What about watching a kitten discovering a mirror...that is pretty funny and not degrading...or a kitten playing with a paper bag...a dog chasing his tail...my daughter telling the "Why did the chicken cross the road?" joke...Knock knock jokes from my kids...but you are right the things we create are really not that funny they are degrading and I know I have laughed at many of jokes like that, but like you said it is a distraction from what is really bothering me...smiles are always good too