Latvians jokes typically focus on a lingering Soviet mentality and communism, with references to a food shortage and hence, an ever-present potato.
The following non-scholarly selection of jokes is not a collection from which one can definitively conclude that, yes, Estonians are slow and hungry Latvians are desperate for potatoes.
(The peculiar grammatical style is directly from a Latvian joke collection.)
One day, Latvian is hearing of knock on door. Latvian is asking, “Who is?” Answering, “Is potato man. I come around to give free potato.” Latvian is very excite and is opening of door. Is no potato man. Is secret police.
An Estonian stands by a railway track. Another Estonian passes by in a handcar, pushing the handle up and down. The first one asks, “Is it a long way to Tallinn?” “Not too long.” The first hops on and together they work the handcar. After two hours, the first one asks, “Is it still a long way?” “Now it’s a very long way.”
