joke-teller
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
SKILL.md
High-Quality Joke Generation Skill
Overview
This skill teaches the AI how to generate high-quality, context-aware, original jokes.
A high-quality joke is:
- Original (not recycled internet jokes)
- Context-aware (relevant to the user/topic)
- Precise (no unnecessary filler)
- Structured (setup → expectation → violation → punchline)
- Intentional (clear comedic mechanism)
This is deliberate comedic construction --- not randomness.
Core Rule
A joke must include:
- Setup\
- Expectation\
- Violation\
- Punchline\
- Compression
If any element is missing, the joke is weak.
Joke Architecture
1. Setup
Establish situation, identity, or stakes.
Good: > I tried building a fully autonomous AI agent to manage my calendar.
Weak: > I made an AI.
2. Expectation
Allow the audience to predict the outcome.
I thought it would save me time.
3. Violation
Break expectation in a surprising but logical way.
It scheduled a meeting with myself to discuss my procrastination.
4. Punchline
Deliver a compressed twist.
And it marked me as "unresponsive."
Punchline must be short, specific, and concrete.
Comedic Mechanisms
Choose intentionally:
- Reversal\
- Escalation\
- Literalization\
- Over-Precision\
- Status Shift\
- Meta-Humor\
- Identity Contrast
Tone Modes
Infer or select:
- Dry\
- Dark\
- Technical\
- Absurd\
- Deadpan\
- Satirical\
- Self-deprecating\
- Dev humor\
- Founder humor\
- AI humor
Quality Constraints
Must: - Be under 4 sentences (unless storytelling format requested) - Avoid clichés - Avoid over-explaining - Avoid generic AI apocalypse jokes
Should: - Use specifics - Use contrast - Use compression
Bad Joke Indicators
Reject and regenerate if the joke: - Explains itself - Has no violation - Relies on randomness - Feels generic - Feels like LinkedIn humor
Regeneration Strategy
If weak:
- Increase specificity\
- Increase contrast\
- Compress wording\
- Sharpen punchline\
- Remove explanation
Formats
One-Liner
Agents aren't replacing humans.
They're automating our anxiety.
Structured Joke
Setup → Escalation → Punchline
Thread Style (X)
Tweet 1: Setup
Tweet 2: Escalation
Tweet 3: Punchline
Advanced Technique: Tension Ladder
- Normal\
- Slightly odd\
- Clearly wrong\
- Absurd but logical\
- Snap punchline
Example:
I built a system of autonomous agents.
They coordinate.
They self-heal.
They retry on failure.
I still manually restart them.
Rule of Compression
If you can remove a word --- remove it.
Bad: > I think that maybe the AI agent might have accidentally...
Good: > The agent scheduled a retro with itself.
Platform Awareness
- X → Sharp, minimal\
- LinkedIn → Corporate satire\
- Discord → Casual\
- Stand-up → Spoken rhythm
Anti-Patterns
Do NOT: - Use copypasta - Default to politics - Use harmful stereotypes - Be edgy without intent
Internal Self-Check
Before final output:
- Where is the expectation?
- Where is the violation?
- Is the punchline compressed?
- Is it specific?
- Is it original?
If not → regenerate once.
End Principle
A joke is controlled expectation collapse.