“What’s the difference between an ass-kisser and a brown noser?”/“Depth perception.”

A joke about bootlickers or sycophants has been printed on several images:
   
Q: What’s the difference between an ass-kisser and a brown noser?
A: Depth perception.
   
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1989.
 
       
Wiktionary: ass-kisser
Noun
ass-kisser (plural ass-kissers)
1. (vulgar, slang) Someone who kisses ass.
 
Wiktionary: brown noser
Etymology
A metaphorical image: when kissing the buttocks of another person, one’s nose is liable to be covered in brown feces.
Noun
brown noser (plural brown nosers)
1. (idiomatic) One who brownnoses (flatters or humors somebody in an obsequious manner for personal gain); one who sucks up; a bootlicker, ass-kisser, sycophant.
               
Google Groups: alt.rhode_island
so whats gnuez!!
John G. Daneau
10/31/89
(...)
I heard an interesting joke yesterday. It goes something like this:
Q: What’s the difference between Brown Nosing and Ass Kissing?
A: Depth perception.
 
Google Groups: rec.humor.funny
The One-Liner file Annual, Nov 90
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
1/11/91
(...)
From: chuck%bose (Chuck Cox)
Subject: brown-nose vs. shithead
 
Heard during Will Durst’s routine at Catch a Rising Star…
 
What’s the difference between a brown-noser and a shithead?
 
Depth perception.
   
Google Groups: rec.humor
Brown nosing
Ed Stephan
4/22/94
Q. What’s the difference between a brown-nose and a kiss-ass?
A. Depth perception
 
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
Brown Noser
Bob and Sue Jerin
10/9/98
Not quite right, it should be…...
Q What’s the difference between an ass kisser and a brown noser?
A Depth perception.
 
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
Dumb ones…
LJPatierno
12/31/98
(...)
What’s the difference between a brown-noser and a shithead?
- Depth perception
 
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
What’s the difference between a brown-noser and a shit-head?
ur_droll
7/24/05
Depth,perception.
 
Twitter
Brian Bush‏
@brianbush
Replying to @martinsargent
@martinsargent today’s show reminds me of a joke. What’s the difference between ass kissing and brown nosing? Depth Perception.
1:56 PM - 28 Aug 2008
 
Reddit—Jokes
What’s the difference between an ass kisser and a brown noser?
submitted March 16, 2015 by atlascarriesastrike
About 2 inches.
   
Me.Me
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KISSING ASS AND BROWN NOSING? DEPTH PERCEPTION <ḀᑌᘔᘔᗰḀᑎ>

MEME
ASS MEMES PERCEPTION 🤖 DEPTH KISSINGER KISSING BROWNING WHATS BROWN AND KISSING ASS BROWN NOSING THE WHATS THE DIFFERENCE
FOUND ON 2017-05-13 19:02:57 BY ME.ME
SOURCE: FACEBOOK
 
Reddit—Jokes
What’s the difference between an asa-kisser and a bown-noser?
submitted September 14, 2017 by mordecai98
Depth perception.