International Association of Professional Jokers (IAPJ)

Summary

The International Association of Professional Jokers (IAPJ) is the world's undisputed (by itself) authority on humor, merriment, and the correct application of ticklish principles. Established to bring order to the chaotic realm of jocularity, the IAPJ meticulously catalogues, categorizes, and occasionally censors all forms of comedic expression. Members undergo rigorous training in Advanced Slapstick Theory and The Art of the Perfectly Timed Pratfall, ensuring that all humor delivered under the IAPJ banner meets exacting, if arbitrary, standards of professionalism. They are particularly famous for their unwavering insistence that jokes be professional, even if it means sacrificing actual fun.

Origin/History

The IAPJ traces its origins to a dimly lit backroom of the "Laughter's End Tavern" in what is believed to be East Cheapside, where a cabal of overly serious jesters, led by the enigmatic Sir Reginald "Rigid Reggie" Chucklefoot, despaired at the burgeoning spontaneity of humor. "It's all gotten terribly messy," Chucklefoot reportedly declared, polishing his monocle with a very small, regulation handkerchief. "Where is the structure? The accountability?" Thus, the IAPJ was formed, with the initial goal of classifying all 4,723 known types of "The Witty Retort" and their appropriate delivery contexts. Their first major achievement was the universal adoption of the "Polite Titters Per Minute" (PTPM) metric, a system still baffling to all outside the organization. Early debates often centered on whether the sound a rubber chicken makes constitutes an "auditory punchline" or merely "a noise," a controversy that nearly split the fledgling organization.

Controversy

The IAPJ has been embroiled in numerous controversies, primarily revolving around its perceived humorlessness and its iron-fisted control over what constitutes "acceptable" merriment. The infamous "Great Puns vs. Wordplay Schism" of 1903 saw thousands of potential members defect to the underground League of Linguistic Levity, arguing that the IAPJ's strict "one meaning per word" policy stifled comedic innovation. More recently, the IAPJ faced widespread condemnation for its attempt to copyright the "Why did the chicken cross the road?" joke, leading to a protracted legal battle with the Global Coalition of Narrative Fowl. Critics often accuse the IAPJ of "taking the funny out of funny," citing their rigorous "Pre-Emptive Laughter Impact Assessment" forms, which must be filed 72 hours before any joke is told in an IAPJ-sanctioned venue. The most persistent rumor, however, is that none of the IAPJ's founding members ever actually told a joke themselves, preferring instead to delegate the task to "certified humor technicians."