No one really likes deconstructing a joke, but the Puerto Rico joke was worse (as in low-quality, not just offensive) than it seems. For at least a decade, there's been a joke format that's similar, but only makes sense in a context where the Great Pacific garbage patch could credibly be getting referenced but the joketeller instead fill…
No one really likes deconstructing a joke, but the Puerto Rico joke was worse (as in low-quality, not just offensive) than it seems. For at least a decade, there's been a joke format that's similar, but only makes sense in a context where the Great Pacific garbage patch could credibly be getting referenced but the joketeller instead fills in an actual island. For example, if the NYT publishes a headline like "The Ocean’s Biggest Garbage Pile Is Full of Floating Life" they retweet that with "yeah, they're called the English" and a picture of gammon or chavs at the beach. I've mostly seen the garbage island joke used on the UK, but I think I've also seen it reference Ibiza or other tourist destinations.
Of course, the point of the joke is that it subverts expectations. It seems like you're going to reference the giant garbage patch, but instead you say Great Britain. This is entirely lost when you just blurt out "There's a garbage island and it's called Puerto Rico". I wonder if it would have landed better if Tony had set it up by talking about environmental problems or microplastics pollution for a few lines, then brought up a garbage island. After a beat, he could clarify that he meant Puerto Rico. Or Long Island or Manhattan if he wanted a less sympathetic target.
Anyways, that my armchair comedian input. Next I'll tell you all what the Bears should have done on defense against the Commanders.
No one really likes deconstructing a joke, but the Puerto Rico joke was worse (as in low-quality, not just offensive) than it seems. For at least a decade, there's been a joke format that's similar, but only makes sense in a context where the Great Pacific garbage patch could credibly be getting referenced but the joketeller instead fills in an actual island. For example, if the NYT publishes a headline like "The Ocean’s Biggest Garbage Pile Is Full of Floating Life" they retweet that with "yeah, they're called the English" and a picture of gammon or chavs at the beach. I've mostly seen the garbage island joke used on the UK, but I think I've also seen it reference Ibiza or other tourist destinations.
Of course, the point of the joke is that it subverts expectations. It seems like you're going to reference the giant garbage patch, but instead you say Great Britain. This is entirely lost when you just blurt out "There's a garbage island and it's called Puerto Rico". I wonder if it would have landed better if Tony had set it up by talking about environmental problems or microplastics pollution for a few lines, then brought up a garbage island. After a beat, he could clarify that he meant Puerto Rico. Or Long Island or Manhattan if he wanted a less sympathetic target.
Anyways, that my armchair comedian input. Next I'll tell you all what the Bears should have done on defense against the Commanders.
Here's a typical example from 9 months ago:
https://www.reddit.com/r/gojira/comments/1afm5i8/are_they_talking_about_uk/