With over 4.2 million likes and even more followers, the ‘Wonderful Engineering’ Facebook page was started back in 2012. Since then—for over a decade now—it has been presenting its fans with everything from the latest news in the realm of engineering to sources of inspiration.
In their own words, “‘Wonderful Engineering’ is a platform for engineers where they learn about innovative design and smart engineering happening around the world.” However, there’s plenty of entertaining (yet often educational nevertheless) material as well; and this list is excellent proof of that.
Even though you don’t necessarily have to be an engineer to get a kick out of engineering-based memes, one of the reasons they might find them particularly amusing is because they can relate to the situations such memes depict.
When discussing what affects our preference for a certain type of humor, psychologist and former lecturer at the University of New South Wales, Bruce Wilson, Ph.D., suggested that such inclination is usually determined by identification.
“When we can identify with a particular type of humor it becomes personalized and makes perfect sense to us. This is why most comedians self-deprecate during their stand-up routines; they realize the value of identifying with the humor of the moment.”
“Humor also demonstrates awareness,” Wilson added. “When we understand the hidden message we demonstrate our intelligence and our emotional diversity.”
He suggested that jokes make us more psychodiverse, which is healthier than being stuck in a constant state of seriousness. “Life has become very serious and we need the release of humor to balance our lives.”
But it’s not only complex, multilayered humor that can help ease the state of seriousness we live in; some straightforward jokes can be equally—if not more—amusing as well (including all sorts of engineering-based puns).
“The fusion of opposites attracts people to the funny side of anything. We seem as a species to enjoy the idea that nonsense is funny. Even slapstick humor of the last century is a form of the same idea, a fusion of opposites,” the psychologist explained.
In a piece for Psychology Today, Bruce Wilson pointed out that, “the human brain is believed to have intrinsic constraints as part of a general intelligence of context. This allows the brain to filter through all the possibilities and make connections through a synthesis of analyses, a cognitive synergy.”
He added that human cognitive synergy stands alone when it comes to creating humor out of nonsense, and suggested that a sense of humor is based on perception of what people find funny, which differs with each individual.
Despite humor perception differing from person to person, it is arguably safe to assume that people who have a lot in common—who work in the same field, for instance, or receive similar education—might enjoy similar jokes as well. That could explain why quite a few engineers often appreciate humor of the same kind.
Zippia revealed that there are nearly 230 thousand engineers employed in the US alone. In the meantime, the ‘Wonderful Engineering’ Facebook group has amassed over 4.3 million followers globally, from experts in the field to non-professionals interested in all-things-engineering.
If you need more proof that engineers and humor can go hand-in-hand or if you simply want to have a hearty laugh, make sure to browse Bored Panda’s list of the best engineer jokes next. And if you feel like delving deeper into what exactly it is that they work on, marvel at some pretty impressive wonders of engineering here.