Woodruff wrote:True irony is the use of words in a context which is the opposite of it's literal meaning.
Can you give me a really good example? I have always had trouble with understanding what "irony" means.
Well it sure as hell isn't "rain on your wedding day". A very simple usage would be to suggest that something were "as pleasant as a root canal", for instance. A more interesting one is thinking back to when the Reagan assassination attempt took place where he was hospitalized (I don't remember the attacker...Hinkman? Jodie Foster's stalkerish dude, I think.). All of Hinkman's shots missed the President, yet he was struck quite seriously by a bullet that ricocheted off of the armor of his vehicle. This is ironic because the armor of the vehicle is designed to protect the President yet, in this particular case, it directly took part in making his very serious injury.
So from this, isn't it ironic that a KKK member was going to light a cross on fire but instead light himself on fire?
I think so, yes. I'm not the one that contested that particular point...I merely responded to your definition, which I believe is faulty.
...I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the Constitution to a man who will burn the Constitution and then wrap himself in the flag.
Woodruff wrote:True irony is the use of words in a context which is the opposite of it's literal meaning.
Can you give me a really good example? I have always had trouble with understanding what "irony" means.
Well it sure as hell isn't "rain on your wedding day". A very simple usage would be to suggest that something were "as pleasant as a root canal", for instance. A more interesting one is thinking back to when the Reagan assassination attempt took place where he was hospitalized (I don't remember the attacker...Hinkman? Jodie Foster's stalkerish dude, I think.). All of Hinkman's shots missed the President, yet he was struck quite seriously by a bullet that ricocheted off of the armor of his vehicle. This is ironic because the armor of the vehicle is designed to protect the President yet, in this particular case, it directly took part in making his very serious injury.
So from this, isn't it ironic that a KKK member was going to light a cross on fire but instead light himself on fire?
I think so, yes. I'm not the one that contested that particular point...I merely responded to your definition, which I believe is faulty.
Then I'll direct my questioning stare in radiojake's direction...
BigBallinStalin wrote: Then I'll direct my questioning stare in radiojake's direction...
Woodruff's example is much more ironic - I think irony requires a certain level of poetry, if you will - The KKK member set himself on fire while trying to light the cross, that seems much more of an 'occupational hazard' as opposed to actual irony.
Irony is not just an unexpected result, but rather the opposite of the expected result. Therefore, the KKK member ending up being on fire, while the cross is not, fits quite well within the term.
There are other variation on the word, but they don't apply to this situation.
Timminz wrote:Irony is not just an unexpected result, but rather the opposite of the expected result. Therefore, the KKK member ending up being on fire, while the cross is not, fits quite well within the term.
There are other variation on the word, but they don't apply to this situation.
THanks, Timminz. I'm going to run with this definition until someone yells at me that something that I think is ironic really isn't ironic.
Timminz wrote:Irony is not just an unexpected result, but rather the opposite of the expected result. Therefore, the KKK member ending up being on fire, while the cross is not, fits quite well within the term.
There are other variation on the word, but they don't apply to this situation.
THanks, Timminz. I'm going to run with this definition until someone yells at me that something that I think is ironic really isn't ironic.
I just didn't think the KKK member being set on fire was the opposite of the expected result - Infact, it's something we are always told to be careful about when using fire - That we be like considering someone falling off a ladder irony; - It's not irony, it's just bad luck -
But it is funny to see a member of a Tea Party Death Squad to run around on fire. And I found that image by searching for "WAT" on google. So I posted it,
It wasn't my endorsement of a definition of irony. It's just a funny image. Because the Tea Party Death Squad can't do anything right! HAHA!
jay_a2j wrote:hey if any1 would like me to make them a signature or like an avator just let me no, my sig below i did, and i also did "panther 88" so i can do something like that for u if ud like...
Timminz wrote:Irony is not just an unexpected result, but rather the opposite of the expected result. Therefore, the KKK member ending up being on fire, while the cross is not, fits quite well within the term.
There are other variation on the word, but they don't apply to this situation.
THanks, Timminz. I'm going to run with this definition until someone yells at me that something that I think is ironic really isn't ironic.
I just didn't think the KKK member being set on fire was the opposite of the expected result - Infact, it's something we are always told to be careful about when using fire - That we be like considering someone falling off a ladder irony; - It's not irony, it's just bad luck -
If there was a gang that made a living pushing people off ladders, and a gangmember fell off a ladder, I'd consider that great irony.
That link to that article was good and funny though. Essentially, irony is subjective.