2013-12-16
Explanation
The Joke
A woman notices her partner browsing the internet in incognito mode and asks why, pointing out that he is just reading the news right now. The man looks guilty and uncomfortable. The caption below reads: "The wicked flee when no man pursueth." -- Proverbs 28:1.
The Humor
The joke is that incognito mode in web browsers is almost universally associated with viewing pornography or other content one would rather keep private. The man has apparently been using incognito mode so frequently (presumably for viewing adult content) that he has left it on even while doing something completely innocent like reading the news. His guilty expression when caught confirms the implication. The biblical quote from Proverbs 28:1 perfectly encapsulates the situation: the man is acting guilty and evasive even though no one is accusing him of anything, which paradoxically draws attention to his habits. The humor lies in the universal recognition of this behavior and the absurdity of applying a solemn biblical proverb to something as modern and mundane as browser privacy settings.
References
- Proverbs 28:1 -- A verse from the Bible meaning that guilty people act suspiciously even when no one is pursuing or accusing them. The full verse reads: "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
- Incognito mode -- A privacy feature in web browsers (notably Google Chrome) that does not save browsing history, cookies, or site data. It is popularly associated with viewing content users would prefer to keep private.