The definition of irony

Jimbuna · 08-22-11, 03:21 PM

Now that irony must be pretty scarce these days...I wish I could match it in a IK context.

Come on you Brits out there

Platapus · 08-22-11, 03:44 PM

Actually no, that is not an example of Irony. One of my favourite peeves to be petted is the misuse of the word Irony.

There are three relational concepts that are often used incorrectly.

Irony
Coincidence
Hypocrisy

Are all related but are quite different from each other.

Irony occurs when a person makes a decision with the intention of causing (or preventing) outcome A, but because of factors unknown to him, his actions actually prevents (or causes) outcome A.

Coincidence occurs when two events with a some sort of connection between them occur without one causing the other.

Hypocrisy occurs when a person states a belief in A but in actuality believes the opposite of A.

There is a fourth concept called happenstance which is similar to a coincidence but without the connection between the two events.

For example.

I am giving a lecture on how to predict rain. I choose to hold this lecture outside. During my lecture, it rains. What has occured?

Coincidence - My lecture did not cause the rain, but the topic has a connection with the event (rain).

I am worried about my audience getting wet on so I move the lecture inside an auditorium. During my lecture a pipe over the auditorium breaks. Also it did not rain. What has occurred?

Irony. I specifically made the decision to move the lecture inside so my audience would not get wet. Unknown to me, at the time of the decision, the pipe was going to burst making my audience wet. If I had not made the decision, my audience would not have gotten wet.

I am holding the lecture outside telling people that according to my beliefs it won't rain. However, I telecast my lecture from inside a studio because I actually believe it will rain. What has occurred?

Hypocrisy. I told the audience I believed one thing (it is not going to rain) but I acted as if I believed it would rain.

In the context of the news story, we have the United States selling chopsticks to China. What has occurred?

Coincidence. Two events or observations have been made.

1. The United States is selling chop sticks to China
2. China is not normally perceived as an importer of chopsticks.

However, one did not cause or prevent the other.

No Irony, just a coincidence.

Probably more than you ever wanted to know. But my hobby is petting this particular peeve.

Rockstar · 08-22-11, 04:08 PM

well I don't know about you but this quite ironic.

August · 08-22-11, 04:14 PM

I find it most bodaciously ironical...

Sailor Steve · 08-22-11, 06:47 PM

The queen of the Angles was ironic?

Wait, wut?

Skybird · 08-22-11, 06:50 PM

The story is ironic indeed. At best an ironic parody. Or an ironic coincidence. But no matter how you see it, it alwaysincludes the element of irony due to the humorours nature of the element by which the expectation of the listener is led ad absurdum, contrary to what the listener'S mind would expect.

And Platapus managed to entangle himself inside academia's ivory tower.

Tchocky · 08-22-11, 06:57 PM

Platapus takes the time and trouble that most do not

[/English major]

08-22-11, 03:21 PM	#1
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,615 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Now that irony must be pretty scarce these days...I wish I could match it in a IK context. Come on you Brits out there __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-22-11, 03:44 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,377 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Actually no, that is not an example of Irony. One of my favourite peeves to be petted is the misuse of the word Irony. There are three relational concepts that are often used incorrectly. Irony Coincidence Hypocrisy Are all related but are quite different from each other. Irony occurs when a person makes a decision with the intention of causing (or preventing) outcome A, but because of factors unknown to him, his actions actually prevents (or causes) outcome A. Coincidence occurs when two events with a some sort of connection between them occur without one causing the other. Hypocrisy occurs when a person states a belief in A but in actuality believes the opposite of A. There is a fourth concept called happenstance which is similar to a coincidence but without the connection between the two events. For example. I am giving a lecture on how to predict rain. I choose to hold this lecture outside. During my lecture, it rains. What has occured? Coincidence - My lecture did not cause the rain, but the topic has a connection with the event (rain). I am worried about my audience getting wet on so I move the lecture inside an auditorium. During my lecture a pipe over the auditorium breaks. Also it did not rain. What has occurred? Irony. I specifically made the decision to move the lecture inside so my audience would not get wet. Unknown to me, at the time of the decision, the pipe was going to burst making my audience wet. If I had not made the decision, my audience would not have gotten wet. I am holding the lecture outside telling people that according to my beliefs it won't rain. However, I telecast my lecture from inside a studio because I actually believe it will rain. What has occurred? Hypocrisy. I told the audience I believed one thing (it is not going to rain) but I acted as if I believed it would rain. In the context of the news story, we have the United States selling chopsticks to China. What has occurred? Coincidence. Two events or observations have been made. 1. The United States is selling chop sticks to China 2. China is not normally perceived as an importer of chopsticks. However, one did not cause or prevent the other. No Irony, just a coincidence. Probably more than you ever wanted to know. But my hobby is petting this particular peeve. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-22-11, 04:14 PM	#4
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,213 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I find it most bodaciously ironical... __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

08-22-11, 06:47 PM	#5
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	The queen of the Angles was ironic? Wait, wut? __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-22-11, 06:50 PM	#6
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,650 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	The story is ironic indeed. At best an ironic parody. Or an ironic coincidence. But no matter how you see it, it alwaysincludes the element of irony due to the humorours nature of the element by which the expectation of the listener is led ad absurdum, contrary to what the listener'S mind would expect. And Platapus managed to entangle himself inside academia's ivory tower. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

08-22-11, 04:08 PM	#3
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	well I don't know about you but this quite ironic.

08-22-11, 06:57 PM	#7
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Platapus takes the time and trouble that most do not [/English major] __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]