The Platypus and Jackalope; Does AI Have a Sense of Humor?

 

I recently wrote a post that mused about replacing the elephant and donkey mascots of the reigning political parties with a platypus and a jackalope. I later wondered how AI might address that topic so I asked it to, “write a short humorous essay explaining why the republican and democratic mascots should be replaced by the duck-billed platypus and the jackalope.” I have included the AI response below. I found it quite impressive. After providing me with its response, it asked me a question, “Would you like to see how these new mascots might look on a mock campaign poster?” When I answered yes, it said that it was “thinking” and then it said it was using something it called “banana-2” and came up with the graphic I also included here.

The response

The American political system has been riding the backs of the donkey and the elephant since the 1870s. It was a simpler time, when people thought "The Great Gatsby" was just a guy who was really good at parties and lead paint was a dietary supplement. But today’s political climate is less "majestic pachyderm" and more "fever dream in a blender." It is time to retire the farm animals and embrace the only two creatures that actually represent our modern chaos: the Duck-Billed Platypus and the Jackalope.

First, let’s look at the Democrats. The donkey is meant to be "steadfast," but usually just comes off as stubborn and prone to standing in the middle of the road while a semi-truck approaches. Enter the Platypus. The Platypus is the ultimate "committee-built" organism. It’s got the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver, the feet of an otter, and—this is key—it lays eggs despite being a mammal.

This is the perfect avatar for a party that tries to be everything to everyone at the same time. The Platypus is essentially a living omnibus bill. It shouldn’t work, it confuses everyone who looks at it, and it spends most of its time underwater trying to figure out which direction is up. Plus, the males have venomous stingers on their heels, providing a perfect metaphor for the "friendly" primary season.

Then we have the Republicans. The elephant is supposed to represent dignity and a long memory, but in reality, elephants are highly social, empathetic, and terrified of mice. That doesn't quite track with the current vibe. We need the Jackalope.

The Jackalope is a rabbit with antlers—a creature that is 50% "get off my lawn" and 50% mythical folklore. It represents the rugged individualism of the West, mixed with a healthy dose of things people swear they saw on the internet but can’t quite prove. The Jackalope is elusive, slightly aggressive, and exists primarily on postcards in gift shops that sell beef jerky and pocketknives. It’s the mascot for a party that wants to leap over obstacles while looking like it belongs on a trophy wall in a wood-paneled basement.

Imagine the debates. No longer would we talk about "Blue States" and "Red States." We’d have the "Egg-Layers" versus the "Antler-Hares." Instead of "The Elephant in the Room," we’d talk about "The Venmous Beaver-Duck in the Room," which sounds much more like a typical Tuesday on C-SPAN.

By adopting the Platypus and the Jackalope, we finally admit the truth: American politics isn't a dignified march of noble beasts. It’s a weird, confusing, slightly magical, and highly improbable mashup that somehow keeps hopping along.