A sense of humor requires the ability to reflect on oneself critically, if not whimsically.

Both of these qualities, unfortunately, are absent from the Chinese Communist Party and its official mouthpiece, the People's Daily newspaper.

Proof, if any was needed, came 10 days ago when the English-language version of the paper used its Twitter account to tweet a demand that Twitter — a service blocked in China — "rectify" The Relevant Organs, a semi-retired salacious People's Daily parody Twitter account with more than 14,000 followers, most of whom are Sinophiles who get the jokes.