Actually, in this case, that's not all that crazy. "Perfectly good airplane" is a quote, more or less. I'm not sure the origin of it, but "Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" is kind of a cliche amongst skydivers.
This seems a legitimate, if a bit obtuse, use of quotes.
I think Bethany got it wrong this time. (No offense, B.) I don't wonder if sky diving from a "perfectly good airplane" is intentional. I think a "perfectly good airplane" is exactly the sort you INTENTIONALLY hurl yourself from- at least it would be for me.
Obtuse joke or not, why is "perfectly" capitalized? And "see" is not? Even if I was interested in sky diving, describing it as 2 miles up at 120 MPH would probably make me change my mind. Yikes!
i agree they're referencing the cliche, but it's still pretty funny. it'd be a little funnier if they said something like "our aircraft are 'perfectly safe'!"
i can't believe they actually put that on a pamphelet designed to entice people to trust them to help fulfull their thrill-seeking fantasies! although maybe that's more offputting to me since i find the whole concept pretty offputting. i'd rather try heroin.
Perhaps a better choice would be to ask if they're ready to try "jumping from a perfectly good airplane?" That would include enough of the cliché to be obvious. Regardless, the capitalization is egregious. :)
This one made me laugh out loud, literally. I kind of get the joke, now that all the commenters have explained it, but I still dontt care. It's just a funny use of QMs there.
It's specifically from a now-widespread Air Force joke about paratroopers: "Marines are so dumb they'll jump out of a perfectly good airplane."
A lot of people interested in skydiving would have heard it, so it's being used here both as an injoke to get 'em interested and in the right mood, AND to say that the teachers are experienced.
But yes, it can be misunderstood without context....
I've been skydiving and people's incredulous response to that revelation is "Why would anyone want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" I vote the quotes are necessary. :)
I have been a skydiver for 12 years and my opinion is that the quotes are appropriate. That phrase is the exasperation-inspiring reaction of most non-jumpers to first learning someone they meet is a skydiver. It is such a cliche that the civilian-skydiver slang for a non-jumper is "whuffo," in reference to the question: "Whuffo you guys jump out of those perfectly good airplanes?"
By the way, there are two standard answers to the question:
1. There is no such thing as a perfectly good airplane.
2. If there was such a thing as a perfectly good airplane, skydiving would never have been invented in the first place.
Yeah, it's a cliche among skydivers (like me). I don't understand how it's such a universal thing, but it is. Similarly, as a unicyclist, I hear "Where's your other wheel??" so often it's incredulous.
This may be my favorite yet. And I always wanted to try sky-diving. I think I'll shop around.
ReplyDeleteEven if you ignore the quotation mark misuse, what is that supposed to mean?
ReplyDeleteActually, in this case, that's not all that crazy. "Perfectly good airplane" is a quote, more or less. I'm not sure the origin of it, but "Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" is kind of a cliche amongst skydivers.
ReplyDeleteThis seems a legitimate, if a bit obtuse, use of quotes.
Great insight, stu.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I believe is it poor business practice to use an inside joke to generate business among new customers.
I think Bethany got it wrong this time. (No offense, B.) I don't wonder if sky diving from a "perfectly good airplane" is intentional. I think a "perfectly good airplane" is exactly the sort you INTENTIONALLY hurl yourself from- at least it would be for me.
ReplyDeletethat's what I was going for, nqtb. Nothing is as un-funny as an unclear joke. I apologize.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Stu. The quotes are appropriate as they directly reference a cliche.
ReplyDeleteI agree with stu that it's a bit obtuse, and with sitboaf that it is hence bad business practice. Behold: many of us think it is funny an ominous.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, I've never heard that cliche. If I was looking to skydive, I may just skip this company...
ReplyDeleteWhat's that they're always saying about "if you have to explain the joke..."
Obtuse joke or not, why is "perfectly" capitalized? And "see" is not? Even if I was interested in sky diving, describing it as 2 miles up at 120 MPH would probably make me change my mind. Yikes!
ReplyDeletei agree they're referencing the cliche, but it's still pretty funny. it'd be a little funnier if they said something like "our aircraft are 'perfectly safe'!"
ReplyDeletei can't believe they actually put that on a pamphelet designed to entice people to trust them to help fulfull their thrill-seeking fantasies! although maybe that's more offputting to me since i find the whole concept pretty offputting. i'd rather try heroin.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a better choice would be to ask if they're ready to try "jumping from a perfectly good airplane?" That would include enough of the cliché to be obvious. Regardless, the capitalization is egregious. :)
ReplyDeleteI have actually seen the airplane that people dive out of for this and it is AWFUL. So the quotation marks are definitely necessary here.
ReplyDeleteThis one made me laugh out loud, literally. I kind of get the joke, now that all the commenters have explained it, but I still dontt care. It's just a funny use of QMs there.
ReplyDeleteIt's specifically from a now-widespread Air Force joke about paratroopers: "Marines are so dumb they'll jump out of a perfectly good airplane."
ReplyDeleteA lot of people interested in skydiving would have heard it, so it's being used here both as an injoke to get 'em interested and in the right mood, AND to say that the teachers are experienced.
But yes, it can be misunderstood without context....
--Nonie Rider
I've been skydiving and people's incredulous response to that revelation is "Why would anyone want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" I vote the quotes are necessary. :)
ReplyDeleteI have been a skydiver for 12 years and my opinion is that the quotes are appropriate. That phrase is the exasperation-inspiring reaction of most non-jumpers to first learning someone they meet is a skydiver. It is such a cliche that the civilian-skydiver slang for a non-jumper is "whuffo," in reference to the question: "Whuffo you guys jump out of those perfectly good airplanes?"
ReplyDeleteBy the way, there are two standard answers to the question:
1. There is no such thing as a perfectly good airplane.
2. If there was such a thing as a perfectly good airplane, skydiving would never have been invented in the first place.
Yeah, it's a cliche among skydivers (like me). I don't understand how it's such a universal thing, but it is. Similarly, as a unicyclist, I hear "Where's your other wheel??" so often it's incredulous.
ReplyDeleteNot really an inside joke. I think it was in Full Metal Jacket, possibly... I've heard it in several places, and I don't skydive.
ReplyDeleteIn that sense, it's poorly framed but it is a quotation at least.
4FUN? Is that like 4KIDS? Are they dubbing skydiving?
ReplyDelete