Blank Quote by Dave Barry
“Several years ago we had an intern who was none too swift. One day he was typing and turned to a secretary and said, "I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I do?" "Just use copier machine paper," she told him. With that, the intern took his last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five blank copies.”
About This Quote
Source Story: Dave Barry Column, 1998
An intern asks a silly question, then copies the answer literally, showing literal misunderstanding of instructions.
In simple terms: A worker misinterprets a simple solution and repeats the problem.
Key Takeaway
Think before acting on advice.
Themes
humor
miscommunication
workplace
Mood
amused
lighthearted
Type
anecdotal
humorous
When to use this quote
- office
- customer service
- training
- communication
Key Concepts
literalism
problem solving
Questions to Reflect On
- How often do you follow instructions too literally?
- What could be done to clarify simple tasks?
A Different Perspective
The joke relies on the intern not grasping the concept of copying, which may not translate well without context.
