"What's a pirate's favorite…

A pirate riddle was posted on the newsgroup rec.sport.pro-wrestling on October 18, 1998:

Q: What’s a pirate’s favorite element?
A: ARRRRRRRRRgon.

There are two popular variations of this joke. “What’s a pirate’s favorite element? No it’s not aaaaarrrrgon, it’s GOLD!!!” was posted on Twitter by kimhankins on September 19, 2008. “What is a pirate’s favorite element in the periodic table? Gold. Why the fuck would a pirate need Argon?” was posted on Reddit—Jokes on June 8, 2016.

”#talklikeapirateday Q: What is a pirate’s favorite element? Aye. A:Ye might say aarrrrgon, but no, it’s the element of surprise!” was posted on Twitter by Zennemans on September 18, 2010. “What’s a pirates favorite element? You might say arrrragon but no, it s the element of surprise!!!” was posted on Twitter by AmAyA on October 8, 2010.

Google Groups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling
About Scotty Riggs
MILEHIgH
Oct 18, 1998, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
What’s a pirate’s favorite element?
ARRRRRRRRRgon.

Twitter
kimhankins
@kimhankins
What’s a pirate’s favorite element? No it’s not aaaaarrrrgon, it’s GOLD!!!
6:23 PM · Sep 19, 2008·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Zennemans
@Zennemans
#talklikeapirateday Q: What is a pirate’s favorite element?
Aye. A:Ye might say aarrrrgon, but no, it’s the element of surprise!
7:18 PM · Sep 18, 2010·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
AmAyA
@basqueo
Replying to @Jodie__Girl
@Jodie__Girl What’s a pirates favorite element? You might say arrrragon but no, it s the element of surprise!!!
10:48 PM · Oct 8, 2010·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
DDog
@DDog
“What’s a pirate’s favorite element on the periodic table?” “Aaaarrrrrgo—” “No, GOLD!” #MythicFaire
11:05 PM · Mar 13, 2011·Echofon

Twitter
brennain boltong
@thebren1
What is a pirate’s favorite element?
Aye. Ye might say aarrrrgon, but no, it’s the element of surprise!
4:02 PM · May 8, 2011·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Micrathene
@Micrathene
@missmorenab
“What’s a pirate’s favorite element?” ... “ARRRRRgon?” ... “No, ye fool - GOLD!”
1:18 PM · Aug 1, 2011·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Allen L. De Leon
@AaaayDEL
What’s a pirate’s favorite element? Arrrr-gon! Actually, it’s gold. Duhh. #talklikeapirateday
10:05 AM · Sep 19, 2012·Path

Twitter
Bryce Noe
@Dr_Noe52
@Daniel_P_Sabo Dr. A tried using the what’s a pirates favorite element joke and when she said Argon I said YOU’D THINK THAT BUT IT’S GOLD!
10:51 PM · Oct 25, 2012·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Jason
@JasonBieberTR
“What’s a pirate’s favorite element?”
“Umm, ARRRRRRRgon?”
“No you idiot it’s gold”
12:29 PM · Jul 17, 2013·Twitter Web Client

Facebook
Science Is a Verb
September 19, 2013 ·
What’s a pirate’s favorite element? Arrrrgon.

Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/jabonko August 31, 2015
What’s a pirate’s favorite element on the periodic table?
Gold!
(works better when told - most will interrupt with “Arrrrrrrrrgon!”)

Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/ialmostcried June 8, 2016
What is a pirate’s favorite element in the periodic table?
Gold. Why the fuck would a pirate need Argon?

Reddit—Chemistryjokes
Posted by u/EroPero October 23, 2017
What is a pirate’s favorite element?
(Waits for the obligatory ARRRRRRRgon or ARRRRRRRsenic before saying…) Gold, dummy.

Facebook
Pirate Science with One-eyed Jack
September 12, 2019 ·
Some folk think Arrrrgon is a pirate’s favorite element but it truly is the element of surprise.

Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/Bvoxl March 15, 2020
What Is a Pirate’s Favorite Element?
Argon - (Ar)

Reddit—3amjokes
Posted by u/kickypie October 31, 2020
What is a pirate’s favorite element in the periodic table?
Gold. Why the fuck would a pirate need Argon?

“What’s a pirate’s favorite element?”/“The element of surprise.”