The humor might come from the way the story is told. If it has a lot of vivid descriptions of funny expressions or sounds. Like in a story where a parrot imitates a person's sneeze in a very exaggerated way. It makes the story more engaging and funny.
The unexpected twists usually make it funny. For example, if a character is supposed to be very serious all the time but suddenly does something completely silly like dancing in the rain without any reason. That kind of deviation from the norm can be a great source of humor.
A story can be 'kind of funny' when there is an unexpected twist. For example, if you expect someone to be really good at something but they end up being completely hopeless at it. Like a professional athlete who can't ride a bike.
They often have a great sense of absurdity. They can create situations that are completely out of the ordinary but still seem believable within the context of the story. For instance, a character might suddenly start talking to animals in a very normal way as if it's an everyday occurrence.
The lessons from a funny story might also include the value of shared experiences. When we hear a funny story, we often want to share it with others. This sharing creates a connection between people. It shows that we all enjoy a good laugh and can come together over something as simple as a humorous tale. In a way, it teaches us that humor is a universal language that can bridge gaps between different individuals, cultures, and backgrounds.
I'm not entirely sure as the title is a bit unclear. It could potentially be about a story that the New York Times covered which has some humorous elements to it.