A plane flies over a sign at Tampa International Airport. — Credit: Photo via Tampa International Airport/Facebook

It was only a matter of time before Tampa International Airport (TPA) discovered that its customers aren’t smart enough for jokes.

TPA has a well-documented reputation for cracking jokes across its social media platforms, but apparently a recent quip didn’t just fly over people’s heads. It barrel rolled, stalled, and then crashed into the ocean.

On Thursday afternoon, TPA announced a “new dress code,” essentially banning pajamas for passengers.

“We’ve seen enough. We’ve heard enough,” wrote the airport. “We know this decision could be disruptive to someone in your life. It’s time to have a difficult conversation with them. You can do this. We (and Phoebe) believe in you.”

The satirical post also reminded followers that TPA has already “banned” Crocs for the last decade, and suggested we all work together to rid the airport of pajamas too. “The madness stops today. The movement starts now. Help Tampa International Airport become the world’s first Crocs-free AND pajama-free airport. DO YOUR PART. SAY NO TO PAJAMAS AT TPA.”

This was clearly a joke. There’s no policy at TPA banning Crocs or sleepwear, and to clear the air the airport eventually released a statement to outlets clarifying that the post was in fact satire.

“Tampa International Airport regularly shares lighthearted, satirical social media content as part of our ongoing effort to engage with our followers,” said the statement. “Today’s post about ‘banning’ pajamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates. We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humor.”

The fact TPA even had to release a statement is sad. But it was arguably too late. Commenters below the original post both complained and celebrated the fake policy. “What about kids?,” asked a commenter. “This is so dumb bro we pay 400 trillion bucks just to fly and u cant wear what you want,” wrote another.

Media outlets also fell for it, racing to post headlines like “Tampa Airport Announces Divisive New Dress Code Rule Banning This Popular Travel Outfit,” and ‘Had enough’: Airport says it’s time to ban pajamas.

It’s worth noting that most, but not all, of these outlets eventually added TPA’s statement and updated their stories. But it’s also wild that any reporter thought that this was real in the first place.

You could also argue that the post just wasn’t quite funny enough to reach a safe joke altitude. If TPA said “we’re banning pet alligators,” it would have been very obvious that it was satire. Banning pajamas and Crocs is almost too close to reality. Last November, Donald Trump’s rainbow-crosswalk-banning Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy begged passengers to stop looking and acting like slobs at the airport.

“Manners don’t stop at the gate,” said Duffy. “Things aren’t what they used to be. Let’s bring civility and manners back. Ask yourself, are you helping a pregnant woman put her bag in the overhead bin? Are you dressing with respect?”

It’s hard to find the joke when reality and satire start to merge.

However, I have long had a theory that airports just flat out make you dumber. Passengers, myself included, become 20% stupider once they first step foot inside of an airport —at least 40% stupider when they go through security and exactly 50% stupider when it’s time to get off the plane.

So it’s only fair to add that scrolling through social posts from your local airport also turns your brain into wet cardboard.

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