Yeah, I agree in part. But many do call all puns bad (bad). The emergence of bad (good) probably followed this. I also think that the bad-awful spectrum is m

Yeah, I agree in part. But many do call all puns bad (bad). The emergence of bad (good) probably followed this. I also think that the bad-awful spectrum is missing a category: the sublime/artful pun. See Shakespeare: >Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this Son of York >Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.