The things we find funny often shed light on the problems in society. A classic example from 2024 was the armed policeman in Florida who started firing his gun wildly, thinking that someone was shooting at him. What he had actually heard was an acorn falling on the roof of his patrol car. 

Another was the unexpected asylum seekerA person who has left their country due to danger and is seeking refuge elsewhere. - an American woman who tried to claim asylum in France after stowing away on a flight to Paris from New York. And there were plenty more news stories that were simply bonkers - like the man who stole a car in OklahomaA state in the south-central USA. to get to the court where he was being tried for stealing a car.

Here are five of the funniest stories of 2024:

1. Bananas businessman. A cryptocurrencyA digital currency in which transactions are verified and records maintained by a decentralised system using cryptography, rather than by a centralised authority. entrepreneurA person who sets up their own business. called Justin Sun paid £4.9m¹ for a banana - and then ate it. Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan had created a piece called "Comedian" in 2019, consisting of a banana stuck to a wall with duct tape; he sold Sun a certificate allowing him to reproduce it.

2. DIY divorce. Model Suellen Carey married - and then divorced - herself. She claimed to be pioneering "sologamy", but even with the aid of therapy found herself difficult to live with, complaining that it was lonely and exhausting.

3. Name-change campaign. Like many people in the US, Dustin Ebey found the two original candidates in the presidential race - Joe Biden and Donald Trump - too hopeless to contemplate. So he decided to enter himself, changing his name to Literally Anybody Else. "It's time for leadership that serves, unites, and uplifts every American," he declared on his website.² Unfortunately his campaign ended in failure.

4. Unbalanced bot. A robot in South Korea was reported to have committed suicide. The machine, used to deliver post in a city council building, started spinning around and around, then moved towards a staircase and tumbled down it. Some people have speculatedMade theories or guesses without clear evidence. that it was suffering from overwork.  

5. Supreme thievery. Britain's minister for policing had her purse stolen - while she was talking to senior police officers. Dame Diana Johnson was giving a speech about an "epidemicA widespread disease or infection. of antisocial behaviour, theft and shoplifting" at a hotel, only to discover afterwards that she was a victim of crime herself. A man was later arrested for the crime.

Is laughter the best medicine?

Yes: The world is such a crazy place that the only way we can deal with it is by trying to see the funny side. And researchers have found that watching TV comedies can help people with serious illnesses.

No: Living in the 21st Century is no laughing matter. It is easier for people to do terrible things if we fail to take them seriously. We need to face them head on with utter commitment.

Or... The best medicine is actually kindness. By going out of our way to help others, we can put our troubles to one side and feel that we are doing something positive for the world.

Asylum seeker - A person who has left their country due to danger and is seeking refuge elsewhere.

Oklahoma - A state in the south-central USA.

Cryptocurrency - A digital currency in which transactions are verified and records maintained by a decentralised system using cryptography, rather than by a centralised authority.

Entrepreneur - A person who sets up their own business.

Speculated - Made theories or guesses without clear evidence.

Epidemic - A widespread disease or infection.