In a conversation I had with the wise and lovely Alice, the topic of sarcasm in text form was discussed. Its a discussion I've had with many people, and probably a few of you lot. However, what was unique about this conversation is that it ended with the two of us agreeing on a standard. At her suggestion, and my endorsement, it is now put forth that sarcasm in text form other than narrative shall be underlined.
To give a couple of examples
You're really hot looking today, Karl Rove.
Yes Ann Coulter, I was listening to what you had to say and not just staring at your chest.
I'm not just casting you because you have star power, Tom Cruise, I respect you as an actor and a human being.
Show your support for this initiative by commenting below
I support this brilliant piece of writing, and the thoughts behind it, completely. Sheer genius is well..........sheer genius.
ReplyDeleteThere's only one problem - Blogger doesn't seem to allow the use of the underline tag in comments. Otherwise, I'd be jumping on the bandwagon and using sarcasm right now!
ReplyDelete{u}oh, well that's just fucking great{/u}
ReplyDeletewell, those people won't recognize the underline as sarcasm, will they?
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to the theory that the writer's intent is irrelevant, i.e., the writer may not intend sarcasm but the reader is free to infer it, and vica versa.
ReplyDeleteThe writer is also free to claim that she has simply been misunderstood and what the reader thought was sarcasm was in fact merely jocular or satirical. Absence of clear identification allows for a gracious withdrawal should there be a hostile challenge.
Mostly I think there are already enough rules in life.
See, it is that mindset in film directors that drives writers absolutely batshit loco. I never proposed a rule. I proposed a means of allowing intent to be recognized.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I never said that I expected everyone to agree. You are, of course, entitled to your own opinions. I, for one, am going to be using the underline henceforth until such a time should come that a better method, should one ever exist, is put forth.
Hmm... I am being rather longwinded. I guess that means its time to stop typing.
Well of course you can do as you wish. But it is kind of fun to try and guess whether or not someone is meaning to be sarcastic and I will miss that in your posts. But then I don't take sarcasm personally and many people do.
ReplyDeleteI never said that I was going to use it all the time. As you noted, there is value in mystery.
ReplyDeleteI detect sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteyou are free too do so
ReplyDeletethatoldsoul: I'm a Bostonian, actually (I go to school in Chi-town), but welcome nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteThe20KhzLegend: I never said that it was a rule. I'm hardly in any power to make or enforce any rules. So use the underline. Or don't. Its just something that Alice and I are putting out there.
maybe the Red Sox could underline not blowing the lead and losing the game, I'd take that rule.
ReplyDeletePerhaps if you were blogging, they'd be winning. They started losing when you stopped posting.
ReplyDelete