Today a Facebook friend who is addicted to posting about the most mundane and prosaic matters on her page. Today, the press had to be alerted to this revelation: “For some reason my phone no longer recognizes my thumb-print.” Talk about the problems of the privileged! I’m sure it’s Trump’s fault. She added, “Does anyone else have this problem?”
A comment read: “Yes. My phone doesn’t recognize your thumbprint either.”
I hope, if I had seen the query first, I would have issued the same mandatory response. When Fate, or God, or whoever is in charge of cosmic humor delivers to you through the mouth or text of an agent a slow, hanging curve-ball of a straight-line that begs to be knocked out of the metaphoric ballpark and you let it go by, you have violated a sacred obligation to the human race. It needs as much mirth and merriment as it can get, and if a perfect opportunity to get a laugh like that set-up goes unrealized—because of fear, lack of attention, witlessness or self-absorption—a grievous ethics offense had been committed. Shame. Shame.
True, sometimes the ethical obligation to leap on a straight-line comes at an inopportune moment, and the looming joke might seem inappropriate. Never mind. There may be adverse consequences, but that is a non-ethical consideration. If you let a unique opportunity slip by, you will regret it, maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.
History is full of examples of a public figure rising to the ethical challenge. (This is one of the few areas in which President Trump is a worthy role model, as he reliably takes a hearty swing at hanging gag opportunities.) President Calvin Coolidge was once confronted by an annoying woman next to him at some event who blathered, “Oh Mr. President, I bet my friend that I could get you to say more than two words!” “You lose,” Silent Cal replied, fulfilling his ethical obligation. One of my favorite examples came in 1974 at the 46th Academy Awards. It was the peak of the stupid streaking fad (a female law school classmate streaked in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building, and it almost cost her a bar admission). In the middle of the televised ceremonies, back when they had a large audience, s naked man ran behind presenter David Niven, flashing a peace sign. Niven, known for his quick wit, paused then said, “Isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?” If, as with most of us, the actor had awakened that night and slapped his forehead exclaiming, “That’s what I should have said! Damn!”, it might have haunted him forever.
As a final note, when one does fulfill one’s ethical duty and pounce on a nascent joke opening. it is not necessary to add, as an esteemed commenter here is wont to do, “Honk! Honk! Wocka! Wocka!”
Ethics Alarms 
Speaking of being able to joke on the spot.
And I heard an MSNBC talking head today mocking Trump for that. “He admitted what he was and got nothing in return!”
[the video is unavailable]
Does that make any sense? Instead of one click to see it, it now takes two, but it’s obviously “available.”
Oh. I was supposed to click on the view it on Youtube. Okay.
I’m not sure this is joking as much as basic negotiation practice. Trump always tries to establish a rapport with whomever he’s dealing with. He’s a schmoozer. A shameless flatterer. You catch more flies with honey. Open hostility gets you nothing.
He can drop the hammer later or have someone else do it. I also saw some GOP operative suggest Trump was snuggling up to Mamdani to create more distress among the Dems who are faced with the DSA insurgency. The moderate Dems are refusing to endorse Mamdani and here is Trump appearing to embrace him and vice versa! I’m not sure about that theory though. I think it’s more “I have a good relationship with [insert name here],” which Trump loves to express. He’s trying to disarm his opponent.
Best of all, it was smart and funny. It’s the kind of noblesse oblige that sets relative status. It was nicely condescending, leaving no doubt that he was in charge, and that he wasn’t the least bit wary. I wish he would follow that instinct more ofetn.
I think his behavior online is different than his behavior in person and in important circumstances.
If you want a very good confirmation on your suspicion, watch this clip. It is well worth the 13 minutes.
It was pretty clever way of saying “your opinion of me is of so little value that it’s not worth an argument.” without seeming flustered or combative. Didn’t leave any room for Mamdani to say anything significant in retort without appearing weak and crass.
“You will regret it, maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.”
Love the applicable movie reference you often sneak in.
The shortest path to a joke is a straight-line.
Well done.
Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor.
When we first became acquainted in her native New England, Mrs. OB identified herself by her then married name but also mentioned her maiden name was Bean. “Oh,” I responded, “As in the Boston baked Beans?” Fortunately, she had inexplicably already taken an unshakable liking to me and simply shrugged it off and kept talking.
I dare say that more than 50% of my comments here are smart-ass responses to self-perceived set-ups.
It’s good to hear that this meets with our host’s hearty approval.
–Dwayne
“I dare say that more than 50% of my comments here are smart-ass responses to self-perceived set-ups.”
An enviable ratio to which I humbly aspire. I recently had one in response to someone posting that Susan McDougal (heh!) fingered Bill Clinton, but I can’t locate it, now.
PWS
“For some reason my phone no longer recognizes my thumb-print.”
My phone recognized your picture and threw up a little in my hand.
Hey, why did the monster eat a clock?
He wanted to pass the time
!
Honk! Honk! Wocka! Wocka!