The Periodic Inscrutable by Arthur Trope

They say if you have to explain a joke, then it’s not very funny. (EB White: “Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better, but the frog dies in the process.”) But let’s dissect this frog in the name of Advanced Comics Research. Posted here are the top captions for this panel as rated by the Macguffin focus groups. The US focus group rated the first two versions significantly higher than the UK group (avg 5.7/10 vs 1.9/10). The written feedback gave clues as to why - it turns out there is no confusion about eggs being dairy in the UK.

A quick Google query confirmed: “In the United States, eggs must be washed and refrigerated in order to be sold in stores. This is because eggs can contain salmonella, a bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Refrigeration helps to prevent the growth of salmonella and other bacteria, making the eggs safer to consume. Eggs are therefore sold in the refrigerated dairy aisle. In the United Kingdom, however, eggs are not required to be washed before they are sold. This is because the UK has stricter regulations on the quality and safety of eggs. As a result, UK eggs are generally considered to be of a higher quality and are safer to consume than those sold in the United States. Because of this, it is not necessary to refrigerate UK eggs. Refrigeration can actually have a negative effect on the quality of eggs, as it can cause the proteins in the egg whites to become less stable and the yolks to become less firm. This can affect the texture and taste of the eggs, making them less desirable to consumers.”

So instead of having a subtly subversive social commentary in the Arthur Trope style, we ended up with a bunch of “I don’t get it's" in the UK. But to be fair, most people in the US didn’t get it either.

Anyway, that’s the explanation. The third panel is now the official UK version. And the frog is now dead. But at least I learned something new. Please feel free to weigh in on your score for each panel, and views on immigration policy and/or egg regulation. -Ed.