Unironically, the side that is more often correct in a given debate usually has way better memes. It's a decent (albeit not foolproof) heuristic. And it applies to humor more broadly, with memes basic...
There is the concept of anti-rational memes. These memes spread and maintain themselves by crippling the person's ability to correct errors.
For example "The holy book must not be questioned", or "Conspiracy theory(ist)".
These anti-rational memes mostly ruled until the scientific revolution. They are what kept sapiens sick and impoverished for the vast majority of their existence.
Anti-rational memes have clearly been in decline, but I wonder about their ability to spread through humor. I'm probably too biased to them to find them funny, but presumably they can be funny because sapiens must have had a sense of humor.
For example "The holy book must not be questioned", or "Conspiracy theory(ist)".
These anti-rational memes mostly ruled until the scientific revolution. They are what kept sapiens sick and impoverished for the vast majority of their existence.
Anti-rational memes have clearly been in decline, but I wonder about their ability to spread through humor. I'm probably too biased to them to find them funny, but presumably they can be funny because sapiens must have had a sense of humor.