Potential vs. Real

A young boy went up to his father and asked him, “Dad, what is the difference between ‘potentially’ and ‘realistically’?”

The father thought for a moment, then answered, “Go ask your mother if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars.  Then ask your sister if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars, and then ask your brother if he’d sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars. Come back and tell me what you learn from that.”

So the boy went to his mother and asked, “Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?”

The mother replied, “Of course I would!  We could really use that money to fix up the house and send you kids to a great University!”

The boy then went to his sister and asked, “Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?”

“Oh my Gawd!” the girl replied, “I LOVE Brad Pitt.  I would sleep with him in a heartbeat.  Are you nuts?”

The boy then went to his brother and asked, “Would you sleep with Brad Pitt for a million dollars?”

“Of course,” the brother replied. “Do you know what a million bucks would buy?”

The boy pondered the answers and then went back to his dad.

His father asked him, “Did you find out the difference between ‘potentially’ and ‘realistically’?”