Tag Archives: Joke

-maxxing and -mogging joke

Text:

This folk joke is when someone adds the word “maxxing” to whatever adjective, action, noun, or verb to describe what another person is doing, and adds the word “mogging” to compare themselves to another. The punchline/joke can only be understood by fans of an online influencer named Clavicular, as for outsiders, the phrase simply sounds unnecessarily complex or nonsensical. For context, Clavicular is an influencer best known for looksmaxxing content, which is a term for an online trend where one goes through drastic changes in their daily routine to optimize their physical appearance; while it initially started off with the intention of increasing your self-confidence, the general connotation nowadays is negative, as many view the trend to be extreme and over fixated on physical experience. An example of this joke would be if I was to walking into my apartment and see my roommate studying, I could simply say, “Wow you’ve been studying all day – you’re so much more disciplined than me.” In contrast, a fan of Clavicular in this situation would say “Wow you’ve been studymaxxing all day – you’re lowkey disciplinemogging me”.

Context:

This informant is a 19 year old USC sophomore from Irvine, California, who studies environmental science. He also is my suitemate this year, and he told me a variation of this joke when he saw me scrolling on my phone, explaining that I was “scrollmaxxing and lazymogging him”. After explaining the joke to me, he told me that he saw this joke from an Instagram Reels video of Clavicular using this same joke, and says he loves using this joke on a daily basis.

Analysis:

This piece of internet folklore, which started from just a niche fanbase, demonstrates the huge effects folklore and internet transmission can have, particularly among gen-z, as we are the first generation that grew up with this technology and internet access. The specific words that make up this joke, maxxing and mogging, not only function as insider vocabulary that can help this folk group’s members identify each other, but the fixed structure of the joke creates room for all sorts of variation and creativity. To add, with short-form content platforms like IG Reels, TikTok, and Youtube Shorts with countless clips of Clavicular circling around, it only takes a couple of swipes for these clips to find their way to people’s algorithms, showing the limitless capacity of the internet in terms of transmission.

Finally, it’s important to note that just like the ridiculous nature of the joke, what makes such looksmaxxing content and influencers like Clavicular famous is the shear absurdity that makes it hard to turn away from what they are doing. These types of media over fixate on minute flaws within one’s appearance, and often recommends ridiciulous and dangerous methods like jaw-smashing (smashing one’s face with hard objects to reshape their jawline) that only fuels insecurities and unrealistic beauty standards for young, impressionable boys and girls. As a result, the absurdity of this folk joke can serve as a parody to its own folk idea it was created around, reminding both the audience and user of the joke just how ridiculous this concept of looksmaxxing is.

New Canaan, Connecticut, “West is the best, South is the mouth, and East is the least.”

Text:

When A was in elementary school in New Canaan, Connecticut, there was a saying for her school, “West is the best, South is the mouth, and East is the least.”

Context:

In New Canaan, CT, there were three elementary schools that existed in this town. A went to West, and their saying for the other schools was “West is the best, South is the mouth, and East is the least.” She would hear/learn about these sayings in places like the bus and playgrounds of her school. Students would say it if ever interacting with the other schools, but it was very much a kid saying – as in parents were not aware of the saying. Suddenly, in middle school, when the schools merged, there were new sayings from the other schools. East would say, “East is the beast, West is the one with the hairy chest, and South is the mouth.” A did not know if there was a South version, as she did not interact with them as much.

Analysis:

This saying is a form of children’s playground folklore that reinforces group identity and rivalry. By declaring “West is the best” and diminishing the other schools through rhyme, students created a sense of pride and belonging while establishing playful social hierarchies. Because the phrase spread among students without adult involvement, it demonstrates how children create their own social boundaries through shared jokes and repetition. When the schools later merged during middle school, and new versions emerged, it demonstrates how this kind of folklore adapts to changing social dynamics; which ultimately allows students to form identity and competition in a new shared environment and at an early age.

Hebrew Racing Joke

אני נהג מרוצים כי אני הנהג ואתם המרוצים

Phonetic Translation: A-nee na-HAGh me-roo-TSEEM kee A-nee ha-na-HAGh ve-a-TEM ha-me-roo-TSEEM

L: which means I’m a race car driver because I’m the driver and you’re the pleased people. It is a pun that works in Hebrew and not at all in English. I guess because race and fulfilled are the same.

Context

Both of the informant’s parents were born in Israel and they speak in Hebrew together as a family. The informant claims to have heard this joke from their Grandfather.

Analysis

As the informant pointed out, this joke is based on a play on words that calls attention to the homonym מרוצים, which means both satisfied and race. Jokes that involve a play on words are often used to communicate wit and mastery of a language. In the case of Hebrew, a language that is so uncommon, it might be even more important to be able to demonstrate such mastery.

“Time is money, you’re a big spender”

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Text:
The informant, A, recalls a high school classmate saying, “Time is money, you’re a big spender,” whenever they were working on tedious task such as a project or in-class exercise and felt it was taking too long.

Context:
The classmate would usually say this during group projects or in class work sessions, especially when the work felt repetitive or long.

Analysis:
This saying twists the common phrase “Time is money” by adding humor. Instead of saying they’re wasting time, the classmate plays with the idea that they’re “spending” it freely. Even though they weren’t literally losing money, the comparison made it clear that spending too much time on something unproductive can feel like a loss, similar to a financial loss. The lighthearted delivery might also suggest a coping mechanism for dealing with the frustration of tedious work.

“Tinye ya n’isi m”

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Text:

“Tinye ya n’isi m”

Translation: “Put it on my head”

Context:

The informant, I, remembers hearing this phrase from her mother whenever she asked where to put something or needed help with a small task. It was used in a sarcastic or funny way, especially when the task seemed boring or annoying. For example, if she asked her mom where to place a bag or a book, her mom might respond with “Tinye ya n’isi m” meaning she didn’t want to deal with it but was joking about it. This phrase is common in Nigerian families and shows how people use humor to deal with minor frustrations. Interestingly, the informant now uses this saying on her own children.

Analysis:

“Tinye ya n’isi m” or “Put it on my head” is a playful way of showing frustration without being rude. In Nigerian culture, this phrase is often said in a lighthearted manner to show that a task is not important or is irritating, but without being too serious. It shows how family members use humor to express annoyance while keeping things friendly and fun. The phrase is an example of folklore, as it reflects shared cultural practices and expressions passed down through generations.