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Isn't It Ironic?
gessel writes "Have you ever used the word "ironic?" Do you know what it really means? If not, is that ironic? Was Seinfeld's "irony" really the cause of the utter collapse of civil society as we knew it? How ironic was it for the CEO of MTV to declare irony a victim of 9/11? The Guardian is running a brilliant article that clears the confusion around a culturally critical and chronically misused word."
or check out what this guy has to say.
There's a page that goes line by line through the lyrics and explains why they are not examples of irony:
The True Irony of Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette sings a song titled "Ironic" on her album Jagged Little Pill. In this song she offers vignettes of situations where life is going well and then suddenly takes a turn for the worse. She exclaims, "Isn't it ironic...don't you think?" My answer: "No!" I have critically analyzed her lyrics and have found only 1 ironic episode therein. Ultimately I have discovered that she has no clue as to what irony really is.
That song always bothered me and I found this site really comforting that it bothered someone else enough to take the trouble to dissect it for everyone.
There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
How ironic that this is definition is actually valid and in the dictionary.
Check the Websters Unabridged Dictionary definition here.
Go figure.
Sarcasm is usually spoken, and can in fact, encompas the use of irony. I've gone to the trouble to do your thinking for you and looked up the definition:
Sarcasm 1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual b : the use or language of sarcasm
Is that clear enough for you, Einstein?
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
void*x=(*((void*(*)())&(x=(void*)0xfdeb58)))();
I really hate that fucking stupid song because none of the situations that Alanis Morrisette warbles out are actually ironic
A free ride when you already paid?
That's not irony that's just being an idiot.
Rain on your wedding day?
Oh yes look at the levels of irony in that one. No wait, it's just 'bad luck'.
Good advice that you just can't take?
Puhlease....
Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
Why can't we once in a while have an interesting non-tech article here without getting hundreds of comments that do nothing but expressing their boredom?
Well, typically on a site that offers "news for nerds" and "stuff that matters" we expect
1) Some of column A (news) or2) Some of column B (pertinent stuff)
Most people have gotten lazy and sloppy and only peruse /. for the cutting-edge (sorta) news, so they forget that it's important to teach geeks to use the language [English] properly. On that note, this discussion isn't exactly new--the linked article focuses heavily on post-01/11/09 misuses, but there's a couple of great writeups at e2 that address this same point quite well. If you're looking to hone verbal skills, lurk and read there for a while -- it's an educational experience.
We recently had heard in the office over one of the Yellow Machine that's made by Anthology Solutions.
I remember reading a rant by C.S. Lewis describing this very thing...
That sounds like this one here (about three-quarters of the way down the page).
GROGGS: alive and well and living in
I remember that!
I believe it was Ed Byrne. Correct me if I'm wrong.
"Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
No, your English teacher was entirely right. First of all, if you use the word "forte" when speaking of your strengths in casual conversation, you will sound like a pompous asshole. Secondly, when not only say it, but also pronounce it incorrectly, you sound like a poorly-educated pompous asshole.
When "forte" is pronounced "for-tay," it is Italian for "loud."
When "forte" is pronounced "fort" it is French for "strength."
While they are spelled the same, they are two completely different words, from two different languages. Neither is an English word, and it should be put in italics when inserted into a written English sentence.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
According to Dictionary.com it could be defined as "Poignantly contrary to what was expected or intended". The fact that he quit to prevent the very injury he sustained, could make this situation ironic. If he had quit for other reasons, then yes it would just be a coincidence.
In Soviet Russia, Nigel makes plans for you!