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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
ShowOfHands · 03/12/2018 16:36

The fish and chips/bread one is an oldie. In our house it was...

A man went to the butchers to buy sausages. "I've only got green ones", said the butcher. "It's okay, I've got my bike outside".

My Dad said it to my Mum on their first date 40 years ago. It still makes me laugh.

Bluntness100 · 03/12/2018 16:39

Op, could it simply be an in joke about someone in their family who they refer to as Boswell? Someone admired but flawed ie a drunk, womaniser, blunt, sort of thing? Also are they maybe Scottish?

I strongly suspect if this isn't a pisstake then it's about a member of their family and an in joke. Possibly as said with reference back to James Boswell. Who I think was short.

Pipnik · 03/12/2018 16:39

OP I have an idea.....is there a connection to Wiltshire?

RatRolyPoly · 03/12/2018 16:40

Bos near and he's a go in-ah.

...Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It's not funny, mind.

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 16:41

Connecting drinking to scots there, eh bluntess?

Fair enough :D

Spiderdemon · 03/12/2018 16:41

Right. OP! Pull your finger out. Your friend has said this works:

There once was a woman
called Boswell. For short they called her
Bos. And she walked up to the library.

So - it can't be "Boswelland, for short called Bosand." because the latest version doesn't have an extra And in.

Can you reconfirm with your friend:
a) Post office or library, whatever- does Bos have to go to a building?
b) Does he/she have to "walk up" - I think you said not, but just to be clear?
c) Would the joke work without the last line at all? is the going to a building part necessary?
d) Would this work "There once was a man called Boswell. His nickname was Bos." ??
e) Would this work? "There once was a man named Boswell. People called him Bos."
?
Get Sherlocking!!

BumsexAtTheBingo · 03/12/2018 16:44

Ok here’s my latest theory.
There was a man whose name was Boswelland for short. They called him, “Bos!”. And he walked up the Post Office steps.

NotDavidTennant · 03/12/2018 16:44

His name is Boswell And. For short they call him Bos And.

That's why it doesn't matter whether he's going to the post office or library or whatever, it's just a way to get the second 'And' in.

Bluntness100 · 03/12/2018 16:44

Connecting drinking to scots there, eh bluntess

James Boswell was both Scottish and a drunk as well as a notorious womaniser. He was also a huge figure in Samel Jackson's life, is very famous, and I think was short.

Ps I'm Glaswegian.

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 16:44

Where the fuck is hje daily mail? This is thr one thread we need them to use so we get more brains (i say thay lightly) on it.

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 16:47

Im also a scot, and normally drinking ;)

I think your process is far too complicated and well thought out for what the actual answer is.

BloodyUseless · 03/12/2018 16:47

I'm sorry but the OP not being able to find out until Thursday is just tosh, why can't she just phone? It's a wind up.

Bluntness100 · 03/12/2018 16:47

His name is Boswell And. For short they call him Bos And

I think that's it.

"And" is the surname, Boswell rhe first name. So for short, they call him Bos And. That's why it's better when said, not written.

It is a shit joke.

Bluntness100 · 03/12/2018 16:48

Whisky agree, I was clutching 🤣

HPLikecraft · 03/12/2018 16:48

More brains? From the Daily Mail?Confused

FetchWontHappen · 03/12/2018 16:50

Also Scottish! James Boswells lovely big house is v near to my folks- shall l get them to nip in and ask the family for hints? (They do amazing cakes!)

Spiderdemon · 03/12/2018 16:50

no no! It can't be Bos And short for boswelland because OP's friend did a version WITHOUT THE AND

"There once was a woman
called Boswell. For short they called her
Bos. And she walked up to the library".

Am far far too invested.

gaggiagirl · 03/12/2018 16:50

The daily mails 'journos' will be watching this as its trending.

IknowTheBoswellJoke · 03/12/2018 16:51

Yeah, I think this hilarious family 'in-joke' is just a mean way to exclude people. There is no way for this riddle to redeem itself, it will be a massive disappointment.

VotingFox · 03/12/2018 16:52

No!!!! The first And is superfluous!!! How many times?!!!!!

StripySocksAndDocs · 03/12/2018 16:54

Do you think my goldfish, Boswelland, will become famous if this get into the Daily Mail?

He'll (or she'll) have to wear sunglasses and a hat next time they are out at the library.

VotingFox · 03/12/2018 16:54

Thank you, Spiderdemon I'm giving you my power of attorney for this thread.

IsItCoffeeTimeYet · 03/12/2018 16:55

Ok I've just spent most of the afternoon rtft ignoring my children these are my ideas:

It's a limerick. Along the lines of "there was a man from Peru, his poems all ended on line two." So they set the limerick up and then can't be bothered to finish it so just say "for short..."

"They called him..." As in they phoned him? To meet at the post office (/library)?! Another avenue to look down, maybe.

buckeejit · 03/12/2018 16:57

This is awful.

Whisky2014 · 03/12/2018 16:58

Well, one good thing from tjis was that i didnt know about james boswell and just read his wikipedia page. Interesting, thanks bluntness!