Posts like this always make me wonder how many people are telling stories of deadpan jokes I made in their presence, that they didn’t realize were jokes.
Same. Like 80% of what comes out of my mouth is sarcastically saying dumb shit because it’s funny to me. Every now and then I get a response from someone that makes me wonder who else isn’t getting that I’m joking.
I had a teacher who asked me in front of the class if I would mind if he shared with the class a big accolade I had achieved. He was teasing me, as he took away my choice to say no in that moment. I was immensely proud and excited for that to be shared with the class, but also chose to take a jab back at him. I stated flatly “no, I don’t want that shared with the class.” Before I could say “just joking” or whatever, the awkward silence I had created made me panic and shut down. And after a few more awkward moments we moved on to something else. 20 years later my stomach still churns.
I kind of hope they do remember. There’s still a 20 year reunion to find one of them and ask if they remember. I’m able to mostly just laugh now. But my god, the torture of being a teenager.
I’m pretty sure some girls I only met once at the end of high school think I took performance enhancing drugs to pass so easily. I was interrupted after I made the joke, so I never got the chance to explain to their shocked expressions.
Posts like this always make me wonder how many people are telling stories of deadpan jokes I made in their presence, that they didn’t realize were jokes.
Just yesterday I asked some guy where he was from, he said
“Between South Africa and England”
I said
“That was a long birth”
He looked at me as if I eat marbles and walked away.
Same. Like 80% of what comes out of my mouth is sarcastically saying dumb shit because it’s funny to me. Every now and then I get a response from someone that makes me wonder who else isn’t getting that I’m joking.
I have a colleague who knows and told me she doesn’t get sarcasm. The first few weeks were brutal.
I had a teacher who asked me in front of the class if I would mind if he shared with the class a big accolade I had achieved. He was teasing me, as he took away my choice to say no in that moment. I was immensely proud and excited for that to be shared with the class, but also chose to take a jab back at him. I stated flatly “no, I don’t want that shared with the class.” Before I could say “just joking” or whatever, the awkward silence I had created made me panic and shut down. And after a few more awkward moments we moved on to something else. 20 years later my stomach still churns.
It was high school physics and I had aced the final exam, which was the same exam used in the equivalent college course.
If it’s any consolation I can guarantee that nobody will remember that.
I kind of hope they do remember. There’s still a 20 year reunion to find one of them and ask if they remember. I’m able to mostly just laugh now. But my god, the torture of being a teenager.
I’m pretty sure some girls I only met once at the end of high school think I took performance enhancing drugs to pass so easily. I was interrupted after I made the joke, so I never got the chance to explain to their shocked expressions.