h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am so excited to 'meet' someone who has also heard this bizarre joke!

Where did you get it from originally?

So great to hear from you! It was - obviously - my secret hope that someone might have had this in their brain for ages and not be sure if they were the only one...?
However - and to my lasting regret - I can't remember where I picked it up. I read it somewhere, years ago, like I said, but I've no idea where. Back in those days I used to read about the war a lot - first novels, later sociological stuff and later still proper histories (the three ages of (a) man? No matter - I'm better now, and my love of history has not left me), so if it's a war-time thing perhaps I picked it up from there. But equally, that could be a confused memory coming from both the old guy in the pub (who finally convinced my brother I wasn't making it up) and a coincidence of the trends of my reading matter.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but in this case perhaps mystery is better than history...

cheers.

I am pretty sure my Grandfather heard it as a boy, which probably makes it older.

I still try to get the joke - but fail everytime. Sigh.

I prefer to see it as a sort of zen riddle.

I guess that is the best way to cope with the frustration!

What joke?

*wanders in aimlessly*

Liam.

Why is a mouse when it spins?

Ahh that one. I asked my dad about that one, he said that his dad used to say it as well. He had no idea what it meant

Liam.

There is a genetic disorder among fancy mice that is called waltzing or spinning mice.

http://tiger.towson.edu/discussion/cosc/cosc/00000012.htm

OOOOh thank you Coelie!

I've seen the phrase the higher the fewer used by an old RAF boy in a book called Backroom Boys - (sounds dodgier than it is) it's a collection of accounts by people who used to work on aircraft in WWII. He uses it to describe the upper ranks - the higher you go the less people there are.

Still makes me go "muh?" though

Liam.

I picked it up from dr. Who ()

You did?

Which episode?

Episode 1 of Robot- Tom Baker's first story. Only the first part though- the answer isn't used.

i am talking seriousely