Successfully combining principles of science and mathematics—as well as creativity, among other things—to solve certain problems is not something every one of us can do. But engineers have pushed their limits of greatness time and again by completing even the most complex of tasks.
Not only are these great minds capable of doing wonderful things at work, they use brain power elsewhere as well; coming up with science-based jokes, for instance, which, thanks to the internet, we all get to enjoy. Today we’ve listed some great examples of that, shared by the ‘Wonderful Engineering’ Facebook page, so scroll down to find them and enjoy the hearty giggle.
In order to better understand what determines people’s inclination towards a certain type of humor, Bored Panda has reached out to psychologist and former lecturer at the University of New South Wales, Bruce Wilson, Ph.D., who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions. Scroll down to find his thoughts in the text below.
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I have the same problem, I guess my social skills just can't be found
With over 4.2 million likes and even more followers, the ‘Wonderful Engineering’ Facebook page was started back in 2012. Since then—for over a decade now—it has been presenting its fans with everything from the latest news in the realm of engineering to sources of inspiration.
In their own words, “‘Wonderful Engineering’ is a platform for engineers where they learn about innovative design and smart engineering happening around the world.” However, there’s plenty of entertaining (yet often educational nevertheless) material as well; and this list is excellent proof of that.
Even though you don’t necessarily have to be an engineer to get a kick out of engineering-based memes, one of the reasons they might find them particularly amusing is because they can relate to the situations such memes depict.
When discussing what affects our preference for a certain type of humor, psychologist and former lecturer at the University of New South Wales, Bruce Wilson, Ph.D., suggested that such inclination is usually determined by identification.
“When we can identify with a particular type of humor it becomes personalized and makes perfect sense to us. This is why most comedians self-deprecate during their stand-up routines; they realize the value of identifying with the humor of the moment.”
“Humor also demonstrates awareness,” Wilson added. “When we understand the hidden message we demonstrate our intelligence and our emotional diversity.”
He suggested that jokes make us more psychodiverse, which is healthier than being stuck in a constant state of seriousness. “Life has become very serious and we need the release of humor to balance our lives.”
Make it, like, more, like make it pop. But subtle. Also add puppies.
But it’s not only complex, multilayered humor that can help ease the state of seriousness we live in; some straightforward jokes can be equally—if not more—amusing as well (including all sorts of engineering-based puns).
“The fusion of opposites attracts people to the funny side of anything. We seem as a species to enjoy the idea that nonsense is funny. Even slapstick humor of the last century is a form of the same idea, a fusion of opposites,” the psychologist explained.
In a piece for Psychology Today, Bruce Wilson pointed out that, “the human brain is believed to have intrinsic constraints as part of a general intelligence of context. This allows the brain to filter through all the possibilities and make connections through a synthesis of analyses, a cognitive synergy.”
He added that human cognitive synergy stands alone when it comes to creating humor out of nonsense, and suggested that a sense of humor is based on perception of what people find funny, which differs with each individual.
Despite humor perception differing from person to person, it is arguably safe to assume that people who have a lot in common—who work in the same field, for instance, or receive similar education—might enjoy similar jokes as well. That could explain why quite a few engineers often appreciate humor of the same kind.
Zippia revealed that there are nearly 230 thousand engineers employed in the US alone. In the meantime, the ‘Wonderful Engineering’ Facebook group has amassed over 4.3 million followers globally, from experts in the field to non-professionals interested in all-things-engineering.
If you need more proof that engineers and humor can go hand-in-hand or if you simply want to have a hearty laugh, make sure to browse Bored Panda’s list of the best engineer jokes next. And if you feel like delving deeper into what exactly it is that they work on, marvel at some pretty impressive wonders of engineering here.
I propose that the official term for that hidden end of a roll of tape be "Waldo"!
The powers of an analytical mind - at least he only went 1 less than 3
My favourite that after talking with my boyfriend he gets tampon adverts 😂 during those days for him earplugs would be more appropriate 😉
Actually, it's not exactly 89 degrees.
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I seem to recall that someone actually measured it, and it was something like 83°. As you say - it's too obviously not 90°
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That ain't right. (Even if you think its acute way to annoy me.)
Perfectionists after realizing that it's a perfect 89⁰ angle: "I'll allow it."
This one hurts and I am not even close to being a perfectionist
88.1 degrees by my estimation. not joking. copied image. imported into inkscape. made a sector until the angle matched. 88.1 degrees.
This image awoken all the bones in my body and all of them are in attack mode
This shouldn't have the power that it does over me..... Ya nope still f*****g me up, I tried to see if maybe it was 90' and op was evil genius, but all I see now is it tilting just ever so. Lol fml
As a graphic designer this hurts my soul. Please censor this type of stuff and not words BP! Haha
It's an acceptable quarter slice of a cake. I'd take the other plate though...
Doesn't hurt the ocd as it is accurate. If you said 90° then we'd have problem
I literally just pulled out a protractor, it's a little past 89, like 89.2 maybe.
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check the galaxy measurement banana. just take that one
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Many years ago I was stopping with a family and had a summer job in a hotel. One morning, the mother woke me up with a cup of tea, then told me she had heard on the radio that a nuclear weapon was about to be fired at us (it was a test, she had misheard). We looked at each other trying to work out what to do. I decided I had better go to work as everyone was going to need a cup of tea today. Looking back, I'm a bit miffed with my mind that when I thought it was the last day on earth this was where my brain went.
Coworker had an end user who lost Wi-Fi connectivity from 630p to 730a every night. Turned out that his street lamp turned on when he lost connectivity and he regained connectivity when the street lamp turned off. After explaining that the street lamp was the problem my coworker was asked to wait a couple minutes. He swears he heard a gunshot a few minutes before the end user came back on the line and said he could access the internet again and thanked him for his help.
The hunchback of Notre Dame needed a place to stay while they fix the fire at his old place and they built him a tower to stay in. Who do you think rings that little bell each time someone joins a zoom call?
I worked in a laboratory once, and you would not believe how much time is spent just washing the test tubes and such (I know because I was the one who had to clean 'em).
"Affect" is commonly used as a verb, meaning to influence or produce a change. "Effect" is primarily used as a noun, representing the result or consequence of an action.
It retrieves the information about where the nearest one is from a subsystem it was given access to it doesn't have access to your location (this was originally about Snapchat)
There is no "cloud". It's just Someone Else's Computer (tm). Also, you left out Magnetic Drum and Magnetic Tape.
A bit more than 2.5. That's two significant figures and that's generally good enough.
Good for you, switching to the egg. Kids are really high in cholesterol. Plus they're always sticky.
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half of these don't have to do with engineering like the one with the turtle drawing
I have been entertained and will find something else to do now. Like find a cat and tie a price of buttered bread to it……
Good for you, switching to the egg. Kids are really high in cholesterol. Plus they're always sticky.
Load More Replies... half of these don't have to do with engineering like the one with the turtle drawing
I have been entertained and will find something else to do now. Like find a cat and tie a price of buttered bread to it……
