rather than written.

 

[Huntn]

In texting slang/abbreviations, IDK stands for "I don't know." But if you actually speak the letters outloud, I-D-K sounds the same as "I decay." In the joke, IDK stands for both "I don't know" AND "I decay."

I’ve never heard anyone say IDK, not to say that this term is not used.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I feel old now.

So do I.