Things we find funny often shed light on the problems in society. A classic example from 2024 was the policeman in FloridaA coastal state in the south-east of the US, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Though nicknamed "the sunshine state", it also experiences phenomenal rainstorms. who started firing his gun wildly, thinking that someone was shooting at him. What he had really heard was an acorn falling on the roof of his car. 

Here are five of the funniest stories of 2024:

1. Bananas businessman. An entrepreneurA person who sets up their own business. called Justin Sun paid £4.9m¹ for a banana - and then ate it. Artist Maurizio Cattelan had created a piece called "Comedian", 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 found herself difficult to live with, saying it was lonely and exhausting.

3. Name-change campaign. Dustin Ebey found the two original candidates in the US 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 Sadly 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 council building, started spinning around and around. Then it headed for a staircase and tumbled down it. Some people claim that the bot 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 shopliftingTaking goods from shops without paying. " at a hotel. But afterwards she discovered that she was a victim of crime herself. A man was later arrested for the theft.

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 21^st 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.