Talk:Lightbulb joke

"General structure"

A "general structure" of the joke is a generalization, i.,e., a conclusion. therefore it must be referenced. Otherwise it constitutes original research, inadmissible in wikipedia. Henning, judging from your other contributions/edit summaries, I see you know the rule. - Altenmann >t 20:44, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

My revision avoids this issue. –Pomte 18:01, 13 May 2009 (UTC)

Screw

How about the play on the word "screw":

Q: How many flies does it to screw in a lightbulb?
A: Two, but don't ask me how they got in there.

Helluvamatt (talk) 04:25, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

I have restored mention of this type of wordplay. –Pomte 11:29, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

Original research

This is clean-cut original research when you write some statement and then supply a joke. YOur reference is for the joke, but not for the statemnt it illustrates. For example, please provide a reference for the statement: The joke is often used to suggest that some groups follow processes that are Byzantine or unnecessarily elaborate. - Altenmann >t 16:44, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

At least some of those statements are supported by the sources, even if they don't have superscript numbers beside them. I restored and cited the ones that are immediately obvious, though I don't have access to JSTOR etc. anymore so maybe I'll be able to look into them later. –Pomte 06:23, 4 February 2010 (UTC)

Thanks. - Altenmann >t 21:53, 4 February 2010 (UTC)

General Outline

We should add the genertic outline of the joke perhaps?

"How many members of a certain demographic group does it take to perform a specified task?" "A finite number: one to perform the task and the remainder to act in a manner stereotypical of the group in question."

i belive this would greatly enhance the quality of the article? anyone? --Palijer (talk) 15:29, 27 April 2010 (UTC)

Few punchlines involve "one to perform the task", they're usually more direct than that. The article already explains that "Generally, the punch line answer highlights a stereotype of the target group.", which seems more accurate. --McGeddon (talk) 16:09, 27 April 2010 (UTC)

About the picture...

Amusingly, the (current) picture is of a lightbulb that likely couldn't be screwed in with the 'spinning ladder' technique as it is hanging from a wire and not secured in a mount with an Edison screw. Any other pictures that could be used instead? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.254.82.87 (talk) 19:59, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

The temptation to change the caption to "A lightbulb, yesterday" is almost overwhelming...Mr Larrington (talk) 10:34, 3 June 2010 (UTC)

How many Psychiatrists joke not right

The psychiatrist joke punchline, as currently written (None - The light bulb has to want to change), makes no sense.

The punchline, as I've heard it, is: "Only one, but the lightbulb must really want to change"

PhiDeck (talk) 18:39, 25 December 2010 (UTC)