Hello, Mr. Chips! Computer Jokes and Riddles
By Ann Bishop
Published 1982
Submitter: Turns out computer joke books age about as well as any other kind of computer book. The content starts before the title page, with a picture of a computer carved from a literal apple, though I’d be hard pressed to identify it as a carving of a computer if it wasn’t captioned. There’s a nice Red Scare Era joke on page one, and later on a joke about computers driving cars that reads a little differently now that computers are driving cars. Also a joke about humans turning computers on—is that supposed to be literal, or did we put innuendo jokes in books for children 40 years ago? Shockingly, this book circulated as recently as 2016, which is also about when I became responsible for this collection. Honestly, I’m a little embarrassed it took that long for this book to come to my attention.
Holly: These were cute in 1982, but jokes have to keep up with technology! Like these:
- Don’t use “beef stew” as a computer password. It’s not stroganoff.
- Why did the PowerPoint Presentation cross the road? To get to the other slide.
- PATIENT: Doctor, I need your help. I’m addicted to checking my Twitter! DOCTOR: I’m so sorry, I don’t follow.
Ok, I’m done now.
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