In the movie The Matrix (1999), a character named the Oracle asks Neo, the protagonist, to take a cookie. The task seems innocent enough until you realize it’s a metaphor where she’s essentially a browser, and Neo must accept cookies before getting any answers.
Coincidence? Probably not.
There was actually a browser named Oracle back then, and HTTP cookies had only been around for a few years before the movie came out. Given The Matrix’s deep dive into simulated reality, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Wachowskis were giving a nod to internet cookies all along.
Whether you find that hilarious or just an overanalysis worthy of a subreddit debate, it’s a prime example of how IT pros sneak tech humor into pop culture. And the internet? It’s practically a joke playground for programmers, IT hardware specialists, and everyone who keeps the digital world running.
It’s no surprise that information technology (IT) is a goldmine of memes, jokes, and hidden messages, better known as Easter eggs. And we’re willing to bet that the IT industry has some of the funniest stuff posted on the internet.
Error 404: Seriousness Not Found – IT Jokes That Actually Compute
Ben, our IT hardware procurement expert, told us this one story that we still haven’t forgotten. Back when he was a tech support specialist for a TV service provider, he had this one customer complaining about Dora not disappearing on the television, even when it was turned off. After finishing all troubleshooting protocols, they found out that the customer’s granddaughter put a Dora sticker on the TV.
Since then, Ben’s coworkers, including his supervisors, turned it into a running joke. Whenever a new support agent would report an issue with a stuck image on a TV screen or monitor, they’d casually ask, ‘Is there a Dora on the TV?’ It became a lighthearted initiation for new hires, who quickly learned not to take everything at face value.
IT jokes are a special breed—equal parts witty, geeky, and sometimes downright painful (looking at you, JavaScript errors). Here are some noteworthy ones:
1. “The oldest computer can be traced back to Adam and Eve.
It was an apple but with extremely limited memory. Just 1 byte. And then everything crashed.”
Source: Reddit
2. “Autocorrect can go straight to he’ll.”
3. “How many programmers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
None. That’s a hardware issue.”
Source: Stardock
4. “There are 10 types of people in this world: those that understand binary, those that don’t, and those that didn’t expect this joke to be in ternary.”
Source: Reddit
5. “What did the router say to his doctor?
Doc, it hurts when IP.”
Source: Reddit
6. The lie that people love the most?
“I have read and agreed to the Terms & Conditions.”
7. “How do trees get on the Internet?
They log in.”
Source: Elon University
8. “An SEO expert walks into a bar, bars, pub, tavern, public house, Irish pub, drinks, beer, alcohol.”
Source: Reddit
9. “I’ve heard of this IPv8 joke, but I bet you’re not ready for it.” (Because the latest Internet protocol version is IPv6.)
10. “Why didn’t the programmer enjoy his camping trip?
There were too many bugs.”
Source: Medium
Ctrl + Alt + Del Your Boredom: The Wittiest IT Memes Out There
The internet has this universal language called memes. And for people in infotech, memes hit differently.
Whether it’s the struggle of explaining “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” for the hundredth time or the existential dread of debugging at 2 AM, IT memes capture the highs, lows, and absurdities of tech life. They’re inside jokes that only those in the trenches—developers, sysadmins, IT support—truly understand.
Source: Spiceworks
Source: Cheezburger
Source: Domotz
Source: ZEGOCLOUD
Source: Pinterest
Source: Medium
Source: stillbahlman on Instagram
Source: Pleated Jeans
Source: Programmerhumor.io
From Konami Code to Google Tricks: IT Easter Eggs That’ll Make You Geek Out
While Easter eggs aren’t meant to be funny, we wanted to give them the spotlight, as they’re one of the earliest ways software, programming, and even IT equipment experts played around.
Here’s a fun fact: the first ever Easter egg appeared in a video game called Adventure for the Atari 2600 console. Because Atari didn’t want to credit programmers, Warren Robinett, the game’s creator, hid the message “Created by Warren Robinett” somewhere in the game. When the company found out later on, gamers were already happily looking for that secret message. Thus, they opted not to remove it to attract more players.
That’s how Easter eggs were born, and they’re still widely used in games and movies. But let us show you the best ones we know in terms of software, firmware, and even hardware:
- Barrel roll with Google: Just simply type “do a barrel roll” into a Google search bar, and the entire web page will spin itself into a 360-degree whirl.
- Excel 97’s flight simulator: A flight simulator game can be accessed by following a series of complex commands, and the game even has its own credits. What’s even funnier is that MS Word also has a pinball game hidden in it.
- HP ScanJet 5p’s musical surprise: Hold the scan button down while the SCSI ID is set to “0” when booting up. It’ll play “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven by adjusting its motor’s speeds.
- Nintendo Switch’s secret message: A tribute to gaming fans is hidden in the Nintendo Switch’s pro controller. Peek into the right stick housing with a flashlight and discover the message “THX2ALLGAMEFANS!”
Wrapping Up: Keep the Laughs, Lose the IT Headaches
Here at Dots, we love to see IT folks craft funny stuff that we can pass on to one another. After all, it’s totally possible for one of your IT staff to make the world’s funniest, most profitable Easter egg or meme one day. If you want to help them reach their highest creative potential, don’t make them spend hours tracking lost laptops, dealing with outdated software, or realizing a new hire has been waiting two weeks for a working device.
With Dots IT asset management (ITAM), procurement, and logistics solutions, you can improve your team’s productivity by connecting the Dots today. Book a demo and see how hassle-free IT can be.
