I'm going to take a break from my dour self-musings for a post to contemplate humor. What is the cause of humor? I have a few ideas (formatting hat tip: Marginal Revolution)

1. There are things that are inherently funny. Physical comedy.

2. Things are funny when they attack repressive social norms. George Carlin's 7 words.

3. We subconsciously want to like someone and therefore tend to laugh at their jokes. Any boss you've ever had, charisma.

4. Things are funny when we have an altered state of mind. Rope-a-dope.

5. Humor is ubiquitous.

#5 seems facile.

I think #3 is the only one that applies to me when I'm funny.

#1, #2, #4 seem to be true, but situationally so. Hrmm. Those were all I could think of.