One-line jokes are generally not well-received on HN unless they are so exceptionally amusing and original that they are beyond reproach. The standard rationale for this - which can make HN seem very dry and humourless at times - is that people want to avoid HN becoming like Reddit.
thanks for answering. but thanks to the parent comment i learned about a new (albiet widely recognized) author. thats useful because we all come to hn to learn things. i suspect most downvoters probably dont even understand the reference and just see a joke qua joke. boo.