Yeah I got burned like that once on a glow in the dark cover they swore was a first app. Now I just pull up the actual issue date on my phone right there at the table before I hand over cash. Saves me every time.

Honestly I used to think gallows humor was just people dodging the real stuff, like they couldn't face it. But hearing your sister frame it as taking control back kinda flipped a switch for me, it makes way more sense as a survival thing than a deflection. I still catch myself wincing at certain jokes, but now I get that sometimes laughing is the only way to make the scary thing smaller.

Buddy's crew nuked their $1,200 tool after week three, back to Google Sheets and zero regrets.