About Dad Jokes

Dad jokes are usually silly puns. Why are they called dad jokes? I always figured it was because they were only funny to young children who are learning how to use language. The kid laughs, dad is delighted, and he keeps telling those easy jokes long after the kids have stopped laughing at them, because he's in the habit now. Patrick Foote of Name Explain focuses on why they come from dad instead of mom, and relates the act to goofy dads in sitcoms. Then he uses photos from Breaking Bad as an example of a sitcom. But he's a linguist, not a television critic. 

Then he breaks down what makes a dad joke different from other jokes, which makes more sense. Not only do they fall into certain categories, they have traits in common. And how you react to such jokes also define them. First, as a little kid, you laugh. Then when you get older, you groan because they are annoying. Then as an adult, you use those jokes on your own children. Then as you age, you recall all those jokes fondly, because as bad as they were, they came from your dad's desire to make you laugh. (via Laughing Squid)