Thursday, December 17, 2009

What the HECK do those sayings mean? Class is in session

Anonymous said...
What does "Sarcasm is the wine of Irony" mean?

If you have to ask, its way over your head.


I understand that it is way over my head. That's why I'm asking what it means. I don't know what it means and I want to know. So I'm asking. Please tell me without insulting me further.

December 17, 2009 1:07 PM

OK that was a post to me on one of Joans blogs.


SO I have decided, in the generosity of the  Christmas Spirit to attempt to educate yet once again.


"Sarcasm is the wine of Irony."


First ya gotta understand what Sarcasm and irony are. Then ya gotta assume you know what wine is. Its something you get drunk in. Or one thing gets soaked with wine. Got it yet?


Irony is full of,soaked up with/drunk with sarcasm. It literally means that sarcasm is the biggest component of irony.


Ok, so what is sarcasm and irony?

IRONY



1.
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.
2.
Literature.
a.
a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.
b.
(esp. in contemporary writing) a manner of organizing a work so as to give full expression to contradictory or complementary impulses, attitudes, etc., esp. as a means of indicating detachment from a subject, theme, or emotion.
3.
Socratic irony.
4.
dramatic irony.
5.
an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.
6.
the incongruity of this.
7.
an objectively sardonic style of speech or writing.
8.
an objectively or humorously sardonic utterance, disposition, quality, etc.

Origin:
1495–1505; < L īrōnīa < Gk eirōneía dissimulation, sarcasm, understatement, equiv. to eírōn-eia -y 3
a dissembler +


Synonyms:
1, 2. Irony, sarcasm, satire indicate mockery of something or someone. The essential feature of irony is the indirect presentation of a contradiction between an action or expression and the context in which it occurs. In the figure of speech, emphasis is placed on the opposition between the literal and intended meaning of a statement; one thing is said and its opposite implied, as in the comment, “Beautiful weather, isn't it?” made when it is raining or nasty. Ironic literature exploits, in addition to the rhetorical figure, such devices as character development, situation, and plot to stress the paradoxical nature of reality or the contrast between an ideal and actual condition, set of circumstances, etc., frequently in such a way as to stress the absurdity present in the contradiction between substance and form. Irony differs from sarcasm in greater subtlety and wit. In sarcasm is present in the spoken word and manifested chiefly by vocal inflection, whereas satire and irony, arising originally as literary and rhetorical forms, are exhibited in the organization or structuring of either language or literary material. Satire usually implies the use of irony or sarcasm for censorious or critical purposes and is often directed at public figures or institutions, conventional behavior, political situations, etc.
ridicule or mockery is used harshly, often crudely and contemptuously, for destructive purposes. It may be used in an indirect manner, and have the form of irony, as in “What a fine musician you turned out to be!” or it may be used in the form of a direct statement, “You couldn't play one piece correctly if you had two assistants.” The distinctive quality of

SARCASM



Function: noun
Etymology: French or Late Latin; French sarcasme, from Late Latin sarcasmos, from Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, from sark-, sarx flesh; probably akin to Avestan thwarəs- to cut
Date: 1550
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


SO you see, the connection between Sarcasm (The drug, the alchohol, the soaking in of to Sarcasm, is what I am speaking of you cannot have one without the other.


Now in the term of


"The battlefields of idiots are the playgrounds of geniuses", I made this one up sort of thinking of a room full of people at a community meeting. One side is trying to debate the issues intelligently passionantly and with logical thinking. The others are just either not listening, bored, falling asleep, making stupid comments, or using inaccurate data, or status quo or racist assumptions to make their case. These, in my book are the idiots. They vehemently defend their position like it is written in stone, but give no concrete reasoning as to why we must adhere to it, by preponderance of any evidence thereof.


Then you have the geniuses, who are pretty much enjoying just knocking down the arguments with facts, eye witness accounts or logical conclusions. One mans battleground is another mans playground.


What does any of this have to do with Hawaiian philosophy? Plenty. Hawaiians clearly understood Socratic thought and theiry when they used riddles, games, poetry contests and challenges as substitutions for battles. This was mostly done during times of famine, or Makahiki when it was important to either not engage in violence, or lose as few healthy individuals in battle where land claims or disputes arose. This is also where the incredibly intense and genius use of kauna comes into play as well. The incredible verbal discourse and mental capacity of Hawaiians to remember literally hundreds of thousands of words at a time, or to on the spot shoot back with sarcasm and irony at riddles and barbs is sheer genius in my book.


Ok, class dismissed.


NEXT


Getting a leg up on the path-blogs (Got WIndmills and Kauai Eclectic)


Joan Conrow's Blog KAUAI ECLECTIC


OK, this has just been so much fun. It was great to try to respond to all the crazies on these blogs. It really taught me to refine what I am trying to say, what the opposition might think. (In many ways the opposition wasn't thinking at all, which made it real easy for me to come up with rebuttals), and showed me just how much fun one can really have trying to put idiots in their well deserved places.


If it wasn't for Joan and Andy, I really wouldn't know anything about blogging. Well, ok, I still don't.


Andy Parx was the very first person I ever saw in my life to do the kind of reporting he does. I first saw Andy on the TV many years ago, then read his columns and then drifted into the blog. I always get a laugh out of his insane, off the cuff sarcasm, but what I do like about Andy is that he has no ties that bind. I mean he can say whatever the heck he wants too. It is freedom of speech at its best. But what is so awesome about Andy is he does not hide behind an "anonymous" name to do it. He comes right out with it. Right in your face. Another thing is he deeply investigates each and every story he works on. He does not just make blind assumptions. Sometimes he injects some insanely ironic intelligent humour and observations of human fallacies in his discourses but hey, to be ripped apart by Andy, or praised by Andy are both a coveted medal of honor in the political world, trust me, I know. I'm, glad I'm usually one of the latter. Andy does not suffer idiots, and he does love to instigate stuff. Well, hell so do I.


Now, Joan on the other hand is scholarly, a complete lady...(OK wait, I am not saying Andy isn't scholarly he is of course, but he aint no lady. And I am not sure he exactly wants to be seen as a gentleman either. )


Joan takes a completely different tack but still injects complete confidence to call it like it is. The thing about Joan, like Andy is that they are more than willing to hear opposite points of view. But don't get sassy or cute with them, trust me. They can both rip you a new hole at 40 paces. Joan is a true environmentalist, a gifted and award winning writer, and like Andy she can see human foibles clearly.


So when I entered her blogworld I felt like a kid in a candy store. Here were posters that were exactly the kind of jerks I knew are out there but will never admit it publicly in the community and trying to guess if the people I am talking to were really the pea brained "anonymous" I just shot down in smoke and flames from a particularly deluded and racist comment on Joans blog. I look deep into their eyes and search for answers. If I see the guilty blush,  and they drop their eyes when I ask them if they do much blogging lately if I suspect they might be one of the  idiot anonymous's then I know. It is truly hilarious to see,


Not that all anonymous's are bad. Some actually make a lot of sense and agree with having a logical discourse. But it is then that the anonymous's turn on each other in a strange ritual of cannibalism and attempt to eat each other alive for daring to defend the "Named Ones".


So, thanks again, Andy and Joan.


And as I say many times before, (Granted these are my very own copyrighted sayings people. Go ahead, make them famous)


"Sarcasm is the wine of Irony".
"The battlefields of Idiots are the playgrounds of geniuses)


I also love another saying which I did not invent:


"To those that know, no explanation is required, to those that don't no explanation is sufficient.*


And on that note, I have a protest/sign waving/community meeting to attend.