Why is there such a misunderstanding of the word "irony"?

[uchytjes]

I just got done with a small comment war about the definition of irony on youtube (I don't know why I ever actually got involved, but whatever) and I was wondering why there seems to be such a discrepancy in beliefs about what the word means. Its not like its some word that has come to use in the past few years or so and features heavily in most english courses. I've always understood it as "a result that is counter-intuitive to the cause, and therefore is funny." Is that wrong? Or are others just uninformed/stupid?

Also, for extra content, post your best example of irony you can think of.

Captcha: by the book

If only more people worked that way, captcha, if only...

 

[Daystar Clarion]

'Isn't it ironic?'

'No. Ask me another.'


Some people throw around the word in a pseudo-intellectual attempt at coming across as more intelligent than they actually are.

Like hipsters.

 

[Keoul]

Noun
The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

So basically using a word or phrase contrary (the opposite) of it's actual meaning, like iunno freaking diabetic OD on insulin, the irony is that insulin is what was suppose to save their lives. Or maybe a super villain wanting to to "have the world in the palms of thei hands" then being crushed to death by a giant globe.

 

[smithy_2045]

I like the irony of people who decry other people for not understanding irony when they don't understand irony themselves.

 

[Eleuthera]

At least part of it is probably due to the word "Irony" having different meanings in different languages. As an example the dutch word "Ironie" translates closer to sarcasm than irony. I assume similar differences might exist in other languages.

 

[Wyes]

Because it's more ironic that way.

 

[lechat]

I like the irony of people who decry other people for not understanding irony when they don't understand irony themselves.

that's ironic cause i don't think you know what you are talking about


also " lol " and " " in case someone misses the irony in this post

 

[Rawne1980]

'Isn't it ironic?'

'No. Ask me another.'


Some people throw around the word in a pseudo-intellectual attempt at coming across as more intelligent than they actually are.

Like hipsters.

Ahhh Ed Byrne, hilarious that guy.

Speaking of Alanis, here is her song remade with irony.

 

[SckizoBoy]

'Isn't it ironic?'

'No. Ask me another.'

He also wanted to levy the death penalty for anyone who says 'literally' when they mean 'figuratively'... and I wholeheartedly agree with him there...

Eh... isn't irony like goldy... only made of iron?!

 

[Thaluikhain]

Eh... isn't irony like goldy... only made of iron?!

I was going to say th-

Ironic is an architectural style from ancient Greece. There's been a bit of a revival in recent centuries, you see ironic columns around.

 

[Fuzzed]

I totally know the feeling dudes. Like yesterday, I made my mom do my laundry. After she was finished I sad, "Mom, my clothes are too irony." Then she was like, "Mark, that's not the correct use of the word." I was like, "For real?"

 

[Legion]

I've always understood it as "a result that is counter-intuitive to the cause, and therefore is funny." Is that wrong? Or are others just uninformed/stupid?

It's not wrong, and it's an example of irony, but not the literal definition of it.

The easiest way to describe irony is sarcasm but spoken in a manner that suggests that you are being serious.

So when somebody says: "Don't you just love it when it rains?"

If you respond in a serious manner: "Sure, I love getting soaked."

But you really mean that you do not, you are being ironic. The humour in irony is more down to whether people "get it". Some people simply do not find ironic humour amusing.

 

[Scorched_Cascade]

There are several different types of irony but the most common is when the words you say are meant in a way that is not the literal way they read.

For example:

In the above episode Leela agrees to give her hand to the robot devil in exchange for robot ears

She didn't read the small print that said by "hand" he meant her hand in marriage

There's also dramatic irony which is where the audience knows something that the character doesn't with tragic irony being when the character's actions contradict what the audience knows the real situation to be.

Example of this is Romeo and Juliet where the audience knows that Juliet has only taken a sleeping potion but all the character believe she has killed herself. With the tragic ironic branch being that Romeo kills himself because he thinks Juliet is dead.

Then there's situational irony where the actual result differs from the intended result. Like when bullets ricochet off bullet proof glass and wound the person the glass is supposed to protect.

Historic irony is where the present day person looks back and notices that someone said something that they later contradicted with their actions. Such as when the New York Times in the past criticised crosswords but in time became the newspaper most associated with crosswords.

(example for historic irony shamelessly stolen from wikipedia)

 

[JudgeGame]

Because we don't have a word for most of the things people describe as ironic and the several valid definitions of irony are similar enough to get the idea across. For example, Dramatic irony (the audience knows something the character doesn't creating a complex set of emotions and expectations) is similar to a idea of a reversal of expectations and socratic irony is similar to some forms of sarcasm. As for the Alanis Morissette song, those lyrics are so dumb it's practically self parody.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I totally know the feeling dudes. Like yesterday, I made my mom do my laundry. After she was finished I sad, "Mom, my clothes are too irony." Then she was like, "Mark, that's not the correct use of the word." I was like, "For real?"

Heh, pay that one.

 

[Soxafloppin]

Irony is weird. I know exactly what it means, but find it hard to define when trying to explain it to other people verbally.

 

[Navvan]

While I was in high-school I was taught that there are three different types of irony.

Situational: This is what you are thinking of; a result that is not what one would expect.
Dramatic: When you are aware of some piece of information a character is not.
Verbal: Basically sarcasm or hidden meaning in your choice of words.

 

[Vault101]

I keep forgetting what it means, I thourght it ment like

if I'm with somone at a macdonalds and I say "that shit'll kill you" and then I light up a cigarette

 

[DoPo]

This topic desperately needs the expert opinion of the Oatmeal [http://theoatmeal.com/comics/irony] (has handy illustrations, too).

In most cases it's just a matter of both parties arguing not knowing what irony is, or one does and acts like a prick. More or less that's how irony is used.