Memories: I was just a junior analyst, but had done a rather complicated analysis on an important topic and was to present it to the VP of Marketing and his reports: the brand managers and marketing directors. In part, this was because I’d done the analysis and so I knew it best and was expected to be able to present this coherently. In part, it was because if the presentation went south, I was an expendable part of the company and could be counseled to find another job before my annual review, or maybe by the end of the week.

In the middle of my presentation, I made a joke. Worse, the joke was on my slides, and up on the screen. There was silence in the room. My boss – and her boss – blanched. Then, blessedly, the VP of Marketing laughed. The rest of the marketing staff therefore also laughed. My career was saved.

I did get some “advice” from my superiors afterwards, though.

Did the VP really think the joke was funny, or did he just feel like giving me a break? I don’t know. I did stay at the company long enough to know that my analysis was correct, and the company had correctly acted on it.

Mitch4 sends this in for the “It’s just odd graphics, there is nothing to explain” Department. “IDU [I initially didn’t understand] why the woman has that very bold and oddly-placed moustache. Is it contributing to the marital-discontent joke?
Nevermind, it’s just part of her hairstyle, seen past where her mouth is drawn.”

Yes, at first glance it looks like a Hitler moustache, something few women wore even in 1930s Germany. Certainly if my wife started sporting one, I’d start considering my options.

The setup:

The LOL: