this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2026
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xkcd #3237: Husband and Wife

Title text:

Borat came out twenty years ago this year--closer to the breakup of the Soviet Union than to today--but it honestly feels like it's been even longer, somehow.

Transcript:

Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com

Source: https://xkcd.com/3237/

explainxkcd for #3237

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[–] robinadams@lemmy.wtf 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I would not have thought of Borat without the alt text. My mind went to Henry Youngman "Take my wife... please"

[–] FilthyShrooms@lemmy.world 38 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] edinbruh@feddit.it 15 points 2 days ago

I have an announcement to make.

Shadow the hedgehog is a bitch!

He pissed on my fucking wife. It's true, he took out his hedgehog dick and pissed on her. And then he said it was "this big" and I said "that's disgusting!"

[–] cattywampas@lemmy.world 61 points 2 days ago

Randall Munroe loves to do these "x was closer to y than today" comparisons and while they're interesting they dont help with the existential thinking

[–] harambe69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago

"Lady of the manor" if you really want to take the piss

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 33 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The title text is necessary on this one.

[–] moot@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago

And for centuries after the bombs were dropped and all human life extinguished xkcdbot kept plugging along, posting the ancient texts. Its karma points have dropped a bit since human extinction, but it is undeterred.

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Just say partner. It's a better description of what a marriage should be AND it's gender neutral

[–] stickly@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Always sounded weird and corporate to me. Easiest to just ask what your SO would prefer to be called and not worry about what people might think when you say it

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Partner sounds corporate...?

If anything, it sounds more scientific

[–] tootoughtoremember@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It seems to be, at least partially, a generational thing.

I grew up in rural, conservative-town USA and am old enough to remember when "partner" was code for same-sex spouse that I'm not legally allowed to marry.

Whereas if you were in a state where you were allowed to marry your same-sex spouse, then they'd be your husband/wife.

Hearing it now, regardless of orientation, just sounds deliberately vague to some of us oldheads.

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

A Singaporean woman was the first person I heard refer to their opposite-sex partner as "partner" back in probably 2010 and I adopted it. I had a pretty skewed idea of marriage as a kid and it instantly changed my thinking.

Your spouse SHOULD be your partner. You're on a team facing this big stupid world together.

[–] AscendantSquid@lemmy.world 34 points 2 days ago (1 children)

AND you get to say 'howdy' when you see them

[–] SGforce@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Is there an American first person plural for "y'all"?..."We's"?

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yes! And you've nailed one of the most common.

Mind you, none of the ones I've run into reach the degree of usage y'all does.

But, there's we's, we'ns, and us'ns

This is all in my local area, or in areas close enough to have visited frequently.

No idea what yankees use for dialect first person plural, but we'ns down hyuh have it figgered out right nice.

However, if you want the dialect mind fuck of all mind fucks, wait until someone needs to address a large group of mixed sub groups and breaks out "all'a y'all'ns" which is said as a single unit all'a'y'all'ns. All of you all ones. It's like a black hole of linguistics that sucks you in, and the closer you get, the more spaghettified your brain becomes.

They ain't nuthin much more sigogglin than suthren talkin, an if'n it's in the hills (aka mountains), y'all gonna have ta step quick ta keep up. Shit far (fire) and save matches, y'all damn feriners done missed out on some got dayum good talkin!

[–] Wilson@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago

To the north (still solidly east coast) I would occasionally hear all'a'you's and allyouse for a similar purpose.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

Weesa acutally’bin’ talking like JarJar okieday!

[–] Dotcom@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

We's typically means 'us' or also just we

[–] SarahValentine@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

For me it'll always be Kimura-sensei from Azumanga Daioh: "MAI WAIFU"

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Ah just when I had forgotten he exists. I don't like thinking about this guy lmao, his existence is cursed.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 13 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I don't even remember borat saying my wife as a significant part of the stick.

[–] too_high_for_this@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago

The movies plot revolved around making Pamela Anderson his wife. The first scene he introduces his wife, then there's the scene in the middle when the guy brings a telegram saying she died. And he fed Congressman Bob Barr some cheese that he said his wife made with milk from her tit. He probably says the phrase a dozen times in the same inflection.

There's also a scene in the show where he introduces his wife, his other wife, his mistress, his sister, and the one he has to pay.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Shtick

shtick /ʃtɪk/ A shtick is a comic theme, gimmick, or characteristic routine that a performer or person habitually uses to get attention or laughs.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago
[–] mycodesucks@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago
[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Madrigal@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago (5 children)

You’re probably right, but I can’t get this one out of my head.

[–] monkeyman76@fedinsfw.app 4 points 2 days ago

Papa Lazarou was where I went, glad I'm not alone..

[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It has been far too long since I’ve watched this beauty.

[–] Madrigal@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Rewatch time! You’re welcome.

[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

This was my original introduction, which left me incredibly confused as I’d not seen 2001 at the time either. In retrospect, it’s hilarious.

https://youtu.be/RFq7flv-C0g

[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

Ohhhhh youre my wife nowwwww

[–] garibaldi_biscuit@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

For me its the track from the " who's next" album 1971

[–] chrisbtoo@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Madrigal@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] garibaldi_biscuit@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Dave's not here.

[–] grueling_spool@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I thought this was referencing Will Smith at the Oscars until I read the alt text.

[–] ech@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The comic says "After two decades"...

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

Was Borat before the Will Smith thing? I don't know. The past is such a long and windy place.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

A solution is "my partner". Although I don't use it myself, I think it's a better term, if the relationship is a good one.

[–] thatsTheCatch@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 day ago

That's good when you're not married. "My spouse" is a good neutral term when you're married

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Huh. Never saw it.

Another win.

[–] JimmyChanga@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Thought he meant Adam Buxton

[–] Rug_Pisser@piefed.zip 2 points 2 days ago

Unfortunately I'm not sure Buckles is quite the cultural phenomenon that Borat was. I am sure he's okay with that though.

[–] Hadriscus@jlai.lu 1 points 2 days ago

taxi driver ?

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago