That's a corner stone of comedic value. It is to pretend you aren't intending to joke and landing on one.
Re:Pardon Snowden
by kybernetikos on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @02:07PM
(#12499659)
The perceived intentions of the author/utterer absolutely affect the humour value of a comment.
Otherwise you are implying that the humor value of a comment is determined not solely by you, but partly from the intentions of the author.