(no subject)

[pensnest]

I read something on AITA about a joke that goes thusly: Germany is running out of meat and cheese. They’re saying it’s a worst case scenario.

Like the poster, I did not get this joke*.

Do you?

Poll #24839 worst case scenario

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 35

View Respondents

Do you understand this joke?

View Answers

Yes
31 (88.6%)

No
4 (11.4%)

Do you think it's funny?

View Answers

Hilarious! Clever, witty, etc
2 (6.1%)

Mildly
22 (66.7%)

No
8 (24.2%)

It's just stupid
1 (3.0%)

* I understand it (now), but I think it's a rubbish 'joke'.

Comments

[anotherslashfan]

I'm German, so it's easy to understand, but not very funny.

[pensnest]

Interesting - I wondered if it would be harder to see.

[watervole]

Well, it made me laugh, but only because I instantly saw 'wurst' and I happen to know that 'Kase' is German for cheese.

If you don't know 'kase' then it's not as funny.

[pensnest]

See, I do know both Wurst and Kase, I just don't pronounce them like worst or case.

[watervole]

I think it really needs someone to say it aloud with a slight accent and that makes it work much better.

Most puns are like that, really. They're deader on the page.

[rikes]

I've only seen a version where it was actually spelled Wurst Käse scenario in the first place, which made it much funnier IMO. (Or as good as bilingual puns get, I guess, depending whether you're into that kind of thing or not.) This way around it makes no sense at all.

[pensnest]

I can't really see it as a pun, however it's spelled, because to me, Voorst and Kae-zuh do not come across like werst and cayse. I like my puns better constructed!

[rikes]

I think it's definitely mainly meant to be a written pun, not a spoken one!

Wurst vs worst - [v] vs [w] is the main issue here, but as German doesn't have a [w] sound (though it does have the letter w of course), I can kinda let that go. But it mostly relies on the spelling to make the joke work.

Case vs Käse does have the [s] vs [z] issue in pronunciation, so this one is even more about the spelling, esp. since English doesn't have the letter ä and thinks it's just an a with some decorations.

Also, I speak neither language as my mother tongue, so that probably also plays into it. Like, mispronouncing English words on purpose or speaking with a terrible Finnish accent is actually great fun, and I do it with my students all the time. :D

[manna]

I thought it was punny funny, but I did German at school and apparently remember more than I thought.

[pensnest]

When I read it, it passed me by completely, even though I remember the words Wurst and Kase. I just don't pronounce them like worst/case.

[ephemera]

It's a pun, which puts a definite limit to how "funny! it can be...

[pensnest]

No, no, I am very partial to a pun! I just think this one is being pushed beyond its capabilities. Perhaps because English/American speakers cannot pronounce either Wurst or Käse.

[tielan]

I feel like it needs the German spelling, though.

[brandywine28]

I've thought about it and I want to change my answer! A couple of days ago I voted that 1. I got it, but 2. didn't think it was funny. However! On further reflection, that feels uncharitable. It's not such a bad little joke! It's trying its best!