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Why defines a “dad joke”?

Benj96 May 15, 2022 at 17:48 1800 views 7 comments
This is more of a lighthearted, just-for-fun topic but what do you think all dad jokes have in common? What is it exactly that goes to make a joke that much more “dad” level cringe but laughable all the same?

Is there a clear criterion to be had at all or is it more subjective and ill-defined than that?

Comments (7)

javi2541997 May 15, 2022 at 18:00 #695596
Reply to Benj96

Dads (well our parents as overall) tend to make efforts to be funny with us but they end up being cringe. I think this situation happens due to the collapse of different generations. What some would think it is funny, others would see it as "cringe"
I guess if I were a dad, I would make bad/ridiculous jokes in a unconscious way.
Hillary May 15, 2022 at 18:08 #695601
145 Best Dad Jokes That Have The Whole Family Laughing

Take your pick or start a research program. :joke:
T Clark May 15, 2022 at 18:17 #695604
This should be in the Lounge.
Tom Storm May 15, 2022 at 20:59 #695653
Quoting Benj96
What is it exactly that goes to make a joke that much more “dad” level cringe but laughable all the same?


I don't think Dad jokes are a thing. There are just mediocre jokes that when uttered by a middle aged man are dad jokes and when said by a young and ostensibly cool person either flop or succeed. We may arrive at a place where any mediocre joke is known as a dad joke in the same way that every complaint now seems to be made by a Karen.
Hillary May 15, 2022 at 21:09 #695654
Reply to Tom Storm

It depends on the dad and the joke told. Jokes told by own dads can be the most fantastic or the most worse. I mean, if the professional comedian told a joke it could have a different impact than the same joke told by dad. The comedian could be the dad.
Agent Smith August 24, 2022 at 11:06 #732594
The so-called generation gap manifesting via your dad in so embarrassing ways that it's hilarious = Dad joke!
Yohan September 12, 2022 at 20:48 #738766
I think dad jokes are basically puns?