Want to stay in touch? Post a funny joke

What should you do when you just want to say hello to somebody? You can make a phone call or text a greeting. But the easiest way to keep in touch with people in China is probably by sharing a joke with them through your cell phone. That's what millions of Chinese do everyday.

Among a recent flurry of jokes or wisecracks I've received and reposted was this one from a fellow parent concerned about rising education costs: A student tells his father that he wants to join his school's musical band and he needs to buy his own musical instrument. "Son, we're poor," his father says, giving him a chopstick. "Why don't you try to be a conductor?"

Last weekend, my boss sent me a joke on how anger had affected the lifespan of some famous Chinese people. While laughing at its cleverness, I wondered why he would send me a joke which basically implies the smartest person will neither annoy nor be annoyed by others.

There is no official tally of the number of jokes sent through cell phones everyday. But according to the latest official survey results, users with better education and in higher positions are more likely to send and receive jokes or interesting remarks.

While about 15 percent of the recipients will choose to reply in a few words as a matter of courtesy, more than 40 percent will reciprocate with their own collection. That includes me. I've stored a small trove of funny jokes in the inbox and instant messaging apps on my cell phone, which I've categorized to be shared with colleagues, friends and family members.

But it would be misleading to say Chinese jokes are just a way for people to keep in touch and to network. The most popular jokes are the sarcastic and self-deprecating ones that help people let off steam through laughter.