35.8M views · Sep 18, 2012 · 4:06 · 0 HN recommenders · 7 mentions · discussed 2020–2023
A short scene from Monty Python's Life of Brian in which a Roman centurion cannot keep a straight face over the name Biggus Dickus.
Why Hacker News points people here: Used as a joke or allusion in unrelated threads, usually when names or laughter come up, not as something to learn from.
“The account name is likely an homage to the slightly NSFW Monty Python - The Life of Brian scene”
Scene that the account name alludes to
Impressive viral result for sure. The account name is likely an homage to the slightly NSFW Monty Python - The Life of Brian scene: this video " He has a wife, you know... "
“This Monty Python sketch [4] has been viewed 30M times on YouTube alone”
Sketch about people finding names hilarious
If you’re being serious about it somehow being wrong to find words funny, then do you have a problem with "absquatulate", "bowyangs", "collywobbles", "fartlek", "filibuster", "gongoozle", "hemidemisemiquaver", and "snollygoster“ [1] too? Presuming you don’t have a problem with words being inherently funny, why is it a surprise that some names happen to also be funny? Have you never found a name funny or amusing? How about when Ali G introduced Buzz Aldrin as Buzz Lightyear? Or when he referred to Boutros Boutros-Ghali as “Boutros Boutros Boutros Boutros-Ghali”. I found that silly and hilarious. How about when Homer refers to his “friend” Joey Jo Jo Junior Shabadoo [2], sorry, but again, it’s silly and hilarious. One more example: on Family Fued [3] the person whose name was funny found it funny, his family found it funny, and the host/audience found it funny. Do you not laugh or at least see the humour in it? Last one (promise). This Monty Python sketch [4] has been viewed 30M times on YouTube alone, it’s by the troupe of comedians that the python programming language is named after, and it’s all about people finding other people’s names hilarious. Regarding “riots” you miss the point. Duke is upset DHH uses the word riot, but Wikipedia also does. So they should be equally upset with Wikipedia. [1] link [2] link [3] link [4] this video
“It's a joke, sir.”
It's a joke, sir. (That and the "In Rome" comment are both references to a classic Monty Python bit from The Life of Brian ( this video )
“See Biggus Dickus”
By that logic Uranus was named after your anus. See simple. And "The Ministry of Truth" always said true things. And the "Vice and Virtue Ministry" was a noble institution. link Why? because things and people are always named after what they are! See Biggus Dickus this video
“without referencing the centurion scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian”
Baffling that this piece manages to mention so much modern comedy, in discussing Romans , without referencing the centurion scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian , with Caesar's friend (he had a wife you know)! this video
Since education in the classics is nearly non-existent: this video "Remember what punishments befell us in this world when we ourselves did not cherish learning nor transmit it to other men."
“Do you find it... risible?”
Michael Palin in Monty Python's Life of Brian, "Do you find it... risible?" this video (I don't have anything constructive to add to the conversation. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
