There's a joke I love, but finding the right audience for it is almost impossible. When I first heard it, I laughed heartily while looking at the cashier. Sure, it was funny to me, but the cashier defied social conventions by saying it. Since hearing this joke, I've only managed to tell it once or twice, but each time it was worth it. The joke is this: Three pregnant women are knitting in a doctor's waiting room. The first mother looks at her watch and takes a pill out of her purse. Putting it in her mouth, she smiled and said to the other mothers, “Vitamin A. Good for mom, good for baby!” and continue knitting. Then the second mother takes a pill and swallows it, beaming, saying: “Vitamin B, good for mom, good for baby.” » She resumes her knitting. The third mother takes a pill, smiles and says: "Thalidomide...I don't know how to knit sleeves." » For some, the punchline of this joke falls flat. Others react with shock and disgust. Finding a listener who both gets the joke and thinks it's funny is quite difficult, but extremely rewarding. Before explaining the format of the joke, or why someone would find it funny, the knowledge required to understand it must be explained. All jokes rely on the listener knowing the elements of the joke, which in most cases are simple. This joke, on the other hand, has very specific familiarity requirements, primarily because the punchline relies on the person's familiarity with thalidomide. If the listener has never heard of the drug before or is unfamiliar with its notorious effects, the entire joke is ruined and none of it is funny. For them, the punchline is simply a non-sequitur. The joke has the potential to be funny to someone with more knowledge about...... middle of paper ...... others included,) I can't be sure they won't feel targeted. This joke is shocking to many, offensive to some, and understood by very few, making it a very bad joke to have in your back pocket for your next dinner party. The joke is, however, funny when taken in the right context and when combined with the right knowledge. Assuming the listener is familiar with the effects of thalidomide, the humor of this joke comes from the shock value of the statement made by my third mother, the absurdity of the situation the woman found herself in and the incongruity between his comment and those. from other mothers. All the storyteller can hope for from the listener is a laugh followed by a wave of shame for having appreciated the joke. Letting this wave pass, or fighting it, can be a liberating experience for both parties, and can even contribute to the humor of the joke..