Have I misunderstood this joke my whole life?

[AhBiscuits]

Why did the chicken cross the road?
To get to the other side.

My understanding: The chicken wanted to die. It knew it would get flattened and therefore cross to the other side.

A friend said that I have this all wrong and the chicken literally just wanted to cross the road. It's sort of a groan inducing non joke.

Who is right?

I’m with your friend but my DD who typically has a very dark sense of humour agrees with you.

You’re right. That’s the play on words that is intended, it’s just that most people haven’t thought about it too hard and assumed it’s just a crap non-joke.

How is it a play on words? I don't understand how it is. Surely if the chicken actively wants to get to the other side, he doesn't want to get squashed.

Your friend is right

No, you’re correct OP and this is why it took off as a joke.

I guess the other side is heaven/after life.

@Lalalanding Ah, thank you. I was being a bit slow there.

Sorry to bring, y'know, facts into this, but it was first recorded as an example of a non-joke...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_did_the_chicken_cross_the_road

I'm with you OP, I always assumed it was a play on words with "the other side" being death. It doubles up as a groan joke but I think your version is funnier and how it always seemed to me.

Oh! I’ve only recently twigged that it’s ‘to get to the Other Side’ (as in death) and thought everyone had been thinking that was the punchline forever and I was just very slow.

But now this thread is making me think maybe I was right at first and it’s just a shit non-joke all along 😄

This exact post has been done before. I can't remember what the consensus was.

Omg your version is hilarious! I love it. But I always thought it was just a daft joke stating the obvious.

I've seen this discussed on all social medium platforms over the years, I dont think it matters and I don't suppose there's any way to know for sure unless you can find the person who originally said the joke

I can't imagine anyone falling out about different interpretations so think of it however you prefer

I don't think it's a play on words. The joke is that you'd expect a witty answer or a pun or, at least, a deeper reason, but the answer you get is simple logic - why, fundamentally, does anyone or anything ever cross the road. The raising of expectations then the anticlimax is funny. Of course, the joke is so well-worn now that it no longer works on that level.

It's an anti joke. There were lots of "why did" jokes at one time and so this is giving the literal answer, which is unexpected if you think it is a joke. (I find it highly amusing you have tried to come up with an actual jokey purpose to it - though what's funny about suicide??)

I'm in the non-joke category. And am aware of the follow up one.

Why did the dinosaur cross the road?
Because there were no chickens around yet.

Oh goodness, I remember Boswell! 😣

Maybe this side is fries and the other side is corn on the cob

Boswell was solved in the end 😊

I always interpreted it exactly the same as you op, it's an actual joke not just nonsense!

Maybe it was this joke that put the idea in my head, stuff being squished.

This. It's a non-joke not a suicidal chicken.

Ive never thought of it your way, but it makes sense!

Thanks! That was a really enjoyable read, along with the linked 'lightbulb' page 😄

I thought it was your friend's version. But thinking about it now, your version is much more clever!