It doesn't matter if people think they're clever or funny, a core tenet of HN is that you downvote cute jokes so that they don't eat all the real discussion like they do on Reddit.
It is a semi-noob illusion that satire and irony-- which underscore & catalyse discussion about relevant and important issues; should be reserved for Reddit. Often, satire is used when it may be difficult to confront an issue directly/the issue itself (or discussion) could be unpopular.