Many jokes are told about drummers and their alleged lack of timing. One popular drummer joke is:
 
Q: What’s the similarity between a drummer and a philosopher?
A: They both perceive time as an abstract concept.
 
The joke has been cited in print since at least 2000.
 
   
Internet Cello Society Forums
Comic Relief
Laura Wichers
10/7/00 6:38:08 pm
(...)
Q: What’s the similarity between a drummer and a philosopher?
A: They both perceive time as an abstract concept.
 
DeanFriedman.com—Newsletter (October 31, 2000)
Q: What’s the similarity between a drummer and a philosopher?
A: They both perceive time as an abstract concept.
   
Los Angeles (CA) Times
Drummer Freese Gets the Joke, Plus a Lot of Job Offers
December 20, 2000 | RANDY LEWIS | TIMES STAFF WRITER
Q: How are a philosopher and a drummer alike?
A: Both perceive time as an abstract concept.
 
In the music world, nothing generates a laugh quite like a good drummer joke, and there are a zillion of them.
 
Google Groups: alt.sports.baseball.stl-cardinals
Way OT: Jokes about myself and fellow musicians
LidsvilleNine
12/7/07
(...)
Q: What’s the similarity between a drummer and a philosopher?
A: They both perceive time as an abstract concept.
 
Twitter
Darien Jakeman
‏@numubudaily
Q: What’s the similarity between a drummer and a philosopher?
A: They both perceive time as an abstract concept. http://bit.ly/airh0C
10:52 AM - 5 May 2010
 
Twitter
MusicianHumor
‏@JokesBoutMusic
Q: What’s the similarity between a drummer and a philosopher?   
A: They both perceive time as an abstract concept.
9:08 AM - 5 Mar 2015