A farmer goes to his local farm equipment store and tells the salesman he wants to buy a milking machine.
“Certainly, sir. Right this way,” says the salesman. “How many cows will you be milking?”
“Just one,” says the farmer.
“Oh,” says the salesman. “Well, sir, I really wouldn’t recommend a milking machine for only one cow. You could milk three cows by hand in the time it would take you to set up the machine and clean it afterwards.”
“I said I want a milking machine. Now, are you going to sell me one, or not?” the farmer replies indignantly.
“Well, sure, I’ll sell you one if that’s what you want. Just making sure, that’s all,” says the salesman.
The salesman shows the farmer the milking machines and the farmer picks one out, after reiterating to the salesman that, yes, he really does want the machine even though he only has one cow. After he’s rung up the sale, the salesman’s curiosity gets the best of him. “Sir, if you don’t mind my asking, why are you so insistent on buying this milking machine even after all I’ve said?”
“Well,” says the farmer, “I got a new cow a couple of weeks ago. The first time I tried to milk her, I tried from the left side and she put her left foot in the bucket. The next day, I tried milking her from the right side and she put her right foot in the bucket. Then the next day, I tried milking her from behind and she put her tail in the bucket. The next day, being fed up, I tied her left leg to the left side of the barn, her right leg to the right side of the barn, and her tail to the rafter. Now if you can convince my wife that all I wanted to do was milk that cow, I won’t need this milking machine.”
