Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Big_Bird]

Do Americans do irony?

http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2009748,00.html

[skinhead]

Like some Aussies, some Koreans and some Brits, yes (to q1). Beautiful thing, the absurdity and synchronicity factor. Can make you laugh, but it can also make you cringe, and sometimes it can make you go cross-eyed. Can't imagine life without it. Maybe it's another of those brainy senses that not everyone has access to.

What's your take on this, princess? princess?

[JMO]

Brilliant article. Please read it before indulging in a pointless trans- atlantic jibing match. Simon Pegg is great, I loved Shau of the Dead and especially Spaced(one of my fave sitcoms) so its great to hear his point of view.

I agree with every thing he said basically. There isn't a massive difference in our sense of humor just a slight one which can be easily overblown. I always thought shows such as 'Seinfield' or 'the Larry Sanders Show' would have been MASSIVE hits in Britain if the BBC/ITV had of shown them at a reasonable time and not changed the boody time every week.

[skinhead]

I think Borat bent a few probosci out of shape. Beautiful thing is, there's a psycho-neuro-nasal-surgeon in the US to correct that malady. USA! USAmericans do pratfalls better than any I've seen though, so credit where it's due.

[Qinella]

Given my experience growing up in Florida and spending a couple of years in North Carolina, as well as interacting with many Americans on various message boards, I think that most Americans don't readily understand irony. Usually, people who do not are people I would've classified as slow-witted, numb, none-too-bright. Maybe I'm wrong in saying that, but it has been my experienced that people who are sharp get irony (and other humorous devices) whereas more dull folks don't understand or, worse, get offended.

That little joke from the article about the father buying drinks for the first time at his funeral reminds me of a corny joke like my father would tell. One time he was at McDonald's and got a coffee, and the woman asked him if he wanted an Equal (fake sugar). His response: "Sure, I haven't had an equal since Hercules died." Her response: "Ahh.. okay, here you go. Have a nice day."

[Boodleheimer]

when i was working at a farm in Wales, i was the shop girl. people were shocked by the ironic wit of an american bird.

like Q, i'd say "it has been my experienced that people who are sharp get irony (and other humorous devices) whereas more dull folks don't understand or, worse, get offended"

a good memory from the farm shop:
this nice older couple was vacationing from London and stopped in to buy some organic veg. the man wrote a cheque. i accepted it. he handed me his bank card. i said, 'oh, no, that's okay. we're quite trusting.' the lady said, with a smile on her face, 'you don't have a lot of problems with that sort of things then?' i said, 'actually 95% of bank-related fraud has to do with writing fake cheques to organic veg farm shops. it's the first stepping stone to major white collar crime.' the man looked shocked. i broke my straight face and started laughing, and the woman figured out that i was kidding. it took the man a bit longer. maybe it's my accent....

[Ya-ta Boy]

This Yank does not do irony. I hired a Filipina maid to do my irony and my floors every Friday. It's SO nice to come home to a clean apartment every weekend.

[Grimalkin]

[ChopChaeJoe]

I'm American, well Texan anyways.
The best irony is the highest humor, whether it be Chaucer, Twain, Burroughs, Leyner, to tale some literary examples.


(and yes Chaucer is a Brit, but all educated Amricans read and enjoy him at some point. )

[djsmnc]

[huck]

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-irony.htm

Since sarcasm is a form of irony, I would say that most Americans that I know are quite ironic....

Unless your definition of "irony" is quite different, and if so, maybe you're being ironic about Americans not using irony and I'm not getting it because I don't get irony...Which could be a bit of a paradox...

Also, look at a show like "House"...I know, I know, he's a British actor. But it's still really popular with Americans, and his whole personality is....sarcastic/ironic... (I dunno..Again, it all depends on the your definition of irony).

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Ya-ta Boy]

The thing I've noticed about British humor in Korea is that it is centered on making jokes about the French and Germans. At home this is called bigotry, but in Korea, the Brits that I know call it wit.

[Hyeon Een]

[gang ah jee]