And when did this person make it up?
2006-10-19 04:25:39 · 12 answers · asked by abluebobcat 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Jokes & Riddles
"Why did the chicken cross the road?" is one of the most famous jokes in the English language. The original reply to the question is: "To get to the other side." It is a non-joke, since its humor value comes from the fact that it is expected to be funny. Additionally, it is rarely told on its own, but instead is referenced, modified, or parodied in a number of other jokes.
Origin
Despite the obvious meaning of the joke, various stories have been published claiming a specific origin for it in actual events.
One such story relates to the meaning of the word chicken as a cowardly person. As the story goes, the town of Shiprock, New Mexico had problems relating to poverty. Some of the poor children would get drunk and cross the road in order to show their bravery. Many times, this resulted in serious injury because of oncoming traffic, and sometimes even death. Knowing that the injured/dead person was a coward (chicken), people asked each other "Why did the chicken cross the road?" The original answer to this question was then "Because he was drunk." [1]
This story, although similar to the present-day joke, does have its validity problems. The original punch line had no resemblence to the present day punch line. Also, the word 'chicken' has multiple definitions, whereas 'coward' or other synonyms only have one. Given that, it seems much more likely that the word 'chicken' would stop being used after the event would occur. However, the original punch line was a direct answer to the question given, as is today's punch line. The difference is, today's punch line is in the form of a non-joke, but the original was not intended to be humorous. Although this is the best explanation we have for the origin, nobody truly knows.
2006-10-19 04:34:32 · answer #1 · answered by lyerb 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
"Why did the chicken cross the road?" is one of the most famous jokes in the English language. The original reply to the question is: "To get to the other side." It is a non-joke, since its humor value comes from the fact that it is expected to be funny. Additionally, it is rarely told on its own, but instead is referenced, modified, or parodied in a number of other jokes.
Origin
Despite the obvious meaning of the joke, various stories have been published claiming a specific origin for it in actual events.
One such story relates to the meaning of the word chicken as a cowardly person. As the story goes, the town of Shiprock, New Mexico had problems relating to poverty. Some of the poor children would get drunk and cross the road in order to show their bravery. Many times, this resulted in serious injury because of oncoming traffic, and sometimes even death. Knowing that the injured/dead person was a coward (chicken), people asked each other "Why did the chicken cross the road?" The original answer to this question was then "Because he was drunk.
2006-10-22 04:24:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The ducks did! They were tired of the damn chickens always stealing the show! So they came up with the joke hoping that 1.) the punchline would include a messy encounter with a semi and/or 2.) that those same damn chickens would become curious and venture across the road toward the pond where they would have 2 dodge cars and trucks that miss them just by a feather ...just 2 come face 2 face with a very p*ssed off duck who would beat them all the way to the pond then try to drown them. Or the duck would hire a fox to stake out the road killing any chicken who sucessfully crossed! You say poor chickens....I say poor Duckies...so young, so violent, so.....ABSOLUTELY BRILLANT!! lol
♥
2006-10-19 04:38:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
George Bush: Look, it's tough crossin' the road. The chicken knows it's tough. The American people have got to understand that I know the chicken knows it's tough. I read the report. But the chicken's on the march. And it will get the job done .
2016-05-22 02:01:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dr Derek Greene in about 1642 on a Monday
2006-10-19 04:36:25 · answer #5 · answered by markhatter 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dont know but it was not the chicken for sure.
2006-10-19 06:46:07 · answer #6 · answered by Ali 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A very bored poultry farmer, on 25th March 1962...
2006-10-19 04:33:15 · answer #7 · answered by Ricvee 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it was a person that had too much time on their hands and wanted to annoy the hell out of people in the future!!
2006-10-19 06:00:39 · answer #8 · answered by ameebas rock 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God knows but why dıdnt they provıde us all wıth an answer!
2006-10-19 04:28:13 · answer #9 · answered by Catherine T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
someone who thought they were funny I suppose
2006-10-19 04:28:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋