Da Heck is a "Practical" Joke?

Practical usually means something useful to your life, right? Something practical, like say, a practical job is a job that probably pays moderately, you have a nicely mapped daily routine, you're contributing to society in a useful way and all that good stuff.

But what da heck is a "practical" joke?

Jokes aren't USEFUL

Jokes don't always make your LIFE BETTER

Jokes don't CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY

Jokes aren't practical


But why, English language, do you say "a practical joke"? Pulling off a practical joke on someone? Why?

I'm a native English speaker living in a country where English is seen as
that bothersome language you have to learn in school.

This is the reason why I can take issue with the English language.

YEAH, "Practical Joke", you're busted!!! *nya nya nyanya nya*

You make absolutely no sense. There is NO WAY a joke is practical. I mean, c'mon! Agh! Stop, "Practical Joke"! Stop being!

This is a Persian Cat Room Guardian. How am I supposed to know what the heck THAT is? It looks like a cross between a monkey and a cat. It's so randomly weird it needs to be here to guard you from getting tricked by "Practical Joke".

"Practical Joke", pshh! A regular joke is funnier, right?

A good ol' knock-knock joke, eh?

Knock knock

        Who's there?

Hans

        Hans who?

Hans up! This is the police!
                            by N. J. Folettia (copyrighted 2005)
I made this one up when I was about twelve-years-old. Pronounce "Hans" with a British accent or like "Hansel and Gretel" kind of "Hans".

Okay, now that was a normal ol' joke. No more of this crazy "practical" joke things, alright?

See ya later, alligators! :D