Can a computer program register coffee without milk? — ChatGPT

Prompt: Slavoj Žižek challenges you to get this joke:

— Waiter! Get me a cup of coffee without cream!
— I’m sorry, sir, we have no cream, but I can get you a coffee without milk!

Is it funny? If yes, why? How does it function? What does it mean?

See “Can a computer program register coffee without milk?” Slavoj Žižek, “From Milk to cream: Registering a difference of quality”, “The Superego Centrifuge”

Yes, the joke is funny, and its humor comes from the play on the idea of “absence” and the expectations around it. Here’s a breakdown of how it functions and what it means:

Why It’s Funny

1. Absurdity and Expectation Subversion: The joke hinges on the absurdity of the waiter’s response. The customer asks for a coffee without cream, a straightforward request implying that the absence of cream is desired. The waiter responds by saying they don’t have cream but can provide a coffee without milk instead. This response is nonsensical because both requests result in the same thing: a black coffee. The humor arises from the waiter treating the absence of cream and milk as if they are fundamentally different when, in this context, they lead to the same outcome.
2. Logic Twist: The joke plays with logic. The waiter’s response follows a twisted logic where the lack of cream is somehow different from the lack of milk, despite both resulting in the same thing. This twist on logic creates a humorous paradox.

How It Functions

1. Language Play: The joke uses language to play with the concept of absence. It makes the listener think about what it means to “lack” something and how the absence of different things can be humorously equated.
2. Contextual Humor: The humor also comes from the setting—a café or restaurant—where such specific requests are common. The joke takes this familiar scenario and introduces an absurd twist, making it relatable yet surprising.

What It Means

1. Critique of Formalism: The joke can be interpreted as a critique of formalism or bureaucratic thinking, where rules and formalities are followed to the letter without considering practical sense. The waiter’s response reflects a rigid adherence to the form of the request rather than its substance.
2. Philosophical Insight: On a deeper level, Žižek might use this joke to illustrate a point about how we perceive absence and presence. It challenges the listener to think about how we frame our requests and the sometimes arbitrary distinctions we make between similar concepts.

In summary, the humor in the joke lies in the absurd response that subverts expectations, plays with logic, and offers a subtle critique of rigid thinking.