1. Humor is subjective, and people may find different things funny or ironic based on their personal beliefs, cultural backgrounds, and individual experiences. The sentence in question, "Paying for her abortion makes no sense when stairs are free, I'll be back next week with more money-saving tips," has elements of dark humor and irony that certain individuals might find amusing. The idea of using stairs as a substitute for a medical procedure is absurd, and this absurdity can evoke laughter as a defense mechanism against the gruesome implications of the joke.
2. Another angle to this is irony — using stairs as a method of abortion is dangerous and could lead to severe consequences. It is ironic because instead of saving money as the speaker intended, the implication of this action is that it could lead to severe health complications or even death, which would result in far more financial cost than an actual abortion. The speaker's naivety and ignorance towards this fact sets up the irony in the statement.
3. The context in which the sentence is presented also plays a part in its humor. It seems to be a parody of practical and frugal lifestyle advice, typically found in blogs or YouTube channels. The passe and light-hearted tone is in stark contrast with the severity of the topic, creating a comedic dissonance and absurdity. The nonchalant promise to be back with more tips next week only compounds the irony of the situation.
4. Furthermore, the humor and irony also lie in the total disregard of the ethical, moral, and emotional implications surrounding the topic of abortion. It reduces the complex issue to a mere economic calculation, thereby challenging societal norms and expectations. This irreverence can be seen as comically defiant, or in an ironic sense, as it drastically oversimplifies a deeply contentious issue.
5. Comedy often relies on timing and shock value. The sentence's unexpected reveal of a controversial topic in a casual, advice-giving context can certainly evoke surprise and might be seen as funny. At the same time, it can also be considered ironic because it critiques the way sensitive issues, such as abortion, are often discussed insensitively within society.
6. Lastly, the humor and irony in this sentence can also be attributed to a technique known as the comic triple. The first part sets up the expectation, the second reinforces the expectation, and the third subverts it in a surprising or absurd way. Here, the sentence starts with the context of "paying for an abortion," continues with "stairs being free," and then subverts our expectations with "I'll be back next week with more money-saving tips." Paying for her abortion makes no sense when stairs are free I ll be back next week with more money saving tips