Dad jokes are arguably the most cringeworthy of all types of humor, a genre that is both beloved and reviled. Yet, despite the groans and eye-rolls that often accompany these cheesy puns, it seems like these jokes are here to stay. After all, we all have a dad or father figure in our lives, and if they’re not the pun-king of the household, they certainly know how to tell a good one.
Dads have long been a staple in the family dynamic, but they haven’t always been at the forefront of popular culture. In recent years, however, they’ve gained prominence as a genre of their own, with countless blogs and social media channels dedicated to the art of the dad joke. The popularity of these dad jokes has sparked debate about whether or not they’re truly funny, and it also raises questions about how we define what makes a good joke.
There are many different ways to convey humor, and some of them are much more clever, witty, original, and undeniably funny than others. So, why is it that the most canned, corny, formulaic, and brown jokes are the ones that get the most attention? And why do we associate them with dads in particular?
One theory is that dad jokes are a form of anti-joke. They take what we know about joking and turn it upside down, by flagrantly violating the rules of joke-telling. Normally, when someone shifts to the humorous mode of discourse, they do so because they have something genuinely funny to say. Dad jokes, on the other hand, simply follow a statement of fact with a lame pun, which can be so incredibly stupid and unfunny that it paradoxically becomes funny.
Moreover, a good dad joke requires no special kind of comedic performance or timing. Anyone can tell one, which is why it’s so easy to recognize when a joke is a bad dad joke, even without being explicitly told by a dad.
Finally, dad jokes are useful because they teach children to cope with embarrassment, a skill that will serve them well as adults. If kids have to endure their father’s endless stream of mediocre puns, they’ll learn how to survive the ridicule that comes with growing up, and they’ll become more resilient in the face of future embarrassment from their own children and other loved ones.
So, the next time your dad or father figure tries to make you laugh with a lame pun, don’t let their groans and eye-rolls stop you from laughing. Remember, they’re partaking in a proud tradition, and their embarrassingly awful jokes may do you some good. Plus, laughing at a dad joke can help you burn calories and improve your health, so it’s a win-win situation all around!bad dad jokes