A man flying in a hot air balloon realizes he is lost. He reduces his altitude and spots a man in a field down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, “Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?”
The man below says, “Yes, you’re in a hot air balloon, about 30 feet above this field.”
“You must be an engineer,” says the balloonist.
“I am. How did you know?”
“Everything you told me is technically correct, but it’s of no use to anyone.”
The man below says, “You must be in management.”
“I am. But how did you know?”
“You don’t know where you are, or where you’re going, but you expect me to be able to help. You’re in the same position you were before we met, but now it’s my fault.”
The first time I heard that story, years ago, it was e-mailed to me by an “engineer” co-worker who thought someone in “management” might enjoy a mutual poke. I thought it was funny, and still smile when I read it.
Seems to me that the best humor is often the joke we tell on ourselves. How about a favorite joke that you like to tell on yourself.