so an anthropologist walks into a bar...

[ladytairngire]

I'm writing a novel with a backdrop of anthropology/academia. In the scene I'm currently writing, a group of PhD's (all specialists in Physical Anthropology/Forensics) are into their cups - hilarity ensues. I'm looking for macabre, topical, snooty academic humor - one-liners, anecdotes, etc. I thought maybe you folks would have some fodder I

Comments

[randomstasis]

A lot of running jokes tend to be about people you worked with doing stupid, counterproductive, counterintuitive or crazy things- like the woman who took her tombstone with her everywhere- even to conferences.
Or embarassing moments when some non-anthro person catches you doing something that only an anthropologst would understand-trying crockpots on your head at K-mart to be sure they're big enough to fit a human skull into, touching bones to your tongue, etc. Looking at the long bones and getting hungry...
Maybe if you want to be really cruel to a character, you could tell a story about a tech trying to find gender-specific characteristics (such as pits of parturition) on the wrong sex- and then have them defend the action by saying "maybe he was bi!"

[ness_va]

Or embarassing moments when some non-anthro person catches you doing something that only an anthropologst would understand-trying crockpots on your head at K-mart to be sure they're big enough to fit a human skull into

That sort of thing happens to me very often in public.

[randomstasis]

LOL- Our entire cadre of phys. anth grad students were banned from K-mart- after they explained to the manager what they needed crockpots for!

[ladytairngire]

I love these. Excellent insight! Thanks!

[yipeeskipp]

This is from a geologist, but these would work fine for any phys. anthropologists with field work under their belts

[ladytairngire]

How did he get out without the car - that was my question to!
Priceless.

Thank you for the suggestions. The creative wheels are turning...

[scholarinexile]

One line from just such a situation when I was in grad school that I can no longer recall context for: "What part of 'olecranon fossa' don't you understand?"

Also, from a lab discussion: 'You know what I love about the hypoglossal canal?" Alas, I never heard the rest of that statement.