Can someone help this person ... I tried answering but it did not help them completely.

The OP used the "meaning in context" and "spoken-english" tags. I tried to explain the meaning behind a sentence, but it seems OP is now having a hard time with a preposition use (comments). I tried to explain that but I my "grammar" skills (for a lack of a better term) are very limited. I don't know how to effectively answer the follow up questions.

A man walks into a zoo, and sees that the only animal in the entire zoo is a dog. It's a Shih Tzu.

An atom accidentally bumps into another atom, knocking it down. The first one says, "Are you OK?" The other replies, "No, I lost an electron!" "That’s awful! Are you sure?" Yeah, I'm positive!"

Ahh painful ...

two downvotes on the main site and one on meta

Ok. Where does Christmas come before Thanksgiving?

@AIQ What's a "resident joke"?

Perhaps they're asking for a country or something?

The "resident joke" thing is there in that linked source

I just quoted a person saying there

from what i understand

its something that Harry and his class mates are familiar with

more like an inside joke

but everyone in hogwarts knows that joke

@snailcar and @userr2684291 Where does Christmas come before Thanksgiving? - In dictionaries!

If we're talking within a single calendar year, then consider the Orthodox Christmas Day, which is in January or something, and then you have the entire rest of the year, and so probably every countr- oh.

@AIQ Is it really an inside joke? Is an inside joke necessarily a "resident joke"?

@userr2684291 Well, it seems that way. But I can't say for sure, hence the use of double quotes and italics

And italics, huh.

@userr2684291 haha, oh do you think that's why there's a downvote - cause of "resident joke"?

No, I don't think so. Let me look at your answer again.

So apparently I can ping ColleenV and snailcar here, but not Em and Maulik(?) - our mods

not in any need just trying

How fast I'd run if I saw a grizzly bear? Y'know what they say: you only have to outrun your friends.

I really appreciate how this chatroom is so full of life - sadly my other place is dead

it takes a day or two for a reply

Thank you whoever helped maintain this place - Language Overflow

I have no idea why your answer was downvoted.

It was evidently useful to the answer seeker.

It's alright, don't worry about it.

it seems like it was collateral damage - perhaps they downvoted the other one first because dan had more queries which I was not able to explain fully, and then saw this one and wanted to do the same. both questions are from dan

yes

@ColleenVpartedways LOL

@userr2684291 OK that's so 2000

@AIQ I guess the people you're more careful around generally, and maybe even stumble in your native language. It could be the opposite gender, a very wise old man who you respect so much

Or me

@ColleenVpartedways (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

@userr2684291 doctor joke

@M.A.R. 2000 is still one of those "big numbers" to me. As in Dust Guzzler 2000 as the name of a vacuum cleaner.

@M.A.R. Online, this can be measured by the number of times you revise the message you're about to send them.

How was you busy day? @M.A.R. hope not too bad.

@userr2684291 well OK, that joke is so old it's 2000 years old

@userr2684291 What do you mean

You're such an awesome guy I stumbled.

@AIQ Thanks, it was alright

I mean, I'm not the kind of person who's picky about the situation they're in anymore. A zombie breakout could happen and I'd be like "Oh at least they're not as gory as 80's films"

But I guess by a lot of standards it sucked.

oh sorry to hear that ...

Heartfelt meh