# Joke: tickets for the policemen's ball

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-policemans-ball
- Themes: humour, self-acceptance
- Life situations: self-criticism, mental health labels

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A New South Wales policeman pulls over a speeding woman driver. She asks if he's stopped her to sell her a ticket for the policemen's ball. 'Policemen don't have balls,' he replies — then realises what he's said and wishes her a good afternoon.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

A uh policeman in New South Wales saw a car speeding. So pulled it the car over. It was a woman driver. And so as soon as the woman driver opened up her window, she said to the policeman, "I suppose you stopped me to actually to uh get me to buy a ticket for the policeman's ball. And the policeman replied, "Peaceman don't have balls." And then realized what he was saying and said, "Have a good afternoon, madam."

## Teaching point

Told against himself as his 'bad joke disorder': don't demean yourself for your quirks or disorders — no one is perfect.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

After a cheeky policeman joke, Ajahn Brahm blames his 'bad joke disorder'. He can't help himself. Don't think less of yourself for your quirks or diagnoses either. Nobody picnics in a perfect government plantation; we love real forests, where every tree is bent and scarred. That's why they're beautiful, and so are you.

## Source

- [Jealousy | by Ajahn Brahm | 15-11-2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nBSPHe1RCc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 59:40 to 1:00:15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nBSPHe1RCc&t=3580s