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Q&A How to do reference jokes right?

There is a problem with reference jokes in general, and I just couldn't figure out a solution to them. Here's a demonstration: "Watch your step, there could be even more of these." "Mor...

0 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Mephistopheles‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question humor
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T07:09:52Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/30845
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar Mephistopheles‭ · 2019-12-08T07:09:52Z (almost 5 years ago)
There is a problem with reference jokes in general, and I just couldn't figure out a solution to them. Here's a demonstration:

> "Watch your step, there could be even more of these."
> 
> "More?" ████ was still puzzled. "We haven't encountered any actual defense ever since we entered. No patrols, nor gun turrets, just lava pits.
> 
> "Are you even surprised, anon?" ████ casually scoffed. "I thought that you'd notice this pattern and style, that this whole place was likely built by Kevin."
> 
> "What Kevin?"████ asked.
> 
> "This place is the result of asking a torturer to make a fortress for you." said ████. "Go figure."

**But what if the reader was lucky enough to miss _Home Alone_? Then the reference wouldn't convey.**

So, what can I do to minimalize the loss of humorousness of a joke, in case if the reader is not familiar with the source material?

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2017-10-16T18:09:50Z (about 7 years ago)
Original score: 5