KNOCK KNOCK ! WHO’S THERE?
THE WACKY EVOLUTION OF THE KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE
Knock knock! Who’s there? Theresa. Theresa who? Theresa crowd!
‘Charitable’ Organizations During the holidays, scammers will often create fake charities to elicit “donations.” As a result, they can obtain some personal information and steal money directly from you. During COVID-19, scammers are doing the same and targeting those who want to give back. Before donating, verify the organization is ethical through the Better Business Bureau or similar watchdog groups. Limit the uncertainty by donating goods or money directly to food banks, hospital organizations, or other local charities. Fake Cures While some scammers are actively seeking your personal information, others are downright stealing from you. Since COVID-19 reports first hit the airwaves, “healers” from across the globe have been pedaling what amounts to snake oil in the form of capsules, liquids, and supplements designed to prevent or treat the disease. And this isn’t special to the era of COVID-19; for years, fraudsters have preyed on our fears when it comes to diseases. However, many of these manufacturers and salespeople are now facing prosecution and fines. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at CDC.gov for expert advice instead. Not very funny, is it? Well, over the years this style of back-and- forth jesting evolved into knock-knock jokes. The popularity of the “knock knock” bit of the joke could harken back to Shakespeare, who BestLife credits with “the first-known occurrence of a knock knock, who's-there dialogue” in Act 2 of "Macbeth" (though it likely wasn’t intended to be funny), or it could be a reference to 1936 vice presidential hopeful Frank Knox, whose name made “knock knock” irresistible wordplay for the radio. Whatever the reason, knock knocks were all the rage in the 1930s, to the extent that people formed knock-knock clubs, businesses held knock-knock contests, and orchestras set them to music. However, the heyday was short-lived. In the following years, people started getting sick of knock knocks, and even psychologists turned against them. According to NPR, “people who loved knock-knock jokes were said to have social problems.” Today, knock-knock jokes are still around, but they’re mostly considered a game for kids or demoted to the realm of “bad dad jokes.” Maybe you think that’s warranted, maybe you think it’s tragic — either way, odds are the format will continue to evolve and probably outlive us all!
Unless you’re living under a rock, odds are you’ve laughed, grumbled, or groaned in response to a knock-knock joke. You may have even told a few yourself before you realized knock-knock jokes had gone out of style in favor of sarcasm and memes. That’s because at their core, knock-knock jokes are a quintessential American experience — and the perfect homegrown fodder for International Joke Day, which falls on July 1. But where did they come from, and why do so many people knock the knock-knock joke today? Well, according to NPR, knock-knock jokes have had a roller coaster of a history. Near as we can tell, they actually evolved from another kind of joke: the “Do You Know” joke. This style of joke was popular in the early 1900s, and according to an Oakland Tribune article NPR dug up, this was a typical one:
"Do you know Arthur?" "Arthur who? "Arthurmometer!"
STAY AWAY From Scams in the COVID-19 Era The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic came with fear, and as per usual, scammers are preying on that emotion. The pandemic has created widespread changes, including how scammers are now targeting their victims. However, you can stay one step ahead of these criminals by educating yourself on these common scams. Medicare Scams Older adults are predominantly targeted by scammers, specifically through Medicare. Like many health care insurance providers, those who are insured are issued cards to use at providers’ offices. However, with this information, hackers can steal other pertinent information about the insured user. They may call asking for a Medicare number or to update or verify your address or other details on the card. Keep in mind that Medicare will never send representatives to your home, nor will you be allowed to enroll over the phone unless you call first. When you receive these calls, hang up, and call a representative or family member you trust.
Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at FTC.gov to learn more about fake scams, precautions, and how to report fraud.
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