Sir David Jason apologizes for joke

[JCE10]

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

Well, I had no idea if the name existed in Pakistan, but figured that if it didn't, that wouldn't preclude some ignorant westerners from making joikes based on a wrong assumption.

For what it's worth, 'Mahatma' was a title given to respect Ghandi, but it also a rare boy's name somewhere. My wild guess remains my wild guess.

I have no idea why someone would link it to Pakistan specifically outside of that wild guess that jokes sometimes do things like that.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

My hat, my coat.

I'm assuming that's what they'd tell the attendant.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

Well, I had no idea if the name existed in Pakistan, but figured that if it didn't, that wouldn't preclude some ignorant westerners from making joikes based on a wrong assumption.

For what it's worth, 'Mahatma' was a title given to respect Ghandi, but it also a rare boy's name somewhere. My wild guess remains my wild guess.

I have no idea why someone would link it to Pakistan specifically outside of that wild guess that jokes sometimes do things like that.

Mahatma is Sanskrit for "great soul".

You're right,

The joke would have worked better (not by much) prior to 1956, when Pakistan was still part of India. Although many in Pakistan know Sanskrit, it is mainly a ceremonial language used by Hindus.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

*shakes head*

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: JohnOfSheffield

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

*shakes head*

hehe

 

[sandorski]

It was an attempt at a Joke. I think you'd have to spend all day at the Pub before it got funny.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

NAAAH! It's making fun of the upper class mumbling lisp so affected in London high society.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: sandorski
It was an attempt at a Joke. I think you'd have to spend all day at the Pub before it got funny.

It's an extremely old joke originally made by W. C. Fields who credited a book to 'Mahatma Kane Jeeves' as in 'my hat and my cane Jeeves!'... it's very 19th century...

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: sandorski
It was an attempt at a Joke. I think you'd have to spend all day at the Pub before it got funny.

It's an extremely old joke originally made by W. C. Fields who credited a book to 'Mahatma Kane Jeeves' as in 'my hat and my cane Jeeves!'... it's very 19th century...

hehe, ok, that gave me a chuckle.

 

[sciwizam]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

Well, I had no idea if the name existed in Pakistan, but figured that if it didn't, that wouldn't preclude some ignorant westerners from making joikes based on a wrong assumption.

For what it's worth, 'Mahatma' was a title given to respect Ghandi, but it also a rare boy's name somewhere. My wild guess remains my wild guess.

I have no idea why someone would link it to Pakistan specifically outside of that wild guess that jokes sometimes do things like that.

Mahatma is Sanskrit for "great soul".

You're right,

The joke would have worked better (not by much) prior to 1956, when Pakistan was still part of India. Although many in Pakistan know Sanskrit, it is mainly a ceremonial language used by Hindus.

That would be 1947, not 56.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: JCE10

He replied: "What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant?", adding the punchline: "Ma-hat-ma coat."

~ Telegraph

I was reading the news, and I didn't understand this joke. It's been bothering me. Can anyone explain?

Sorry, I'm stupid!

I would guess it's a pun on the name Mahatma as in Mahatma Ghandi?

Exactly, the famous Pakistani leader who got the British out of Pakistan.

Well, I had no idea if the name existed in Pakistan, but figured that if it didn't, that wouldn't preclude some ignorant westerners from making joikes based on a wrong assumption.

For what it's worth, 'Mahatma' was a title given to respect Ghandi, but it also a rare boy's name somewhere. My wild guess remains my wild guess.

I have no idea why someone would link it to Pakistan specifically outside of that wild guess that jokes sometimes do things like that.

It`s another smoking gun ...sort of like the way Dari thinks.,.....