Fallible Ideas doesn't have a lot of jokes because jokes don't have a lot of clarity.
Humor is bad for communication. It means more misunderstandings, more miscommunications.
Talking is hard enough without adding vague non-literal humor. Especially talking about difficult topics like parenting and philosophy.
People like humor because it helps them avoid sticking their neck out. It lets them deny they meant what they said. "I was just joking". "You don't get it". etc. By being less clear about what one is saying, it's easier to deny one ever said it (in case it gets criticized). Humor helps people avoid meaningful critical discussion.
Humor seems to work well when:
- people don't care about communication
- people want to be mean, enforce social conformity, or torment outsiders and "aspies"
- people are all stereotypical enough (in the relevant ways they interact about) to understand each other with very little communication
- people act like they understand what's going on, rather than admit ignorance or bring up a problem
Using lots of humor keeps people away who don't get it. It alienates those who are different. It's a subtle, indirect way to be intolerant.
Using emoji and all other non-verbal communication works similarly. It makes it harder for anyone who doesn't already "get it" to participate. It communicates less clearly. It's primarily about social vibrations and social calibration, rather than objective ideas.
This is not the only possible use of humor (and emoji, and facial expressions, and so on), but it's the most common one. It's the #1 purpose they serve in society. They help enforce social rules and make things harder on "misfits".
Humor is routinely used in really mean ways. And then many people side with the bullies. Most people are happy to be apologists for bullies if the bully is funny. They will make excuses for a bully like: "oh, it was just a joke" or "oh, i wasn't siding with him, i just thought it was funny".
You might think some of the problems with jokes only apply to in-jokes, and recognize that in-jokes do the stuff I'm talking about.
All jokes are in-jokes. The only difference is how big a group is in on it. Is it an in-joke for a whole culture, a large group, or just a small clique?