Rant: People keep telling punchline-first jokes and calling them dad jokes

I was at my neighbor's cookout last Saturday and this guy launches into a joke about a horse walking into a bar, but he gives the punchline right at the start... totally ruins the buildup. Isn't a dad joke supposed to be a setup and a groaner, not just blurting out the funny part? How do you guys deal with people who don't get the format?

3 comments

3 Comments

william_torres4d agoMost Upvoted

Is it just me or does this same thing happen in regular conversations too though? People skip all the background and just blurt out the main point, then wonder why nobody gets what they're talking about. I've noticed it with stories about work or even just explaining a movie plot where someone jumps to the ending first. A good joke or story needs that slow build so the listener can follow along and enjoy the ride. If we all start shooting punchlines first, we might as well just talk in bullet points or something.

kelly_craig4d ago

Yeah that's just bad storytelling not a dad joke.

milessmith4d ago

Is it really bad storytelling or just a setup that depends on the delivery? A dad joke can land or crash based on how long you let the pause drag out before the punchline. I've seen people turn a groaner into gold just by the timing and a shrug.