The world’s oldest joke dates back around 4,000 years and was popular with the ancient Sumerians, a study from the University of Wolverhampton recently found. Other old, and rather irreverent, jokes were about pharaohs and Englishmen in the 10th century AD The jokes were more than just a way to make people smile; they were a method of rebelling against established authorities and defying social norms. Even today, the goal of jokes and pranks remains the same: to make fun of influential people and ideas, to add to the general warmth and friendliness, and to provide a defense mechanism against stress. After all, if you can joke about it, it probably won’t kill you.

Earlier jokes and pranks were probably passed on by word of mouth: paper or parchment was expensive, and in any case only the royal or priestly classes could read or write. Raunchy theater and dance performances were another way of sharing one-liners about cultural or religious taboos. Although these performances were often banned by the ruling classes, people of all backgrounds enjoyed them openly or secretly, showing that human nature has changed little in the last three thousand years.

Jokes and pranks can be classified into many categories. There are harmless jokes you can share with preschoolers, as long as they can understand the subtle jokes. There is a sarcastic humor that has led to lawsuits. There are jokes that are considered inappropriate in one setting and perfectly acceptable in other situations. And then there are jokes about groups or communities, which are considered offensive to the people who are the target of the jokes, but are nonetheless enjoyed by others. Pranks and pranks are among the most common and inexpensive human indulgences, and probably the most controversial.

Today, thanks to the Internet, you no longer have to wait for the morning paper or buy a magazine to access funny phrases. The Internet allows you to search, download or email jokes with a click of the mouse. A simple keyword search, such as “political,” will return a list of the most popular, recent, or frequently emailed political jokes. If you really like a joke and want to show your appreciation for it, you can rate it online.

If your friends find your jokes clever and think you should share them with more people, you can submit your own jokes to joke and joke websites. The shipping process is easy; all you need is an email id. This is the main reason why websites feature so many more jokes than the average newspaper or magazine. Also, new jokes are constantly being added to their directory. These sites are not static. They allow users to interact, rate each other’s work, and give each other encouragement and advice. If you’re lucky, your presentation could become the joke of the day, read by thousands of site visitors. Imagine being able to make so many people smile; Perhaps some of them are having a bad day at work, worrying about bills, or wondering how to complete a difficult school project.