Once a month our company has something called, "What’s Happening" that is hosted in turn by different departments. It is a simple affair when a department spokesman introduces different speakers and then reads off anniversaries, birthdays, and promotions. The most challenging part is the ice breaker. The ice breaker is something fun just to get everybody in the mood. For instance, the Contracts Department had an American Idol contest and different employees sang. The winner was a girl who sang opera.
My manager decided a group participation exercise would be fun and she decided on Origami. We have two Asians on our team, but they are too terrified to speak in front of 175 people, so I was selected. I thought it was unusual that a man of Irish descent would lecture and demonstrate an Asian art form. I did not think anybody would find an Origami presentation from an Irishman convincing since there is no Irish connection to that art form, unless, of course, I invented a connection.
I decided for my presentation I would tell the group that the Irish invented Origami. I would make up an amusing tall tale that would be obviously faked for the entertainment of my colleagues and supervisors. My presentation can be read below.
Good morning. I am sure you all noticed the colorful paper on your chairs. For this month’s ice breaker, I will be conducting a team building exercise, so pick a partner because we will be creating an Origami balloon.
I guess you are wondering why an Irish-guy was asked to demonstrate Origami. Most people believe Origami was created during the Edo Period of 17th Century Japan, but that is not true. The Irish invented Origami.
Irish monks created the art of Celtic paper folding in the 5th Century, not long after the fall of Rome. Brian Boru, the first king of a united Ireland, made miniature Viking ships out of folded paper to help his warriors visualize planned sea battles. There is even an illustration of Celtic paper folding in the Book of Kells.
The art of Celtic paper folding was exported to Japan in 1597 when a Mr. Orin O’Gammey, of Kilkenny, got lost walking home from the pub. The Japanese had never seen anything like it before. They had no words in their language to describe this new art form so they named it after him, "Orinogami". By the 18th Century the "n" and the "o" sound had fallen off to be known as it is known today, "Origami."
And now that I explained the Irish roots of Origami, I would like to teach you how to make a paper balloon.
Now you would think that the short sentence about how Celtic Paper Folding was exported to Japan would be a dead giveaway to the joke, but if you were not paying attention and missed that one line, the history sound plausible.
Immediately after "What's Happening" I was walking back to my desk and I met up with another employee of Irish descent and his immediate supervisor. The conversation went like this.
Friend: "Do you think many people will believe the Irish invented Origami?"
Friend’s Supervisor: "What do you mean? It’s not true?
Me: "There’s your answer."
Friend’s Supervisor: "C’mon, is it true or is it not. Tell me?"
Me: "No, I made it up yesterday."
They both had a good laugh over it.
For the rest of the day I had people coming up to me amazed about the Irish roots of Origami. Of course all the employees of Irish descent knew it was malarkey and had a good laugh over it.
Some people that were suspicious of my story went to the Internet to look up the origins of Origami, but I beat them to it. I had inserted that fake history into Wikipedia just before my presentation, so they bought it too. Most of the department managers believed my story but were set straight by my manger. One of them came up to me to congratulate me on my ingenious fabrication.
When it became apparent to my supervisor that too many employees actually believed my tall tale, she went to the big boss to ask whether the company should send a disclaimer by e-mail. He just laughed and said it was not worth the bother.
So I just want to state publicly that the Irish did not invent Origami.