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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
PhilomenaSnowflakeButterfly · 04/12/2018 09:50

Well, yes GreenTeacup, my next post would have been "What were you doing on the tablet at 5.56 in the morning? Get your uniform on!" 😂

Talith · 04/12/2018 09:51

I agree with others it's a response riddle.

They called him Bos for short... Walked to the library/post office/Starbucks

What for? (Why the location/what did they call him Bos for)

Boswell!

BloodyUseless · 04/12/2018 09:56

I can't solve the riddle, but this reminds me of a girl I was at college with. She introduced herself as Jennifer Short, but then added " But you can call me Jenny for short." You have to say it out loud!

This is a perfect example of a funny little joke/riddle that is both mildly amusing and a neat answer/solution. None of which apply to "The Boswell Joke" and the numerous attempts in this thread to solve it.

BloodyUseless · 04/12/2018 10:01

I agree with others it's a response riddle.

They called him Bos for short... Walked to the library/post office/Starbucks

What for? (Why the location/what did they call him Bos for)

Boswell!

Sorry that doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Eliza9917 · 04/12/2018 10:03

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

I still think his name is actually Andy, or this:

NewishMum85 Tue 04-Dec-18 09:18:41
I'm with @3luckystars in thinking there's a reply. How about the following?

A: There once was a man called Boswell. For [four] short they called him Bos, and he walked up the post office steps.

B: What for? [four?]

A: Well...

I'm not sure it quite works but it's my best guess so far.

BloodyUseless · 04/12/2018 10:07

I still think his name is actually Andy, or this:

The name Andy has never in my knowledge been shortened to "And".

NewishMum85 · 04/12/2018 10:08

*What for? (Why the location/what did they call him Bos for)

Boswell!*

I think it's more likely to be the four version because the OP mentioned that her friend said someone half got it, which could be working out the 'For short'/'Four short' thing.

NewishMum85 · 04/12/2018 10:17

I still think his name is actually Andy

The OP's first post only has one 'and' though (it's just 'For short', bit 'And for short').

I do hope the OP eventually gets an answer! :)

Rosalise · 04/12/2018 10:18

There once was man called Bos. Well, (and) for short, they called him, "Bos!"
And he walked up the post office steps.
So they called out to him and he walked there.
This one would work if it wasn't the post office, or if it was a woman. But it's still not funny, just odd.

PunishmentSnart · 04/12/2018 10:23

Ahhhhh, the
"What for?"
"Well"
Makes the most sense to me...

SylviaAndSidney · 04/12/2018 10:25

I’m hiding this thread, it’s giving me palpitations and a big knot in my stomach not knowing the answer Angry

Littlegreyauditor · 04/12/2018 10:28

Ugh. They seem dull, OP, are they dull? I have relatives who would find this sort of thing hilarious and I have to numb the pain with Bacardi.

BloodyUseless · 04/12/2018 10:29

I’m hiding this thread, it’s giving me palpitations and a big knot in my stomach not knowing the answer angry

Good idea. However I will be sticking out to the grisly end. I expect the OP will meet with the friend on Thursday and will somehow string this out further. The friend will probably say "Oh yes, you're on the right track! I'll tell you the full answer on Christmas day!".

CardsforKittens · 04/12/2018 10:31

I think NewishMum85 is right. It fits all the parts of the 'joke'. It's a bit disappointing compared with the cows and chickens, or the penthouse lift, but then I sort of expected it would be disappointing.

SheilaBruce · 04/12/2018 10:38

Misuse of punctuation? Kind of like the examples "Let’s eat, grandpa” versus “Let’s eat grandpa” or "eats shoots and leaves" vs "eats, shoots and leaves".

There once was a man called Bos. Well, for short, they called him Bosand.

It's totes hilair because the nickname is actually longer, not shorter.

SheilaBruce · 04/12/2018 10:40

And I suspect the friend and the friend's husband both had the intelligence to remember to ASK FOR THE ANSWER ON THEIR WEDDING DAY!!!!!!!

BloodyUseless · 04/12/2018 10:47

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.

This is the funniest bit from the OP and pretty much confirms it as a troll post in my opinion.

The whole thing is so obviously a joke and the OP knows this (because they made it up). So they have to plead with us that it couldn't POSSIBLY be a joke, 100%. How could anyone be 100% sure they weren't being trolled?

PhilomenaSnowflakeButterfly · 04/12/2018 10:48

Sheila or "helping your Uncle Jack off a horse" and "helping your uncle jack off a horse". 😂

IceRebel · 04/12/2018 10:49

I still stick by what I said about killing time, but will also add the answer could well be in the title

The title says impossible riddle.

I wouldn't be surprised if the riddle is indeed impossible, and has no answer.

Zebraantelopegiraffe · 04/12/2018 10:55

Well that was a morning WELL spent Grin

DerekTheWonderdog · 04/12/2018 11:26

I don't believe it!!!!! I've got it. It is funny but it's like one of those drawings that can be a lady or an old man? Or something. Once you see it you can't un see it but you can't see it if you stare at it, you have to do the side eyes 👀 at it.

AhoyDelBoy · 04/12/2018 11:27

Ok Derek spill then..

MemoryOfSleep · 04/12/2018 11:39

Not true until you prove it, Derek.

dogzdinner · 04/12/2018 11:41

Derek's going to tell us Bos went to the post office to get his 4 letters...

RandomMess · 04/12/2018 11:41

Come on then Derek!