In an interview on To the Best of Our Knowledge on Wisconsin Public Radio, author Douglas Copeland referred to a magazine article he had once read that said only 20% of human beings are hard wired to “get” irony. 20%! That leaves 80% of the population taking things at face value. Can this possibly be? I have always assumed that everyone gets irony. But maybe not. I don't get those cartoons in the paper. I don't even try. Maybe I'm not wired for newspaper comics. Maybe other people aren't wired to get irony--to contain opposites in their brains at the same time.
He said, "People who don’t get irony interpret it as sarcasm.” I do think there's a rampant desire to be hip and clever, which brings sarcasm and irony into play. Sarcasm, though, often has a mean edge, and irony is witty. Jon Stewart is the reigning king of irony.
So “Honk if you know the difference between irony and sarcasm.”
Honk honk! LOL. Thats an amazing fact - hard to believe.
ReplyDelete80% of people also think they are above average drivers. I know i am.
ReplyDeleteWas that sarcasm?
I get irony better than I give it.
ReplyDeleteBut I give and get sarcasm equally. I guess that makes me more mean than ironic.
But I love Jon Stewart, so that may help.
I prefer sarcasm to irony. It satisfies me in many more ways.
ReplyDeleteIrony - reminds me of ironing and no one likes that.
To quote Maggie, Honk, Honk! I love irony. I love Jon Stewart. I love Stephen Colbert.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the 20% stat, but I can't say it surprises me. After all, look at all the people who still think Dubya is doing a good job.