Professional Dad Jokers
A Professional Dad Joker (PDJ) is a certified practitioner of Paternal Comedic Arts who has completed rigorous training in the delivery and timing of dad jokes. These specialists emerged as a formal profession following the Great Pun-demic of 1983, when the need for regulated dad humor became apparent.
Certification Process
To become a certified Professional Dad Joker, candidates must complete the following requirements established by the Bureau of Paternal Puns:
- Achieve at least 100 documented eye-rolls from children
- Master the Sacred Pause Technique for joke delivery
- Complete 500 hours of wordplay practice
- Pass the Groan Intensity Assessment
Professional Equipment
PDJs typically carry specialized tools including:
- Joke-Timer Watch for perfect comedic timing
- Emergency pun cards
- Anti-Laugh Suppression Device to maintain straight face during delivery
Career Specializations
Professional Dad Jokers often specialize in specific areas:
Weather Humor Specialist
Experts in climate-related wordplay, such as "Is it raining cats and dogs? No, but it's drizzling a little husky!"
Food Pun Master
Practitioners who focus on culinary comedy, requiring certification from the Gastronomic Humor Institute.
Construction Joke Engineer
Specialists in building and tool-related humor, often consulting at construction sites.
Notable Achievements
The profession gained worldwide recognition after the First International Dad Joke Olympics in 1992, featuring events such as:
- Speed Punning
- Synchronized Groaning
- Freestyle Dad Dancing
- Advanced "Hi Hungry" Variations
Impact on Society
Studies by the Institute of Familial Humor suggest that communities with certified PDJs report:
- 47% increase in collective groaning
- 65% rise in eye-rolling incidents
- 89% improvement in father-child bonding through shared embarrassment
Controversies
The profession faced criticism during the Great Dad Joke Strike of 2005, when PDJs refused to tell jokes for a week, leading to an unprecedented decrease in worldwide groan levels.