A good joke is one where the punch line is unexpected. If the audience knows what’s coming—if the punch is anticipated—it’s not going to be funny. If the punch is wholly nonsensical—get a few laughs as it might for the absurdity—it’s still not a good joke, as the creative construct of the joke itself was not the reason for the laughs.

So really, a good joke is one that is told to an end that the audience did not see coming, but when they think about it later, they realize they could have.

* * * *

Oh, and one more thing about that:

Humor is firm, but once it breaks, it’s practically irreparable.

Which is to say,

When someone loses the ability to make you laugh, they aren’t likely to get it back.

* * * *

In summation:

Humor is a product of awareness.