Communication is something that we all use but it is also something that is often misunderstood. After all, we communicate in so many different ways these days and it isn’t just verbal communication, we have many different types of nonverbal communication, from gestures and facial expressions to texting and social media. Even so, in the most simple forms of communication, there is sometimes going to be a breakdown and that is what we see in the following joke.
Teacher: “If I gave you two cats and another two cats and then another two, how many would you have?”
Johnny: “Seven!”
Teacher: “No no, listen carefully… If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?”
Johnny: “Seven.”
The teacher rubs her temples, and takes a deep breath.
Teacher: “Come on Johnny, you’re better than this. Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?”
Johnny: “Six.”
Teacher: “Good. Now, if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and then another two, how many would you have?”
Johnny: “Seven!”
Teacher: “Johnny, where in the heck do you get seven from?!?”
Johnny: “Because I’ve already got a freaking cat!”
