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AIBU?

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Original poster

to ask for your help solving this impossible riddle/joke

999 replies

killingtime9198 · 03/12/2018 10:57

My best friend's family have a family 'joke', which she originally told me about when we were about 12/13. When she originally told me she didn't get the joke either, but then later did manage to work it out. When she first met her now husband he didn't get it, but he later also worked it out. I have never managed to get it, and every now and again I will remember the saga of this joke (this has been going on for about 20 years now), try desperately for a few days to work it out and then forget all about it for months.

Anyway, I wonder if the powers of mumsnet can either locate someone who has heard this 'joke' before, or who can work it out!

The joke is:

'There once was a man called Boswell. For short they called him Bos, and he walked up the post office steps.'

The joke is definitely NOT that there is no joke, and they're all having a laugh at me for trying to work it out - I am 100% confident of this.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 15:06

Ignore me im talking shite

Eliza9917 · 03/12/2018 15:06

@IfeellikeaJoan Mon 03-Dec-18 14:52:44
The second one is different.

I think it's saying he's called/known as 'And'

There was a man, whose name was boswell, And for short. They called him bos. And, he walked up the post office steps'

I think we've got a winner.

esesme · 03/12/2018 15:08

I also think it's one of those jokes where you have to fold your arms at the end.

TinselBee · 03/12/2018 15:08

wait wait wait, where did that 2nd one comes from?

There was a man, whose name was boswell, And for short. They called him bos. And, he walked up the post office steps

That is completely different to the OP? I should have read through properly

DeRigueurMortis · 03/12/2018 15:08

But Andy (and he) doesn't work if it's a woman...

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 15:09

Yes she txt her friend and got her to write it correctly.

So actually im not talking shite. Och im all confused

Eliza9917 · 03/12/2018 15:10

DeRigueurMortis Mon 03-Dec-18 15:08:48
But Andy (and he) doesn't work if it's a woman...

Andi does.

VotingFox · 03/12/2018 15:10

Is the final "and" essential? Can it be phrased, There once was a woman called Boswell. For short, they called her Boz. She approached the library. ? Cos if not it could be,

There once was a woman called Boswell. For short, they called her - "Boz!" And she approached the PO/library wherever the fuck they'd called her from.

ButchyRestingFace · 03/12/2018 15:11

There was a man, whose name was boswell, And for short. They called him bos. And, he walked up the post office steps'

Apart from being shite and unfunny:

a). what does "they called him Bos" mean in that context?
b) What's walking up the post office steps got to do with anything?
c). Why would they call him 'And' for short?

TinselBee · 03/12/2018 15:11

oh my head hurts now Whisky2014 haha

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 15:12

There was a man, whose name was boswelland. For short they called him "bos".
And - he walked up blah blah blah

Eliza9917 · 03/12/2018 15:12

There was a man, whose name was boswell, And for short. They called him bos. And, he walked up the post office steps'

Apart from being shite and unfunny:

a). what does "they called him Bos" mean in that context? Adds confusion about the nick/name
b) What's walking up the post office steps got to do with anything? As already said by OP, nothing
c). Why would they call him 'And' for short? That's his name. That's the riddle

DeRigueurMortis · 03/12/2018 15:13

But to get to Andy/Andy is has to be "and he walked" not "and she walked" is what about I meant it not working. It's not the name, it's how to get to it.

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 15:13

Lol sorry tinsel

If this is real, can you IMAGINE not getting it for 20 years. Christ.

Eliza9917 · 03/12/2018 15:14

The And must be essential then.

Eliza9917 · 03/12/2018 15:14

I hope this makes it in to the DM and this stupid family get shown up for the arseholes that they are.

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 15:15

If the pwrsons name is boswelland, they shorten it to bos.

Where are people getting andy from? Oh "and he"? Nah not that

ButchyRestingFace · 03/12/2018 15:15

a). what does "they called him Bos" mean in that context? Adds confusion about the nick/name

But makes no sense.

c). Why would they call him 'And' for short? That's his name. That's the riddle

How do you get 'And' out of 'Boswell'?

OP hasn't been back since the suggestion of bridge-dwelling raised it's head, has she?

RightYesButNo · 03/12/2018 15:16

Agree with @Whisky2014.
There was a man whose name was Boswelland. For short, they called him Bosand. He walked up the library steps.

Doyoumind · 03/12/2018 15:16

I don't think OP is a troll. She just has friends who come up with shit jokes, riddles, whatever the hell it is.

jipjop · 03/12/2018 15:17

Following

BloodyUseless · 03/12/2018 15:18

Agree with @Whisky2014*.
There was a man whose name was Boswelland. For short, they called him Bosand. He walked up the library steps.*

Ok can everyone please just read the above, realise what an absolute trolling we've all been handed, and get on with our day.

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 15:18

'There was a man, whose name was boswell. And for short they called him bos. And he walked up the post office steps"

Right.

There was a man, whose name was boswelland. For(or "4")short, they called him Bosand. He walked up the post office steps.

Doyoumind · 03/12/2018 15:20

I'm going to say it again. Even the new answers are so shit that you would never think, "Yes, I've got it."

What does is matter if he's And or Bosand? It doesn't mean anything.

BloodyUseless · 03/12/2018 15:20

That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I suppose it is an "interpretation" of some sorts, but it makes no sense as an answer to a riddle. For starters Boswelland isn't a name.