Weary of irony.
I have grown tired of irony. It seems that irony and its impolite litter ranging from satire to sarcasm have permeated to our society’s very bones. Without intending to pick on the web log Sixth International specifically, I pick on just them to make a point that applies to almost the entire contemporary culture.
The Sixth International Politburo were proud to be named ‘Enemies Within’ a few weeks ago by Jackbooted Tory Reactionary Peter Cuthbertson. Now Decadent Capitalist Oppressor Iain Murray’s new blogroll officially classes us as part of the International Left-Wing Conspiracy™. If our heads get any bigger, Andrew Sullivan won’t be able to see the Mao cap we’ve put on just to annoy him.
(*) (formatting removed) There is no way of knowing quite what the author is saying. How serious is he? What is the debate? What is, indeed, the point? My impression of public discourse is that we are screaming at each other as if in foreign tongues.
Yes, ironical reflection can be funny, and it often is. Today, however, on the Internet and in the mass media, it is taken too far. This must make me seem totally irrelevant to the those here in America who infrequently say what they mean, when and if they mean anything at all. Whatever is their point, mine is clear: if you wish to communicate, do not hesitate to use the tools of language, including irony, in moderation.
March 13th, 2003 at 15:27
Andrew,
as the authors of the post you use as an example of the wearying irony that mars our contemporary culture, let us help you by explaining that (i) we were not being especially serious, (ii) there was no debate, and (iii) there wasn’t much point either, to be brutally honest. On the plus side, we weren’t screaming, and we’re reasonably sure we used English.
Perhaps we’d better de-ironise the above: lighten up. Sometimes bloggers want to say something they think important. It’s hard to fathom, we realise, but sometimes they don’t.
Chastisement humbly acknowledged nonetheless. We’ll endeavour in future to achieve a seemly gravitas.
Nice quotations over to the right, by the way.
March 13th, 2003 at 15:36
PS that last sentence wasn’t meant ironically.