How to tell a joke poorly
1) make the subject something very few people understand, or
2) go off on a lengthy tangent in the middle of the story
I am going to do BOTH, so this little anecdote will probably fall flat on its face and fracture its fibula (I love alliteration!).
K. So Matt is in a "special" math class (interruption: he is complaining that saying "special" makes it sound like he needs extra help in math. This is not the case. It's an enrichment class. As in normal math is tres easy for him--true story: he came home at the beginning of the year and said that the teacher wanted him to go to extra classes for both language arts and math. I said, "Oh Matt, they just want to make sure that you can succeed. It's ok that you need some help. We can help you at home too." He looked at me and said, "No, Mom, it's for the gifted kids!" Boy, did I feel stupid. I just basically called my kid SLOW. Really, though, it didn't occur to me that he was...uh...smart) and I asked Matt what they've been studying in this math enrichment class.
He said, "Well, we're studying two kinds of probability, theatrical and experimental."
Theatrical probability? I thought to myself. What's that? Like for performing arts, plays, concerts and stuff?
Then I realized he meant THEORETICAL probability! I laughed so hard!
And the probability that anyone other than Jen in WI getting this is probably pretty paltry (alliteration strikes again!).
Anyway, Matt wanted me to post this. So there you go, Matt.
2) go off on a lengthy tangent in the middle of the story
I am going to do BOTH, so this little anecdote will probably fall flat on its face and fracture its fibula (I love alliteration!).
K. So Matt is in a "special" math class (interruption: he is complaining that saying "special" makes it sound like he needs extra help in math. This is not the case. It's an enrichment class. As in normal math is tres easy for him--true story: he came home at the beginning of the year and said that the teacher wanted him to go to extra classes for both language arts and math. I said, "Oh Matt, they just want to make sure that you can succeed. It's ok that you need some help. We can help you at home too." He looked at me and said, "No, Mom, it's for the gifted kids!" Boy, did I feel stupid. I just basically called my kid SLOW. Really, though, it didn't occur to me that he was...uh...smart) and I asked Matt what they've been studying in this math enrichment class.
He said, "Well, we're studying two kinds of probability, theatrical and experimental."
Theatrical probability? I thought to myself. What's that? Like for performing arts, plays, concerts and stuff?
Then I realized he meant THEORETICAL probability! I laughed so hard!
And the probability that anyone other than Jen in WI getting this is probably pretty paltry (alliteration strikes again!).
Anyway, Matt wanted me to post this. So there you go, Matt.
Comments
let y=number of expected patrons per show...
What is the probability that you'll sit behind the person wearing the giant Lady Gaga hat?
What is the probability that the show you've payed hundreds to see will be featuring the second understudy instead of the mega star you wanted to see, and thus spent those hundreds for a ticket?
How likely will it be that when you see Wicked with your mother, that she will fall asleep and you have to keep poking her? (actually pretty likely. In fact, that happened!)
P.S. Yay for Matt! I love that I have another fellow math "geek" in the family. I use the term loosely because I really don't think Matt is a geek in the least.