Sometimes we react to some kind of joke and say something like "Well! That's just not funny! That's serious stuff!" Well, I agree that can be true in one type of situation, and that is when it is causing others suffering.
It's not unlike the Nelson character in the Simpsons, laughing at the misfortune of others in the familiar "haw haw!" But see, even that is funny from a third person perspective, in that we see the silliness of the whole situation, and it is only serious if we identify with the cartoon character that is being laughed at.
But having said that, I think it's important for each of us to understand that we have some control over our suffering, and a lot of that has to do with our sense of self, our sense of what is important and what is true. (or, atleast what we cling to as such)
I think it's important to distinguish "funny stuff" with a sense of humor, too. I'm certainly not suggesting that we turn everything into a joke, you've probably seen how some people who try too hard is just not as funny as they want to be. But like any other sense, I think a sense of humor allows us to recognize things as they are. (in a sense, anyway)
When I'm talking to you online, I see only what you write in your messages, I know that your message is not you. I think you are much more than that. You can also address someone in a message without talking about them, it happens all the time really. And frankly, even if someone was to talk about your opinion/feeling/belief on something, (or something you happen to believe in along with other people, as my friend Angus from grade school said: "It's my God too!") is it such a big deal that it is being questioned? For those of us who used to be JWs, that happend once before right?
Now, is this type of outlook realistic to expect from everyone? For example, isn't self-esteem important for young people, or people who have been mentally abused in some way? Sure. But it seems to me even young kids can laugh at themselves, so I think if we play our cards right it's something we can retain. Even if we forget, I don't think it's ever too late to rediscover it. What you ultimately discover, I think, is not just some way of temporarily breaking the ice or relieving stress, or even just the sense of humor itself - it is nothing less than an opened heart.