site banner

Small-Scale Question Sunday for June 14, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

5
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

I just used the "she's not here right now" classic in response to an "any allergies" while out for dinner. She was too nice to groan audibly. Any other excellent ideas?

The AI says that the joke is that "she's not here right now" sounds a lot like "cheese nut hair rice now". Incredible joke! Way to come up with that one!

Do you have a natural child we haven’t heard about? Because that veers awfully close to Boomer dad joke territory.

If I do, then I don't know about it. Or the unpaid child support didn't follow me across continents.

Perhaps it would work on a male server

"He's not here right now" would be slightly more menacing, or come across as gay.

No; I mean the low-stakes perceived misogyny -- boomer-tier wife jokes -- of "she's not here right now" might work on a male server. Of course you don't want to be menacing or gay to the male server.

"she's not here right now" classic in response to an "any allergies"

Were you talking about an ex-girlfriend, to another woman (not your ESLesbian)? It sounds like you were on a date. If that's the case then it's a sad joke that reflects your inability do some mental filtering before you speak.

I see your sense of humor could do with a tune-up. Or you could use a proper nap so you're less sleepy.

To be painfully specific: I was having a meal by myself (as one does), and it's standard practice for servers to ask about allergies here. I have no allergies, except to bullshit and painfully pedantic eggs. I've broken out into a rash. But since you asked so nicely, it's a silly joke, along the lines of the "old ball and chain" and not a reference to any woman in particular.

I think people who make non-specific complaints about the opposite sex into memes are (mostly unintentionally):

  • Encouraging people in so-so marriages to see the negatives in their current situation
  • Warning off unmarried people against marriage

and therefore making the world a worse place for the sake of a cheap joke that isn't even funny. I wish they would stop.

I register your opinion, since you, unlike someone else, said so politely. But I think that's an awful lot of fuss for what is intentionally a dad joke.

I agree with both of you. Shrug